A programme aimed at both upgrading and improving the functionality of a camera-based monitoring system in the area covered by the Rondebosch Community Improvement District (RCID) is steadily taking place.
Shirley Aldum, manager of RCID, says the system has served them well in the past.
“By working together, the RCID has managed to reduce crime to minimal levels, lower than all our adjacent neighbourhoods, according to official crime stats from the police.”
Originally launched in 2012, the RCID camera system underwent an assessment in October last year to determine how it could be improved using the latest technology. Last week, RCID sent out a newsletter to their members, giving a breakdown of the recent progress made in their plans.
According to the progress report, the main components of the system at present include the RCID hub (located on Bishops Diocesan College’s school grounds), six license plate recognition (LPR) cameras, and 50 overview cameras.
The purpose of the LPR cameras are to send alerts to a configurable group (for example, the police and the hub) when a vehicle of interest (VOI) comes into an LPR camera’s view while the overview cameras highlight objects like vehicles and pedestrians when moving through defined areas within the camera’s field of view.
“For those cameras with analytical capabilities, the controller can zoom in or out to see more detail. While you might be able to see a camera, it might not see you, as each camera is configured to comply with the Popi Act, which proscribes the use of cameras and their field of monitoring (for example, cameras cannot be aimed into private property),” says Aldum.
Of the 50 overview cameras, 16 were found to show “intermittent functionality” due to wi-fi constraints.
Aldum explains that, since the system was first launched 10 years ago, sending video via wi-fi over distance in a leafy suburb – while competing with increasingly powerful wi-fi networks in the area – has become a challenge.
“In co-operation with residents, RCID has nearly completed a project to connect the 16 intermittently-functioning cameras to residents’ fibre internet infrastructure, securing the footage via a Virtual Private Network (VPN),” she says.
This task will be completed by the end of May.
Of the 50 overview cameras, 14 currently are stand-alone cameras, and thus lack analytical capabilities.
Describing what is meant with “analytical capabilities”, the progress report states that areas of interest can be configured in each camera’s field of view so that movement can be picked up and highlighted on the screen.
“The hub controller monitors the screens for these highlights and applies judgement as to whether the movement requires closer investigation.
“The controller can zoom in on the area, and if the activity appears suspicious, can summon a patrol vehicle to investigate,” says Aldum.
In the next phase, set to be implemented in the second half of this year, these 14 stand-alone cameras will also be connected to the hub. Once this balance is connected, the total number of cameras monitored by the RCID hub will be 56 (50 overview cameras and six LPR cameras).
As to the placement of these cameras (which is confidential), Aldum says the LPR cameras have been installed to monitor the entry and exit points to the RCID area. The overview cameras are strategically placed to monitor identified hotspots, using data provided by Rondebosch Police in tandem with other factors such as an area’s vulnerability.
“Once these areas are covered, further cameras will be installed to fill in the gaps, in order of vulnerability.”
While RCID owns the hub and camera infrastructure, Fidelity ADT manages the hub and pays its staffing costs.
“RCID hub is not the first responder to alarm activations; those go directly to the security solutions provider’s main control room in N1 City.
“The hub’s main function is to be a locally-relevant service to the community, able to respond to local security-related concerns, as well as monitor our growing network of cameras,” says Aldum.
The hub is a 24/7 facility, operated by a team of three controllers, one on duty at a time (taking turns to do 12-hour shifts).
She says Fidelity ADT retrains hub controllers regularly, as well as when new technology is installed.
“For our part, we have upgraded technology (converted ADSL to fibre, upgraded the UPS for loadshedding, improved our video-clip storage system) and continue to simplify back-end systems to reduce the load on the servers.”
Aldum says the RCID’s camera system is a team effort between the Rondebosch community, the hub controllers and the patrol vehicles.
