It is an international event that only comes around once every four years: the World Cup of football. The prestigious endowment of playing host to the world was given to Brazil for the 2014 games, and along with the announcement came mass celebration – that is, mass celebration and preparation.
It is an international event that only comes around once every four years: the World Cup of football. The prestigious endowment of playing host to the world was given to Brazil for the 2014 games, and along with the announcement came mass celebration – that is, mass celebration and preparation. An event of such stature requires intensive planning, coordination, and security measures. The games not only had the backing of the Special Operations Command (COPESP) – one of Brazil's military brigades – but also high-technology equipment provided by VIVOTEK. Security at all of the World Cup sites was assured, and the only battles that football fans in Brazil needed to worry about were the ones played out on the pitch.
The Special Operations Command (COPESP)
The primary concern of the COPESP is national security, and ensuring that there is stability across the country means the army must be well trained in employing both tactics and technology. A shining example of this marriage is the Mobile Platform C2. A military truck, the Mobile Platform C2 has a load capacity of 17 tons, 2x4 traction, a 12 KVA generator that feeds all of the internal equipment, and can run 2000 km without refueling. The vehicle allows COPESP to operationalize intelligence by smoothly integrating the subsystem ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) with C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers). This framework is grounded in the use of modern technologies and is extremely flexible. It has the ability to incorporate new and/or peripheral systems that work on a digital signal, like video captured by VIVOTEK's cameras, for example. For the duration that the World Cup was happening in Brazil, then, this meant that whenever and wherever security was regarded as highly important, the Mobile Platform C2 was dispatched.
FIFA's pledge to peace
Large venues, such as the football stadiums built in Brazil, are a potential target for acts of terror. The sheer size and scope of the venues can make surveillance a challenge, something that FIFA – the governing organization of the World Cup – was keenly aware of. To mitigate the threat of attack there are many different lines of defense that can be employed, covering the time leading up to, during, and after the football matches. One of FIFA's pledges was that the games in Brazil would promote peace, meaning security placed very high on the World Cup agenda. With the COPESP, their Mobile Platform C2, and support from VIVOTEK's technology, FIFA was able to make good on their pledge.
Real-time control, seamless security
Many people came together to make this project a reality. The system integrator Equipe Engenharia won this project of the Brazilian army, and VIVOTEK's local distributor Alca Network was the one on the ground getting the product out to them. VIVOTEK provided around 300 units of the SD8363E model, a camera in the SUPREME series that has 1080p Full HD resolution, IP66- and NEMA 4X-rated housing, and real-time H.264, MPEG-4 and MJPEG compression. The camera boasts amazing versatility and picture quality that is nearly on par with what the human eye can produce.
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During the actual World Cup matches, having optimal surveillance control was crucial, which is why real-time and system integration functionality was a must for the cameras. With so many things happening at once, operators relied on the 360° continuous pan and 220° tilt, and all of the above features as well, to function seamlessly in real-time. In the end, COPESP personnel were able to navigate the system with ease, moving cameras and monitoring all elements around the stadium with just the click of a few buttons and turns of a joystick.
Enjoy the safety, enjoy the game
Claudio Freitas, the Colonel of COPESP, indicated “There was a lot of tension leading up to, and during, the World Cup. It is an international event, and we knew that the entire world would be watching. Thus, the real-time security control is crucial. The players did well on the center stage, and behind the scenes, my COPESP personnel also did an amazing job ensuring that the venues were a safe place to enjoy a football match.” Guilherme de Mello Barandas, Diretor Comercial at Alca Network, was equally pleased with how the games turned out. “It was a pleasure working together with VIVOTEK and the Brazilian brigade. The cameras came in, were quickly distributed, and performed up to expectation. The entire process played out like clockwork.”