MuniWireless

A study conducted by the UC Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society reveals that the surveillance cameras installed around San Francisco have failed to deter violent crime. They have been effective, however, in lowering property crimes within 100 feet of the cameras by 24 percent. But before you conclude that all surveillance video projects are useless based on the SF study, read the report. It points out several problems:

There’s a lot of speculation among analysts that Obama’s election signifies the bursting of the security bubble. In the past eight years, billions of dollars have been poured (some say wasted) into IP video security applications in airports, sea ports, border areas, etc. Some analysts are predicting fewer government grants for homeland security and municipal projects. In surveys we’ve done here at Muniwireless, the number one application that municipalities want to use on their muni wireless networks is wireless video…

The police department of McAllen, Texas is installing 120 video surveillance cameras over the next five years in an effort to deter crime and catch suspects on film. The cameras will be linked via a wireless network, whose backhaul is a fiber optic network that runs through the city. The city is paying close to $500,000 for the video surveillance system, including the cameras; the fiber optic network will cost the city $11,000 per square mile and the city plans…

Reading, Pennsylvania (pop. 400,000) is installing a municipal wireless video surveillance network. In phase one they are setting up 22 cameras around the city and providing 4.9 GHz mobile access to police officers. The backhaul is the fiber optic network owned by MAW Communications. The city has partnered with Wi4Net, a division of CelPlan Technologies.

“We are implementing this video surveillance system as part of a larger effort to reduce crime in our City, and we are extremely excited with the…

Granbury, Texas will be deploying 15 video surveillance cameras starting in October 2008. This project will build upon the Tropos Wi-Fi mesh network that the city operates for public safety and public access. The city is increasing the number of Tropos wireless nodes from 110 to 150 to cover additional areas that have been annexed by the City since the original deployment. Installation of mobile routers in all police vehicles is also under way. These cameras are the same type…

I don’t know whether to be thrilled or appalled every time I read (or post articles) about the growing popularity of wireless video surveillance in our cities. Yes, police officers now have additional ways to catch nasty people. But the growing need for these surveillance cameras is disturbing in itself and says that we are living in an increasingly lawless, violent society. What next — walled cities with electronic moats to keep out the undesirables?

Back to the story. Buffalo, New…