LAS VEGAS, NV (April 2, 2014) – Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, a leading provider of security and video surveillance solutions, today at ISC West announced that it has partnered with the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Transit Police Division to develop and deploy an integrated transit security solution built on a foundation of Panasonic i-PRO network cameras. The new solution is replacing RTD’s aging analog-based system to enable staff to efficiently access high-quality video evidence to better protect riders, drivers and physical property, as well as to improve the investigation of criminal activity, safety violations, accidents and liability claims.
With durable Full HD 1080p and HD 720p network cameras inside and outside of each bus, integrated with other hardware and software components for recording, file transfer, viewing and management, the system delivers an end-to-end mobile security solution for the growing transportation agency. It leverages NICE Systems NiceVision IP video management software and the NICE Inform platform to view and manage video files, and integrate them with various other video and audio sources and case files to create a unified event timeline. The multiphase deployment of the integrated solution across RTD’s new and existing fleet is ongoing.
New Wireless Offload Capabilities
A key benefit of the solution is the ability for RTD staff to quickly and wirelessly offload flagged video files associated with specific incidents from buses’ in-vehicle recorders. This eliminates the need to manually offload data and search through files when investigating an incident, saving the agency significant time and cost. The in-vehicle technology also includes the capability for public safety officials to view live footage from the bus’s cameras during an emergency, from up to a block away.
By employing open platform Panasonic i-PRO MEGA Super Dynamic HD WV-SW155 compact dome network cameras and i-PRO Super Dynamic Full HD WV-SW158 compact dome network cameras with microphone capabilities, the solution delivers improved video quality and clarity as well as wider fields of view. Designed for use in a transit environment, the vandal-resistant cameras are engineered to withstand shocks and impacts, and are IP66-rated water and dust resistant. Additionally, the in-vehicle recorders are equipped with anti-vibration mounts to ensure long-term performance, and cameras on buses’ exteriors are secured in shroud housings for added protection.
“With our former analog-based system, RTD Security had to physically retrieve hard drives from busses to investigate incidents an average of 25-30 times per day – a significant waste of time and resources. Video quality was also poor and sometimes unusable,” said Bob Grado, RTD Transit Police Commander and Manager of Integrated Security Operations. “Working with Panasonic, we developed a high-quality solution from the ground up to address these issues and more importantly, to ensure the security of our bus system for our 101 million passenger trips a year.”
“RTD faced a significant challenge as its ridership base is rapidly growing, but its aging mobile surveillance system could not keep up – with a rapidly increasing failure rate, an inefficient video offload process and poor video quality,” said Greg Peratt, Senior Director, Panasonic Video Solutions Integration Team, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “With our standing as a global imaging leader and rich experience as a public sector technology provider, Panasonic is uniquely positioned to partner with RTD to build a solution that meets their needs, and we look forward to seeing it deliver the results they’re looking for.”
Panasonic’s mobile surveillance solutions, as well as its entire portfolio of security solutions for businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, government and other organizations, will be showcased at booth 14039 at ISC West, April 2-4, 2014, in Las Vegas.
About Denver Regional Transportation District
Founded in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly, the Regional Transportation District provides a dynamic public transit system across the greater Denver metro area. Its service district spans 2,340 square miles and serves a population of 2.8 million in eight counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and Weld. RTD operates more than 140 local, express and regional bus routes and five light rail lines with 336,706 average weekday passenger boardings. Learn more about RTD at http://www.rtd-denver.com.
Panasonic Solutions for Business
Panasonic delivers reliable business technology solutions that connect data with decision makers to drive better outcomes—for our customers and our customers’ customers. Panasonic engineers reliable products and solutions that help to create, capture and deliver data of all types, where, when and how it is needed. The complete suite of Panasonic professional solutions for government and commercial enterprises of all sizes addresses unified business communications, mobile computing, security and surveillance, retail point-of-sale, office productivity, visual communications (projectors, displays, digital signage) and HD video production. Panasonic solutions for business are delivered by Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation.
All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic solutions for business can be obtained by calling 877-803-8492 or at us.panasonic.com/business-solutions/.
About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation, and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In Interbrand’s 2013 Annual “Best Global Green Brands” report, the Panasonic brand ranked number four, the highest ranked electronics brand in the report (http://bit.ly/17ezCDI). As part of continuing sustainability efforts, Panasonic Corporation of North America relocated its headquarters to a new facility built to meet LEED certification standards, adjacent to Newark Penn Station in Newark, NJ. Learn more about Panasonic at www.panasonic.com.
