Barcelona Metro implements intelligent video surveillance

Story link: Barcelona Metro implements intelligent video surveillance by Jan Harris

Barcelona Metro is implementing an intelligent video surveillance system from Sony on Line 9 (L-9) to provide safety and operating efficiency across its network.

The integrated networked video surveillance system is built on the DEPA (Distributed Enhanced Processing Architecture) platform. It features Sony’s IP monitoring software RealShot Manager and 1,585 IP cameras deployed at the 51 stations along the line.

The project was complex, with some of the stations 60 metres below street level and numerous stretches of line, stairs, escalators and corridors. Around 90 million passengers use the line every year.

Sony’s brief was to provide an intelligent digital video surveillance and recording system that could operate seamlessly with the existing telecommunications system.

In contrast to traditional IP systems, the system’s DEPA architecture provides precise, real-time and co-ordinated view of any potential threats in the camera’s field of view.

The control centre receives pictures from the camera network simultaneously while recording takes place locally at each station.

A key feature of the DEPA architecture lies in the processing. The IP camera detects movement, analyses the image and relays the information corresponding to the description of the scene as metadata through the network to the RSM intelligent video surveillance application.

The open architecture system means that intelligent cameras can be deployed system-wide. The video surveillance systems can be integrated into Business Intelligence systems in order to assist with people movement control or the management of queues in supermarkets.

The Sony IP cameras support real-time intelligent video analysis which can detect hazardous situations and associated threats and alert the control centre via the IP telecommunications network.

The project required complete customisation and was carried out by Sony Espana’s IT and Corporate Division in collaboration with the UTE Energia Linea 9.