New safety movement driving public safety and enterprise innovation.
Public safety agencies across the Asia Pacific are looking at harnessing the technology of video communications to improve their customer service, better manage checks, and to do virtual control.
These types of video communications are also essential, during COVID-19 for patrolling and for computers at the station. This video is live 24 by seven, if anybody needs help, public safety agents can get to the situation in a timely manner.
A global research study from Motorola Solutions, conducted by Goldsmiths, University of London in September, found that COVID-19 accelerated changes in public perspectives related to safety and the acceptance and adoption of new technologies.
The Consensus for Change report surveyed 12,000 citizens and interviewed 50 public safety agencies, commercial organizations, and industry experts across 10 geographic markets (Australia, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Nordics, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States). It analyses how the global COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of the need for technology to enhance public safety while accelerating innovation and technology adoption for emergency services and enterprises around the world.
The independent research team directed by Dr Chris Brauer at Goldsmiths, University of London, has conducted an expansive global study also uncovered how expectations for safety and security are changing while fuelling public safety and enterprise innovation.
Helping Philippines National Railways
Earlier in March this year an advanced video security system from Motorola Solutions to enable Philippine National Railways (PNR) to continue operating safely throughout the global pandemic while enhancing the rail operator’s long term security and flexibility.
Carrying more than 60,000 passengers each day across a network spanning 78 kilometres, Philippine National Railways provides a popular mode of transport in the country.
Although the system was initially deployed to identify potential safety risks such as damage to boom gate barriers, it has given the rail operator the edge in identifying and preventing the potential spread of COVID-19 across its operations.
The solution incorporates 200 high-definition cameras across all of PNR’s railway stations with advanced, AI-powered video analytics.
The video analytics system features thermal imaging software to identify passengers and employees with indications of elevated body temperature before they enter railway facilities.
The technology also helps PNR to identify if passengers are wearing face masks, adhering to social distancing policies and provides valuable evidence to support contact tracing efforts.
Philippines National Railways Assistant General Manager, Atty. Celeste D. Lauta, said the video security system provided her organisation with the increased awareness and confidence it needed to continue operating safely throughout the pandemic.
“This project was initially conceived as a security management tool, but because of COVID-19, it has paved the way for us to make our rail organisation more resilient, Lauta said.
“We once used handheld thermographic scanners to read body temperatures which was a labour and time intensive process. Now we have a solution that is contactless, efficient and alerts control room operators to potential risks so they can decide the best way to respond,” Lauta added.
The technology also supports a Philippines government Department of Health (DOH) initiative, BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19, which encourages all Filipino people to take an active role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to public health measures.
Enhancing prisons
Singapore Prison Services is a government agency that runs Singapore’s 14 prisons and drug rehabilitation centres. It falls under the direct management of the Ministry of Home Affairs. There are three parts to the agency’s mission – to be a partner in criminal justice, to protect society through safe custody and rehabilitation, and prevention and aftercare.
Their vision is equally illuminating – “We aspire to be captains in the lives of offenders committed to our custody. We will be instrumental in steering them towards being responsible citizens with the help of their families and the community. We will thus build a secure and exemplary prison system.”
In line with the Singapore Prison Service’s mission and vision statements, the first cluster of the new Changi Prison Complex, complete with enhanced security features was launched in August 2004. The sophisticated security systems in place have made it one of the world’s most secure prison institutions.
Cluster B of the new prison complex is expected to be completed by end 2008, and Cluster C, now still in its planning stage, is to follow Work began in June 2003 for the Singapore Prison Service when it decided on a digital trunked radio communications system for its new Changi Prison Cluster A. Incidentally, it also marked the first TETRA (TErrestrial Trunked RAdio) system installed for a public safety agency in Singapore. The new TETRA system that was deployed in Changi Prison Cluster A was completed and fully operational by August 2004.
It was the first of four Clusters to be established in the new complex. Designed for the high security environment, the radio network had encrypted features added on to ensure that voice transmissions are confidential for secure communications. It also included an emergency call/alarm feature and a voice recording function that records calls made in various specific talk groups for replay and review. The successful implementation of the system at Cluster A led to a request from the Singapore Prison Service to extend the same communication infrastructure for its elite team – the SPEAR (Singapore Prisons Emergency and Response) Force.
Additional TETRA base stations as well as Motorola’s advanced TETRA portables and mobile radios were acquired to complete the communications infrastructure.
With the new system, officers can utilise the trunking functions to communicate securely, send real-time confidential information and critical voice communications for better ground control or to coordinate responses in critical situations. The enhanced integrated digital trunking communications network allows officers to be even more agile in their operations whilst maintaining order, security, and control in the field. Resources are optimized to contribute to a more conducive environment for the management and rehabilitation of inmates.
Connecting Thailand public and commercial government organisations
Investment in the communications network comes as Thailand is experiencing its fastest economic growth rate since 2012 and as The World Bank considers raising the country’s economic growth projections for the year.
CAT Telecom Public Company Limited, operator of Thailand’s telecommunications infrastructure, will provide Thailand’s government agencies, emergency services and other critical enterprises with access to the mission-critical radio communications network.
The highly scalable, shared operator system will be based on the modern TETRA standard that provides reliable, flexible and secure communications access to public safety and enterprise organisations across the world.
Deployment of the network is well underway. When complete, it will have capacity to serve more than 200,000 users including government departments, oil and gas companies, transportation operators and other critical organisations.
The system will utilise Motorola Solutions’ broadband enabled push-to-talk platform, enabling seamless communication between radio users and other workers using smartphones, tablets, desktop computers and other devices.
It will also provide next-generation capabilities including location services to pinpoint radio users and other resources in the field, providing improved response to large scale events.
The pandemic has highlighted the need to look at things and respond differently – from assessing risks and better predicting areas of operational disruption, to evaluating and integrating the right technologies to support business continuity. It has also reinforced the need for better communication and collaboration with communities and among stakeholders to secure support for the expanded use of advanced technologies.
