Technology which allows for the extreme compression of video footage, enables transportation companies to remotely view live footage from vehicles in transit, ensuring reduced response times to various situations such as hijacking, theft, and improper following of operator policies and procedures.

One of the most essential elements of the transportation industry is the active monitoring of all assets, including people and goods. Proactive monitoring of high-value cargo allows operators to deal with hijacking and theft as it happens. Live feeds facilitate real-time verification of theft and hijacking events and allow the vehicle operator to intercede in real-time, says broadcast and security technologies provider Graphic Image Technologies (GIT).
It is also vital to monitor situations and proactively establish if a crime is being committed and, subsequently, identify the perpetrators.

GIT MD Mark Chertkow tells Engineering News that this latest technology enables companies to reduce theft and protect cargo while improving efficiencies by ensuring vehicle drivers/operators follow company policy and procedures through viewing footage over mobile devices or personal computers (PCs) using various low bandwidth mobile digital video recording (DVR) devices connected to the global system for mobile communications (GSM).

These solutions offer mobile closed- circuit television (CCTV) for vehicles in transit, supporting optimal data transfer rates integrated into a single viewing application for ease of use. Access to this footage is possible from any location, provided that a PC, laptop, smart-phone or tablet and an Internet connection are available, he explains.

The narrow band CCTV technology has the ability to transmit video over GSM, including third generation (3G) and general packet radio service (GPRS). It can be implemented in various environments including the retail transport sector where hijacking and theft of high-value goods are common place.

GIT uses the services and skills of professional video recording and transmission systems manufacturer SerVision to provide solutions that enable the company to stream four frames of video a second at 1 KB/s.

“SerVision’s narrowband mobile video gateway and compact video gateway digital video reorders enable operators to obtain live video, global positioning system (GPS) data, alarms, accelerometer data and other info over GSM networks. The solutions facilitate real-time monitoring and verification response requirements in the event of an incident,” adds Chertkow.

He says the new CCTV technology has been used by resellers, security companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, large companies and individuals.

“We have a customer monitoring 350 vehicles delivering goods and using the solution to respond to events in real time,” notes Chertkow.
He adds that the mobile CCTV indus- try is developing steadily. “The cost to benefit trade-off is still relevant and companies considering the technology can easily weigh up the cost versus the return on investment,” says Chertkow.

Most transportation companies have implemented various CCTV solutions to ensure proactive monitoring. However, bandwidth still remains a challenge for digital and remote CCTV surveillance.

“Typically, a lot of bandwidth is required to transmit video over networks with most available CCTV technologies operating between 32 KB/s and 256 KB/s and with vehicles travelling in remote areas, a 3G signal may not be available to transmit footage,” he adds.

Specialised solutions such as SerVision are aimed at transmitting video over technologies as slow as GPRS, which allow systems to transmit video at four frames per second, at data rates as low as 1 KB/s, providing a live video solution in GPRS, EDGE or 3G environments.

With the ability to stream video over 3G and GPS to a centralised control centre, facility operators are able to record video ‘off air’ while the vehicles are in the field at narrow bandwidths, or use wireless fidelity (WiFi) to automatically upload the video onto the corporate network when vehicles arrive at the department.

“This saves valuable GSM bandwidth and provides full-quality archives which facilitates the solutions. But, the industry is unable to record effectively when using technology that functions in the narrow bandwidth space,” explains Chertkow.

Current enhancements at GIT include extensions to its centralised control room with multiple operator support, an optional accelerometer, built-in WiFi, and a two or four-channel unit to provide extended recording and communication capabilities.

The company plans to extend its reach into relevant vertical market segments, banking, ATMs, cellular base stations and vehicle fleets, concludes Chertkow.