A Cisco wireless video surveillance system strengthens security in San Luis Potosí

The city of San Luis Potosí has ​​installed a security system based on Cisco's wireless mesh platform, that supports video surveillance cameras, allowing the Potosí police to combat crime in real time and in a more effective and precise way.

Located in the north-central region of Mexico, The city of San Luis Potosí has ​​about 700.000 inhabitants. With a territorial extension of about 1.443 km2, A modern industrial city has begun to grow on the outskirts, partly thanks to its location in the center of the “triangle” formed by the three largest cities in the country: Ciudad de México, Guadalajara and Monterrey. However, like many other medium-sized cities in Mexico, San Luis Potosí recognized the possibility of being affected by crime from the main cities and decided to look for alternatives to deter potential criminals and better protect citizens and visitors..

There is no single response to crime nor is its approach simple.. The city strategy consists of some initiatives, ranging from providing better training and more adequate equipment to the police force to combating corruption. Nevertheless, He also acknowledged that it would be impossible for police officers to be physically present on all streets., every minute of the day, so he looked for a more practical solution. In that context, has invested in an advanced video surveillance solution, that integrates a video analysis system and other applications, that run over a wireless network.

Ricardo Galindo Ceballos, director of the IT Department of the Public Security Directorate of San Luis Potosí, has pointed out: “Video surveillance is a force multiplier for the municipal public security strategy, because it improves the efficiency and effectiveness of officers in the field. “It allows for an early assessment of the situation and more informed decision-making when sending forces to the scene of the incident.”.

The solution

After evaluating various surveillance options, The city has selected a solution composed of a wireless mesh network of Cisco and the Praetorian Intelligent Surveillance system from a Cisco partner, L3 Communications.
How it was decided to adopt a wireless network, The installation has caused minimal alterations to the city's infrastructure. It should be noted that the solution has been designed to offer a flexible platform, solid and safe, optimized to exchange information and video in real time, both in the present and in the future.

The network is made up of two layers. The backbone works at 4.9 GHz, the frequency assigned to public safety communications to avoid interference with other systems. The access layer, which operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, Connects with wireless cameras and other devices. En México, Law enforcement agencies are divided into federal entities, state and municipal, and the network not only connects with all the police stations in the city, but also with the state command and control center to ensure effective and rapid sharing of information.

The Praetorian system is designed to provide superior operational readiness, through intelligent video and detection systems that offer greater knowledge and control of the situation, common operating environments and computerized monitoring during 24 hours. Praetorian is a scalable, open-architecture system that integrates with numerous surveillance technologies., as well as with standard commercial PC hardware and software.

Cisco Video Surveillance Manager forms the centerpiece of the solution, as it manages video streams from cameras to short- and long-term network storage file systems, or directly in the Command Center so that operators can view them in real time.

Unlike conventional systems, that overwhelm operators with countless sensor and camera inputs in large monitor centers, Praetorian allows users to have a complete picture, understand real-time surveillance information and act proactively to stop or control emerging threats. For example, The San Luis Potosí system contains a map of the city and incorporates a situational awareness function that allows operators to see the progress of a subject, either a person or a vehicle block by block. The views from the different cameras can be joined together to give the operator a view of the entire street as the vehicle moves. Thanks to the integration of a third-party license plate recognition application, the operator can enlarge the image and check the license plate in the central automotive database.

Currently, there are some 180 installed cameras. However, For cameras to effectively deter crime, they must not only be installed in key locations, but they must also be visible to the public and potential offenders.. The public has so enthusiastically supported the solution to the point that some families have made the facades of their houses or businesses available to the authorities so that the cameras could be installed..

The solution has been implemented in small phases to ensure that the issues were understood and resolved as quickly as possible. Training the three Command Center operators and the team supervisor in the full-featured environment was of utmost importance so that everyone could immediately see the benefits of the system.. In the first phase, they installed 43 cameras; in the second phase, 72; and in the third phase, otras 50. They were also installed 20 additional LPR cameras.

