Efficiently and cost-effectively increase safety and security with limited security personnel in sprawling downtown area of Birmingham, Alabama
The solution
Use of VideoIQ intelligent video surveillance cameras throughout the downtown core, installed, managed and monitored by ION Interactive; Team of remote guards leveraged to cost-effectively extend reach of existing security staff
The result
Instant detection and notification of suspicious behaviour, enabling guards to evaluate the situation and dispatch police immediately to prevent crime and keep city streets safe and secure
Birmingham is the largest city in the State of Alabama, spanning 151 square miles and boasting a downtown population of nearly 230,000. Like any major city, Birmingham has its share of crime and vandalism. To help combat this and provide a safe environment for residents and visitors alike, the city has taken a number of measures including provisioning the installation of 40 video surveillance cameras throughout the metropolitan area.
In early 2008, The Office of the Mayor hired systems integrator ION Interactive Video Technologies to install surveillance cameras in various outdoor locations across the city. ION specializes in Internet Protocol- (IP-) based security solutions for businesses and organisations of all sizes, including municipalities.
The city also tapped ION for its trained professional agents who remotely monitor all of the installed cameras from the company’s own control centre. Agents instantly notify the Birmingham Police Department of any potential threat or suspicious behavior, and the police immediately step in to respond and handle the situation.
Ed Welden, CEO of ION, said, “ION provides state-of-the-art solutions to assist in keeping cities, public-access areas and government facilities safe, secure and protected…24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our monitoring agents help to facilitate a quicker response to nearly any situation, providing a high degree of security and safety on city streets.”
As part of the installation, ION chose to work with cutting-edge digital camera manufacturer VideoIQ. VideoIQ is the inventor of the iCVR, an intelligent surveillance camera with built-in video recording. ION initially chose the iCVR for its ability to monitor for and detect crowds, something the city wanted to keep a particular close eye on.
The challenge
