In a unique integrated solution, Arecont Vision 5-megapixel cameras are used in conjunction with a radar speed gun in Argentina. The camera's small size and excellent performance provided the perfect imaging solution for this specialized law enforcement application.
The local governments in Buenos Aires, Argentina needed a portable mobile solution to monitor and document speed limit violations.
MEGAPIXEL SOLUTION
In a unique integrated solution, Arecont Vision 5-megapixel cameras are used in conjunction with a radar speed gun. The camera's small size and excellent performance provided the perfect imaging solution for this specialized law enforcement application.
The system consists of a radar speed gun, a central processing unit (CPU) module, a 5-megapixel camera and a laptop computer for programming and monitoring. The CPU controls and administers all functions of the system. The camera connects to the CPU through an Ethernet connection, and the radar pistol communicates with the CPU via an RS-232 port.
The CPU analyzes whether the vehicle's speed is in excess of the speed limit. If it is, the camera takes a high-resolution digital image of the vehicle for license plate identification and fine processing. The information is then correlated to Argentina's vehicle registration database and the speed, operator's name, speed limit and location are superimposed on the picture and saved in memory on an SD card housed in the unit. A single SD card can store more than 1,000 files. Local monitoring is performed using a laptop computer, which is connected using a Wi-Fi network. The system also communicates via Wi-Fi to a desktop computer for remote monitoring.
The compact IP cameras feature H.264/MJPEG dual encoding and up to 32-times the resolution of a VGA camera. Forty of the radar/video speed gun units were built, and the first units have been working uninterrupted since 2009.
The handheld radar speed gun system was designed and installed by Dyna Group, Buenos Aires, a customer-oriented company providing technical and environmental engineering services to its clients.
MEGAPIXEL BENEFITS
Megapixel-quality images include greater detail at an affordable price. Value drives the market, and less-expensive systems with higher resolution and better system performance provide the best value. Arecont Vision camera was chosen as the preferred solution because of performance, small size and easy operation. The system has been well received because of the high-resolution of the images and the small size of the complete device.
Better images ensure more revenue from speeding fines, which yields return on investment (ROI) for the new system. The radar/video guns have more than paid for themselves based on increased safety and collection of speeding fines. In one block in Buenos Aires, for example, 98 vehicles in one hour were each fined up to US$480 for speeding violations. In another example, there were approximately 200 tickets issued in a single four-hour shift. Residents can request police to provide speed controls in their neighborhoods based on concerns about the safety of pedestrians.
"The solution has worked well, and Arecont Vision has been responsive to the customer's needs," says Mr. Zino of Dyna Group. "The Arecont Vision megapixel camera provides a very compact and lightweight product at a reasonable price."