The Cape Cod (Mass.) Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) needed an engineered surveillance system installed that would meet Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements to harden the facility and ensure it was capable of managing an emergency event.

The challenges were, from the perspective of the transit agency, curtailing criminal activity, liability issues, and loitering in and around the buses. Coverage for megapixel cameras to meet those requirements was a bit challenging because there was a lot of real estate to cover on both the interior and exterior of the building. The coverage area runs approximately a half mile, one end to the other, and a full square mile to include adjoining Hyannis, Mass., city streets that also needed surveillance.

In addition, there were some internal network issues that were overcome by integrating the access control system that resides in South Dennis, Mass. The networking experts at project integrator Kratos | HBE, in conjunction with Systems Synergies LLC, were able to work alongside the IT group at CCRTA to ensure proper network connectivity with the system in Hyannis.

Integrator Gets Project Under Way

Kratos | HBE is part of Kratos Public Safety & Security (PSS), a division of San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. and the nation’s second-largest independent systems integrator of advanced life safety, security and surveillance systems for government and commercial applications. Based out of Woburn, Mass., Kratos | HBE specializes in providing highly complex integrated security solutions to national organizations.

The integrator’s national footprint encompasses 32 locations and 600 employees, including engineers, technicians and project managers trained and certified in leading technologies. The firm aims to align clients’ security programs to the bottom-line value-drivers of the respective organizations. In addition, resources from Kratos Defense’s other divisions offer solutions such as cyber security and network monitoring, as well as nurse call, building automation and fire/life safety.

Systems Synergies of Randolph, Mass., is a security convergence specialist providing network design and physical security instrumentation for end users and integrators. The business lends assistance in the commissioning of projects to assure design specifications are fully met. This includes a comprehensive network support solution designed to monitor, remotely update, patch, repair and dispatch service with root cause identified.

Uniquely qualified and experienced in projects similar to the CCRTA design and installation, Kratos | HBE and Systems Synergies forged a joint effort to engineer the mass transit solution.

All equipment and components were selected based on their quality and proven history of seamless integration with one another. The entire system was powered up and bench tested before the installation crew ever began the actual execution on site. Once all quality control checks had been confirmed, the onsite deployment began.

After the physical installation of the access control and video surveillance systems was completed, programming and fine-tuning of the software was performed. Kratos then conducted administrative training for the customer, showing them how to utilize the systems. The entire sales effort was approximately a two-year process, while the actual project execution was a matter of a couple of months.

IP Video, Access & More Pace System

The system that was designed and installed features approximately 40 outdoor megapixel IP cameras with special day/night coverage running on Fluidmesh radios. It is optimized for high quality, high frame rate megapixel images. The Fluidmesh system is running a point-to-multipoint configuration over the east end of the bus depot and a point-to point configuration over the west end. The coverage is comprehensive and cameras are positioned on the inside and outside of the transit property itself as well as on surrounding city streets.

The system includes 12 long-range and wide-angle Basler 5-megapixel cameras operating on Fluidmesh 1100 Mito and 3100 Mito radio networks. These 12 wireless cameras are distributed across an area exceeding one square mile. Another 24 megapixel cameras cover the inside and outside of the building itself.

In addition, there are 16 doors of Schlage SMS access control with an integrated intrusion system; an employee badging station; a monitor for forensic viewing of the video; and video intercom for the elevator control. Two separate radio networks are used to accommodate all the bandwidth required on the campus.

Principals Speak to Particulars

Dick Spellman, principal of Systems Synergies and designer of the system, optimized it for highest quality, high frame rate megapixel images. He terms the Basler IP cameras as “phenomenal,” noting that they’re very small, about half the size of a deck of cards. He selected Theia lenses, stating that you always want to match your lens with field of view and depth of field.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Related Content