HD IP Delivers Clear Benefits for Tower Transit
Synectics Security demonstrated the superior image clarity that HD IP cameras could deliver, as well as increased functionality – essential for helping drivers and operators to see things in precise detail, including number plates and cyclist positions on the road.
“Analogue cameras are absolutely fine. They do the job and the majority of the time the footage captured gives you the evidence that you require. However, if you’ve ever viewed an incident and wished that you could just zoom into a vehicle registration number plate, or even a passenger’s face, then you’ll appreciate the benefits that IP can offer. We certainly wouldn’t go back to analogue.”
Greg Wright, Insurance Manager, Tower Transit Operations Ltd
Thinking Big – Fleet-Wide IP
The Tower Transit Group employs 2,930 staff and operates 1,030 buses in some of the world’s busiest and most connected cities, where there is immense pressure on drivers to transport commuters safely and efficiently. London is one such city.
With 450 buses operating within the TfL framework, Tower Transit London needed to ensure its use of surveillance technology was supporting every aspect of operations. In fulfilling that need, Tower Transit became one of the first operators to implement forward-facing IP cameras.
Making the Switch
Tower Transit has had forward-facing analogue cameras fitted to vehicles since 2015. The cameras capture clear, quality footage from the road in front of the vehicle and record vital data for training, journey analysis, law enforcement, and insurance or other claims – which can be reviewed by the CCTV analysts based at the depot.
A review of their on-board surveillance capacity highlighted a number of instances where footage retrieved from the legacy forward-facing cameras had not always been clear enough to rebuke insurance claims, for example, partial registration plates being recorded or out-of-focus footage, so Tower Transit approached Synectics Security for a solution.
Synectics Security demonstrated the superior image clarity that HD IP cameras could deliver, as well as increased functionality, such as the ability to zoom in without quality loss – essential for helping drivers and operators to see things in precise detail, including number plates and cyclist positions on the road.
Tower Transit initially trialed forward-facing IP cameras vehicles in 2015, before updating its specification to include them on every new vehicle that leaves the factory.
Greg Wright, Insurance Manager, Tower Transit Operations Ltd, said: “Imagine watching a football match on an HD TV screen. You can see each blade of grass, the facial expressions of the players, and the picture quality stays in focus despite movement following the ball up the pitch. Then imagine going back to viewing a football match on an LCD or SD TV screen – you just wouldn’t! Well that’s exactly how I feel about installing IP cameras on our fleet.”
A Truly Integrated Solution
Installed on the dashboard, these forward-facing road IP cameras are part of the overall on-vehicle surveillance solution, including analog interior and exterior cameras, and driver’s cab monitors.
And, because the migration to IP can be an evolutionary process, Tower Transit is able to strategically target when and where IP cameras are implemented. During the transition, Synectics Security offers expert guidance and provides flexible options – an approach suitable for operators of any size, with any budget.
New vehicles (and any requiring upgrade) are also fitted with Synectics’ hybrid T1600 digital video recorder (DVR) with Synectics’ integrated management platform – Synergy 3 Transport – used to monitor and review the T1600 footage. Synergy 3 Transport gives Tower Transit a new level of flexibility and technical capability for managing on-vehicle security and surveillance, while effectively and efficiently managing its fleet.