Due to the increase in common crime in the world, thousands of governments have developed other public security strategies than deploying large security forces; have installed urban video surveillance systems that support police work and allow constant monitoring of the urban area, especially those places where there are more cases of insecurity. To expand this topic a little, VENTAS DE SEGURIDAD interviewed Juan Antonio López Zavala, general director of Teleyucsa, Telecomunicaciones de Yucatan S.A, a company that has developed many of these citizen video surveillance projects.
SECURITY SALES: many cities in the world have chosen to implement electronic security systems with camera monitoring. Why has this trend been strengthening instead of, for example, hiring more police officers or increasing the strength of institutions?
Juan Antonio López: Why police forces rely on camera systems is based on operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, not being susceptible to corruption, and having low maintenance costs.
VDS: Since when did the implementation of these solutions begin?
JAL: about 10 years ago, but urban monitoring in Mexico, with the strength I know, about six years ago.
VDS: Most people talk about citizen monitoring systems as the big CCTV applications today. In addition to using camera and recording systems, what other security systems are linked to these applications?
JAL: urban or citizen CCTV systems have evolved to such an extent that not only the images that can be recorded; now you have software for plate recognition, facial, motion, counting, speed etc. Police forces also have the option of investing in other technologies that make their daily work easier, such as radio frequency panic buttons, GPRS or vehicle location, as well as advanced indecipherable radio communication systems, etc.
VDS: Why are citizen monitoring systems useful?
JAL: for the detection of the right moment in which the events or crimes committed by citizens or criminals happen, as well as for being able to rescue the recording of what happened before.
VDS: How much of the public CCTV applications are digital and how much still remains analog?
JAL: In urban CCTV applications most existing systems are digital.
VDS: What are the minimum elements or resources that a government client should take into account before applying or implementing a citizen monitoring system?
JAL: the question of monetary resources is very relative to the need of the municipality or the police force; that is, it influences from the crime rate that the locality or city has as well as the population to be protected, places of interest, stadiums, roads etc. It is important to design "suits" tailored to customers, on the other hand more and more resources are allocated to electronic surveillance technologies because their prompt recovery is proven, as well as their reliability.
VDS: How is a citizen CCTV system designed and implemented?
JAL: in coordination with the needs of a municipality or city, and according to what the authorities want to protect or monitor, in some cities they use the systems to monitor, in others to detect incidents in stadiums, concerts etc, some others to monitor and record places such as parks and shopping malls; based on current needs.
VDS: as an integrator and installer, what type of equipment best fits the characteristics of this type of application?
JAL: 360° coverage domes, fixed cameras, steel furniture, recorders with software designed for CCTV applications, dispersed spectrum radios with specific characteristics, mass storage systems of information (hard drive systems), high-speed routers, reliable power backup systems and physical lands adapted to the particularity of the city.
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