Navigating the Challenges: Video Surveillance in the Transit Industry

In an age of advancing technology and heightened security concerns, video surveillance has become an integral part of the transit industry. Public transportation systems worldwide have turned to surveillance cameras to enhance passenger safety, reduce crime, and monitor operations. While the adoption of video surveillance in transit holds great promise, it also raises a host of complex issues. In this blog post, we will look at the Top 10 challenges and concerns associated with video surveillance in the transit industry, and how March Networks can help you solve them.

• Maintenance and Upkeep: Video surveillance systems require regular maintenance to ensure cameras are functioning correctly. Weather conditions, vandalism, and accidents can damage cameras, necessitating frequent repairs or replacements.
• Video Quality: The quality of video footage can be affected by factors like lighting conditions, camera positioning, and camera quality. Poor video quality may make it difficult to identify individuals or incidents accurately.
• Integration with Other Systems: Integrating video surveillance with other transit management systems such as Intelligent Transit Software Systems (ITS) or emergency response, can be complex and may require specialized expertise.
• Vehicle Protection at Night: Most video surveillance systems do not protect vehicles at night while they are parked, leaving them open to vandalism and damage.
• Data Storage and Management: Transit systems generate vast amounts of video data, and storing and managing this data can be costly and challenging.
• Data Security: Ensuring the security of video data is crucial to prevent unauthorized access or hacking attempts, while also ensuring the legal defensibility of the evidence.
• Limited Video Coverage: Transit systems often have vast networks, and it can be challenging to achieve complete coverage with video surveillance. Blind spots may exist, leaving certain areas vulnerable to security threats.
• Legal and Compliance Issues: Transit companies must adhere to legal and regulatory requirements when implementing video surveillance. These regulations may vary by jurisdiction and could involve issues related to data retention, access, and disclosure.
• False Alarms and Overload: High-resolution cameras and advanced analytics can sometimes trigger false alarms or generate excessive data. Sorting through false alarms can be time-consuming and divert resources from genuine security concerns.
• Data Retention Policies: Determining how long video footage should be retained and when it should be deleted is a critical consideration. Companies must strike a balance between retaining data for investigative purposes and respecting privacy rights.

March Networks delivers the ultimate in IP video solutions for transportation to help you protect your passengers and employees, reduce risk, and address all of the above issues effectively.  Here is what March Networks can do to make your life easier and solve these problems for you:

1) Maintenance and Upkeep:

March Networks offers cameras designed for durability and resistance to harsh weather conditions.  We also provide remote monitoring capabilities to detect camera issues and reduce the need for physical maintenance.

2) Video Quality:

March Networks offers high-definition IP cameras with advanced infrared (IR) and image processing capabilities, and we can provide guidance on optimal camera placement and lighting conditions.

3) Integration with Other Systems:

March Networks offers an open-platform solution that easily integrates with various Transit Management Systems (TMS) and Intelligent Transport Software Systems (ITS), and we provide consulting services to ensure a seamless integration.

4) Vehicle Protection at Night:

March Networks offers specialized cameras with infrared (IR) capabilities for nighttime surveillance when the bus is parked, and we also provide motion detection and alerting features to deter vandalism or vagrancy.  We are just launching a new feature called “Sleep Mode” that significantly improves this functionality by ensuring that all video of an incident that happens when the bus is parked at night can be captured.

5) Data Storage and Management:

March Networks offers the most flexible storage options including on premise, private cloud and public cloud-based storage options to offer the ultimate in flexibility in designing the most cost-effective and redundant storage solution for transportation organizations of all sizes.

6) Data Security:

March Networks solutions have end-to-end encryption which provides the highest level of protection for customer data (from camera to recorder to enterprise management system to client software).  March Networks also provides regular software updates to address security vulnerabilities and can also provide our Insight managed monitoring and troubleshooting solution that gives you total visibility into and total control of your video surveillance platform.

7) Limited Coverage:

March Networks offers a variety of IP camera types, including panoramic and PTZ cameras, to cover larger areas like depots and offsite storage facilities.  We also optimize on-vehicle coverage with specific transit cameras, and we help conduct site surveys to identify and eliminate blind spots.

8) Legal and Compliance Issues:

March Networks provides guidance on compliance with local and national regulations.  We also offer features such as access controls and audit logs to ensure compliance with data privacy laws.

9) False Alarms and Overload:

March Networks offers intelligent video analytics with customizable alert thresholds and filtering options to reduce false alarms and reduce the expensive costs of unnecessary call outs.

10) Data Retention Policies:

March Networks offers flexible data retention settings, allowing transit companies to set policies based on their specific needs.  We also provide automated data deletion features to simplify compliance with privacy regulations.

We hope this has given you an overview of the biggest issues with video surveillance for Transit companies and how March Networks can help you solve them.  For more information, please visit our website at www.marchnetworks.com/solutions/transportation.  To speak with someone at March Networks about how we can solve your problems, please contact us.

We will also be at booth #622 at the CUTA conference in Edmonton, Alberta, November 12^th-15^th so please come and visit us there.