The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has completed the upgrade of the video management system that takes feeds from over 400 CCTV cameras across the state’s road network, covering 11,753 miles (18,914km) of highways and approximately 4,600 bridges.
The USA division of Finnish video management developer and systems integrator Teleste has now completed the deployment of its IP-based (Internet Protocol) S-VMX system for WisDOT, which has met the agency’s growing need for more scalability and advanced video management capabilities.
Teleste’s Video Management Solution (VMS) needs to support WisDOT’s operating environment, which includes: 24/7 statewide resource and communications hub STOC (State Traffic Operations Center); 400+ cameras; temporary cameras for construction sites, with feeds coming from radio to fiber; 1,400 main line detectors and congestion maps; public safety computer-aided dispatch (CAD) from three sheriff’s departments and the Wisconsin State Patrol; weather information systems; 511 phone and website; 85 dynamic message signs (DMS); 196 portable changeable message signs (PCMS); 14 stations with highway advisory radio (HAR); and traffic media partnerships.
Teleste provided WisDOT with an end-to-end video management system that offers all hardware and software, greater scalability and support for the large, growing system. Compared to the WisDOT’s previous solution, Teleste’s IP-based system also offered increased flexibility, more reliability and control, as well as superior quality of cameras and recording control software, which feature: encoders supporting both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4: cameras are connected to MPX-E encoders, with the exception of the agency’s new high definition COHU Helios cameras, which have an embedded encoder; all multicast video traffic transported via a new statewide fiber optic ring; SD video recordings as 4CIF MPEG-4, with a variable bit rate capped at 3000bps, 30FPS; HD video recordings as H.264, 1280 x 720, max bitrate of 3,000bps, 30FPS; enhanced capability to store video streams for further inspection via 64TB of disk space dedicated to video storage, including eight NVRs (network video recorders), each with 8TB of storage; and increased capability to transcode video streams to websites compared to the previous system.
Teleste’s VMS has provided WisDOT with increased flexibility, and more reliability and control of all system components, as well as transmission of data, which has resulted in improved operational workflow. The system enables the control room to effectively address different types of road security issues, including faster confirmation and response, coordination and assistance in response efforts, verification of driver alerts, while also being able to notify the media and the public about incidents of concern. Along with its enhanced real-time operability, the system offers scalable data storage capability for video recordings in various file formats.
The stored video clips are available for further inspection for 120 days, after which they are deleted in accordance with the state’s records retention policy. According to WisDOT, Teleste’s VMS provides an invaluable asset for increased security on the state’s highways, with its inherent ability to support the large, growing road system, the future-proof equipment meets the agency’s ongoing drive for continuous development.
