Stockholm installs network-wide surveillance

In early 2007, AB Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) (Stockholm Transport), Sweden will have commenced installation of a major part of an ambitious new security project across the public transport network. SL carries out passenger surveys on a regular basis, and one of the highest concerns of the travelling public in the city was a lack of feeling safe and secure when using public transport. The Stockholm Transport Security Project intends to address these concerns for buses, the metro and commuter rail.

Mr Henrik Virro, Project Manager Security Project at SL, explained at a recent event at the Axis Communications AB’s Headquarters in Lund, Sweden, that the expansion of the project to include 100 per cent of the bus fleet had also been initialised by a seemingly small recent event – bus drivers were issuing tickets for cash. As a result of this development, the drivers were holding cashboxes onboard, and this led to a number of attacks on drivers, especially late at night and in more remote areas, some of which were serious. The drivers were, understandably, concerned and requested through their Union that the whole bus fleet be installed with security equipment. With the security cameras being in plain view, this new system not only provides evidence in the event of unruly behaviour or an attack on the driver or other passengers, but also acts as a deterrent to that behaviour.

Part of the onboard equipment is provided by Axis Communications AB (www.axis.com). The company already provides a variety of cameras and supporting hardware/software for the security industry, including models suitable for surveillance operations at metro and commuter stations. However, in this case it was necessary to develop a network camera that was ‘obvious’ to passengers (giving them a feeling of security and to deter unacceptable behaviour), has a small footprint and low profile (to avoid passengers hurting themselves), is able to resist high humidity and to withstand the type of vibrations it would receive onboard a bus. Thus, the AXIS 209FD-R Network Camera was developed. The palm-sized, rugged unit provides digital video over an IP network. The camera can be wall-or ceiling-mounted and has a tamper alarm facility. It also has a built-in heater - buses in the SL operating area are parked in unheated depots overnight, where the temperature can drop to as low as -20 ºC. The heater brings the camera temperature up to its minimum operating temperature. Five or six cameras will be fitted to each of the 2,100 buses in the SL fleet.


Specifications:
Measuring only 4 cm high, the AXIS 209FD-R fits in any area of a vehicle. Equipped with Power over Ethernet capability, the network camera uses one Ethernet cable for both power and video, making installation quick and easy. The camera uses progressive scan technology to provide sharp images of moving objects. It delivers up to 30 frames per second in Motion JPEG or MPEG-4 video compression standards. Encased in a tamper-resistant casing, the AXIS 209FD-R can operate in temperatures between 0 ºC and 50 ºC (32 ºF and 122 ºF), and in humidity ranging from 20 per cent to 100 per cent.

Axis Communication AB's AXIS 209FD-R Network Camera, due to be installed in SL's bus fleet during 2007

The bus cameras will be integrated into a Video Management System. This includes: onboard recording when a bus is in service, wireless communication to Safety Central (the system control centre) and systems failure monitoring. If an incident occurs on a bus, a TETRA message is sent to the vehicle, securing the data in the onboard recording equipment, which is stored on a PC hard disk. This provides not only video evidence, but also, using AVL/GPS technology, the bus stop location information, which can be ‘stamped’ onto the data.


Scheduled to start in January 2007, the first tranche of 100 buses will be fitted with the new surveillance equipment. The installations on the whole fleet is due to be completed within a period of some 12 months, vehicles being fitted out when either repairs or maintenance are due to be undertaken.

In addition to the bus fleet, all of the metro stations will also have new security systems. Each station will be equipped with cameras which will monitor the platforms, ‘over track’ cameras and smart software, which detects unauthorised track access – this will give automatic alarms in the case of people in the track area or of a passenger falling onto the track.

Axis is also providing cameras for both the metro and commuter rail stations. A combination of AXIS 225FD and AXIS 212PTZ cameras will be installed at 80 stations, including 12 commuter rail stations.

Alongside these features, stations will have Help Points. These will be linked directly to Safety Central and each has a camera integrated into the unit. It allows the operator at Safety Central to view what is happening in front of the unit and to play back the 20-second sequence prior to the call, with audio and video.

Fire alarms in the tunnels and at stations will also be integrated into the video and alarm management system. This includes the detection of toxic gas.

Installation of the systems at all metro stations is scheduled to be completed in 2007.

The final component of the project is a Vandalism Database. This will be used to collect information on the location and frequency of graffiti (including the location of individuals’ ‘tags’) and to compile reports to the police, provide information for court cases, for graffiti statistics and to monitor the cost of removing graffiti.


Mr Virro reported that several other European transport operators have shown interest in this project and it is envisaged that operators worldwide might also benefit from seeing it in operation.