The results

The video surveillance solution has significantly increased the city's ability to detect incidents and respond quickly. En general, Previous generation video surveillance systems could only be used for forensic tasks, that required reviewing stored images to check if data could be found about a crime that had already been committed. Often, Due to the low quality of the images, the results were unacceptable or inconclusive..

Instead, the new solution not only offers much more useful forensic data, but also the combination of superior quality images, Analysis systems and the way information is presented allows operators to send resources to the scene. In some cases, They can even anticipate crime before it happens. For example, The system can automatically recognize and send an alert when double-parked vehicles are observed. Criminals usually have another vehicle to be able to escape without delay.

“Video surveillance solutions allow interruptions caused by demonstrations or traffic accidents to be reduced to a minimum.”, robberies of vehicles or pedestrians and actions carried out by gangs. “They also allow a greater number of criminals to be caught in flagrante delicto.”, Ceballos explained. "Besides, allow optimizing police resources. A visual check can be performed without endangering an officer and, therefore, operations can be carried out in safer conditions. These solutions help determine the number and type of support personnel needed at the scene., in addition to the necessary equipment”.

The solution has helped save lives; For example, on one occasion when a Command Center operator was able to help send emergency services to the location of a young woman seriously injured in a traffic accident.. The operator told the emergency services team the best way, depending on what was happening in the streets, and provided him with adequate information about the accident and what he might find at the scene. wireless devices, like personal digital assistants (PDA), They can also connect directly to the network, your apps and Command Center.

The solution allows the city to design innovative strategies to better protect citizens. It is currently carrying out a pilot test of the “geodefense” concept.. Sets of LPR and fixed cameras were installed, with night vision capability, at the five main entrances and exits of the city. El concepto, prepared in cooperation with the federal police, is that vehicles can be controlled and, de ser necesario, It can be monitored with cameras under the coordination of the Command Center. Five patrol cars were also equipped with mobile access to the network with LPR and GPS systems (global satellite location) to optimize responsiveness.

The flexibility offered by the wireless mesh network is another of its important advantages. Fixed camera systems are known to divert criminal acts to areas outside the surveillance area.. However, by being able to easily uninstall the cameras and install them elsewhere, criminals are disoriented. It is also possible to allocate resources more appropriately; For example, It is possible to provide coverage during a six-week arts festival held in the city that attracts participants and visitors from all over the country.

Although each of the applications that run on the network offer their own advantages, The real power of the solution is its ability to integrate the various elements to create a holistic, full-featured environment that combats crime and strengthens the security of every citizen and visitor.. Put the different pieces of the puzzle together to get a clearer and bigger picture, so that resources can be allocated more accurately, and emergency services and police can have the information they need to fulfill their mission, where and when they need it.

Ricardo Galindo Ceballos has indicated: “Technology turns out to be an instrument so that citizens feel that more attention is paid to their complaints and this improves their perception of security.”. The video surveillance system fulfills three functions: The first is to deter criminal acts; the second, increase the safety of people and the third, "provide information when a crime is committed in order to identify those responsible.".

Steps to follow

San Luis Potosí is expanding the coverage of video surveillance infrastructure with more cameras located in public areas. It is also introducing “emergency buttons” in areas heavily visited by citizens and tourists.. Affected people can press a button, de día o de noche, and speak directly to a Command Center officer, who can respond immediately to the situation.

Biometric data sharing, like fingerprints, It is another initiative in development with federal authorities. The idea is to be able to capture and share information between all the police stations in the city through the wireless mesh network and possibly at a national level..

Soluciones
Routing y switching
• Switches Cisco Catalyst serie 3750
• Switches Cisco Catalyst serie 2960
Network administration
• Cisco Wireless Control System
• Cisco Wireless Control System
• Cisco Physical Security Media Servers
• Cisco Video Surveillance Storage System
Wireless technology
• Cisco 4404 Wireless LAN Controller
• Cisco Aironet 1522, dual band mesh access points
• Cisco Aironet antennas and accessories