Every CTA Rail Station Outfitted with Surveillance Cameras

If you have some underlying fear about "Big Brother" always watching you, you may want to reconsider ever going into any one of the hundreds of rail stations in Chicago. That is because Chicago leaders recently sent word to both CTA riders and criminals that each and every one of the 143 rail stations in the city are now equipped with multiple security cameras.

The cameras can't and won't stop criminals in the act, unfortunately, due to the fact that they do not provide live feeds to the Chicago Police Department or the CTA control center. It is hoped that these cameras will serve as a deterrent to criminals and also help police catch criminals brave enough to strike under the watchful eyes of the camera after they have committed the crime.

These new cameras, along with increased police patrols of the transit system, will also give transit riders an added sense of security, according to Mayor Rahm Emanuael, CTA President Forrest Claypool and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy at the CTA Clinton station serving the Green and Pink Lines.

Footage from some of the newly deployed cameras on the platform station at Clinton and Lake Streets was recently used to arrest a suspect who attacked a woman and stole her purse in an elevator a block away from the station. The same criminal was also previously caught on surveillance using a stolen credit card. The camera evidence also connected him to a car burglary two weeks earlier near CTA headquarters.

A total of 1,735 cameras were recently installed at 78 stations that previously had no cameras whatsoever. The work, which began in June and was scheduled for completion by year's end, wrapped up six weeks ahead of schedule according to officials. A total of 65 stations already had cameras.

The project, which was federally funded, brings the grand total number of cameras to nearly 3,000, all of which are high-resolution security cameras. The number of cameras at each location varies depending on station layout and other factors according to officials. "We feel like this is about as close a saturation as you can get," Claypool stated.

The new cameras have already contributed to nearly 47 arrests of suspects who robbed or attacked passengers on the CTA system, as well as other crimes against people near CTA property in the last five months. The string of crimes includes three slayings near CTA property as well. Over 700 of the new 5000 Series rail cars that the CTA is putting into service are also outfitted with cameras. Those on-board cameras will eventually provide real-time video to police and the CTA according to officials.

Source: Chicago Tribune - CTA says its rail stations now all have surveillance cameras

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What to Expect from the Future of Security Cameras

According to the President and CEO of Axis Communications Ray Mauritsson, "The next few years will see a continuing switch from analog to digital surveillance cameras, and to the increased use of processing power built into individual cameras."

Mauritsson, speaking at the official opening of Axis' Melbourne office, stated that Axis would continue to take advantage of the processing power of its custom-designed ASICs in order to deliver features as opposed to just image resolution. One example that Mauritsson brought up was that parts of new algorithms for video analytics will be put into security cameras in order to improve scalability, with other parts remaining centralized.

Axis' recently released Q1602 features the company's Lightfinder technology, which allows algorithms built into the ASIC to compensate for the characteristics of the camera's lens and image sensor. This allows you to receive improved image quality, even in low light situations, and performs better than the human eye in near darkness.

Approximately 2/3 of the of the surveillance camera market is still analog according to Mauritsson. However, the shift to digital/IP cameras is moving along quickly. Year-over-year growth is roughly 10% overall though it is around 30% for digital cameras. Mauritsson predicts that the market penetration of IP cameras will be around 90% to 95% by the year 2020.

In addition to that, Mauritsson also believes that the deployment of the NBN will probably see the emergence of video surveillance as a service as well as the outsourcing of video monitoring and storage to cloud providers. This, according to Mauritsson, will be especially useful to small sites with only 5 to 10 cameras.

Image quality is one of the main factors that is helping drive the transition to digital security cameras. Analog cameras are limited to PAL/NTSC standards but digital cameras are capable of displaying images in full 1080p HD. In addition to that, another factor is the seemingly low cost of installation.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) allows you to use a single cable to connect an IP camera. An analog camera needs at least one cable to power it and another cable to run the video signal. Other things, like PTZ functionality, audio and control functions add to the cabling as well as the complexity of the installation.

However, Mauritsson believes that the transition to digital cameras is being delayed by systems integrators that prefer to stay in their old analog ways due to comfort and familiarity. Mauritsson expects big things from the future of security cameras, even though the process of getting there is slow going.

Source: IT Wire - What's ahead for the surveillance camera market?

