Sydney's new Waratah trains to feature 7000 IP cameras (updated)
- 23 October, 2009 11:05
- Comments 6
If you find yourself aboard a suburban train in the not too distant future and you get the feeling you’re being watched, chances are you're right.
Sydney’s new fleet of Waratah suburban trains, to be introduced later next year, will feature no less than 7000 IP cameras, or about 98 cameras per train.
The cameras, part of a multi-million deal for Axis Communications and partner Pacific Communications, will be networked to allow on-board train guards to monitor the full length and breadth of the each carriage.
A key feature of the cameras will be built-in image tampering which enables camera operators to be notified when a camera has been blocked by an object such as paper or chewing gum.
The cameras also utilise progressive scan technology which provides full resolution of moving objects with no distortion, according to the company.
According to Wai King Wong, Australian county manager at Axis Communications, the 209MFD-R model cameras will record 24/7 creating about 1TB of data per day per train, which will be stored locally on each train.
Over the course of a year and across all trains the data generated will amount to roughly 35,770TB of video.
Wong was unable to comment on how data would be transferred from each train, stored and managed. RailCorp had not returned requests for information by time of publication.
Despite the potential privacy concerns such a number of cameras and volume of data on commuters presented, Wong said the primary purpose of the 7000 cameras was commuter safety.
“Train commuters safety is the main priority and 98 cameras provides ample coverage to ensure their physical security is well monitored,” he said.
update
According to a RailCorp spokesperson, the approximately 1TB of CCTV data filmed daily by the new cameras will be securely stored on the Waratah trains for 30 days then deleted unless it is required for investigation purposes.
"As with existing CCTV data on trains, data that is retrieved for investigations will be done so in accordance with the NSW Evidence Act 1995," the spokesperson said. "Retrieved footage for investigation purposes will be maintained by the relevent Authority(ies)."
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Comments
Anonymous
Sure, why not. And bring on the sniffer dogs while you're at it. Stop the crime at the thought. Don't they have cameras that detect what mood you're in? Please authorities, protect us from ourselves! We are weak, and we need you!
Anonymous
you either have grafitti/crime or cameras.. take your pick
John
Key question - Where's all that data get stored? 35.8k TB of HDD space.
Right On
If the "primary purpose" is commuter safety, what else are they being used for?
Deonast
If you aren't doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about. It is not like it would stop you from doing things you would do in a public place anyway.
Still I do wonder how they will store that data, they need at the very least 16 Hard drives and a storage array.
Anonymous
No, the choice is not just cameras or crime. There's a third option: dish out meaningful punishments to people who don't know how to live in society, meaning a generous serving of the lash for those who attack others without provocation. And it also means stripping police of their vile radar guns and putting those guys where they belong -- on the beat, protecting you and me, instead of trying to get us.
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