GPS Tracking and Chicago's Video Camera Network

In the November 17, 2009 edition of the Wall Street Journal, there was an article called Chicago's Camera Network Is Everywhere. The article discusses the city's video monitoring system that now has an estimated 15,000 video cameras attached to it.

OK, so we are all being watched by Big Brother, but here is the interesting part - the city of Chicago receives about 15,000 (must be a convenient number) emergency calls per day. As soon as the 911 folks receive a call, their screen shows them live video feeds from the nearest video camera. Of course this feed will often be useless, but it stimulates some thinking as to how this "network-centric" approach works.

Live video links being connected to phone calls is an interesting thought. It shows integration between multiple systems into a "network-centric" approach. Let's ponder a large construction project. I can image a time when GPS tracking systems activate live video feeds at the gate of a job site for security and project management.

• The project manager is expecting 4 trucks full of materials. As each truck passes the entrance gate it alerts the project manager and shows him/her a live video feed on their mobile device. The location of equipment going in and out of gates is viewed by GPS tracking and live video coverage.
• All heavy equipment on the job site has GPS tracking. If any of the equipment is moved after hours it alerts security and activates live video feeds to the mobile device that is carried by security officials and managers.
• Project managers hundreds of miles away can collect all the heavy equipment needed for the project from various geographic locations and track its convergence to the job site. Live video feeds and GPS alerts show the arrival of each vital piece of equipment.
• Perhaps contractors are also willing to share their GPS fleet tracking data with the project manager. This would enable the project manager to track the arrival of important materials that are needed at specific times to keep the project on schedule

GPS fleet and equipment tracking systems are readily available. Integrating these technologies with project management and live video systems is the next frontier.

For more information on Network-Centric strategies read this article.

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