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First Thermal Imaging Surveillance Camera Debuts in Israel

Israel has some interesting news for the security camera industry. Over in Israel a continuous zoom, thermal-imaging camera, which behaves much like a standard CCTV security camera, has just been launched by Opgal Optronics.

According to Opgal, the EyeSec 15-11mm Continuous Zoom camera is a 24/7 outdoor thermal security camera that is used in the observation and monitoring of sensitive sites. The camera is able to present a clear thermal video and image in total darkness, light fog or even smoke which allows for performance that is unmatched by any average security camera.

According to Vice President of Opgal Security Business Unit Yair M. Sakov, "This unique thermal-imaging camera gives control-room operators the same feel and ease of use as with a standard CCTV -- in other words, continuous zoom auto-focus with thermal capabilities for night vision. In fact, by translating day-imaging capabilities into night vision features, we have redefined the way thermal imaging is perceived."

Sakov went on to say, "In the not so distant past, continuous-zoom capabilities were only available in expensive, cooled thermal cameras. Thanks to Opgal's expertise in this field, customers can now benefit from a very affordable un-cooled camera for optimum night vision for any security application."

The EyeSec is based on Opgal's highly sensitive un-cooled microbolometer engines and offers night and day surveillance. You can also get different optics with a range of focal lengths to fit virtually any need you may have including a long, narrow distance or a short, wide distance.

Source: UPI - Thermal imaging surveillance camera debuts

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Potential Value of Security Cameras Highlighted in Florida Investigation

The use of security cameras in public areas by the government, whether it be local or national, is a hot button topic for a lot of people and a great debate in our country. A lot of people think that these types of cameras will deter crime and even catch criminals after they have committed a crime. Others still fear the whole "Big Brother is always watching" privacy issue. What do you think?

Well, despite your feelings on the issue, police that are investigating the murder of two British tourists at a public housing complex in Florida are utilizing evidence found on a single government surveillance camera that was installed on a nearby roof a month prior.

However, the detective's ability to piece together the moments leading up to the shootings is not as good as it could have been due to the fact that the installation of nine other security cameras was delayed by government bureaucracy. The Sarasota Housing Authority planned on stationing several dozen cameras around the The Courts as well as the other housing developments at the end of 2010.

However, instead of cameras there are empty poles where the cameras would have been positioned throughout The Court, including several between the site of the killings and the home where the 16-year-old charged with the killings lives with his mother.

Police have stated that even if the cameras did not catch the actual shootings of James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, they might have offered clues to how the two arrived at The Courts or could have helped identify anybody walking nearby at the time of the shooting.

According to Sarasota Police Captain Paul Sutton, "Even if it's not the suspect, even if it's not the victim, that may give you people who need to talk, who are potential witnesses to the crime."

Source: Security Info Watch - Florida killings highlight cameras' potential worth

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Security Camera Catches Man Stealing Security Camera

I think one of the biggest things that makes being alive so great is irony. Irony, for me, not only makes you think but it also makes for some pretty hilarious stories. Especially in the case of a crime that took place in Bakersfield, California not too long ago.

Now there are some pretty dumb criminals out there, I mean really dumb. Just watch an episode of Cops or one of those World's Dumbest Criminals Caught on Tape and you will see exactly what I am talking about. You will see criminals walk in to rob a place with a mustache drawn on with a Sharpie or who will rob a place in the winter then walk home in the snow leaving footprints right to their doorstep.

But what is probably one of the dumbest and most ironic stories I have read recently comes from Bakersfield, California where a man was caught on a video surveillance camera stealing, surprisingly enough, a security camera. According to local authorities, a man removed the video surveillance camera from a medical office in the 500 block of West Columbus Street.

I guess he didn't think about taking the other cameras as well. Or maybe he didn't see them? Whatever the reason this man deserves a spot on one of those shows. However, this does bring up some very interesting questions. Like why did he only take the one camera? Why was that camera so important? And why in the hell didn't he disguise himself? Even if there was only the one camera the owners of the system would still have the footage recorded from the camera before it was removed. Some people are just really really dumb.

Police say that the man appears to be in his 20s with a dark complexion and a slight beard. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the man is urged to call Detective Scott Miller at 326-3552.

Source: Kero 23 ABC News

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