Once derided as out of date and out of touch, the use of technology in front-line public services is now cutting edge.
“The public sector doesn’t only push the envelope in its use of AV, it’s a driver for change for the whole AV industry,” says Stijn Ooms, director of product strategy, AV and digital workplace at Crestron. “A lot of new developments in AV technology are based on the public sector’s needs and requirements and have since been implemented in the private sector. Security is a prime example, where technology for military use must be approved and certified by the US Department of Defense Information Systems Agency before it can be deployed.”
Transport management has come to rely heavily on AV. “A combination of video surveillance, audio network speakers and video analytics can help traffic management centres to ensure a smooth traffic flow by enforcing parking regulations, allowing operators to react remotely and in realtime when a disruptive situation occurs,” says Andreas Göransson, global enterprise segment marketing manager at Axis Communications.
“Network surveillance cameras with sophisticated analytics software can allow pre-defined detection zones, such as bus lanes. If an unauthorised vehicle is stopped too long, the camera can quickly detect it and trigger an alert. With a connected horn speaker, this alert could automatically play a pre-recorded announcement telling the driver to move on. In serious or dangerous situations, traffic officers could make a live announcement to the driver or warn other drivers or pedestrians.”
Intelligent cameras and speakers can also act as the eyes and ears of the emergency and security services. “Built-in sensors and microphones with audio analytics can listen for specific sounds, such as shattering glass, which trigger an alert and activate the cameras,” says Göransson. “This intelligence at the edge helps to improve realtime surveillance and reduce the number of false alarms, which cost valuable time. Having reallife access to images and sound also helps emergency services to react more proactively and according to the identified threat.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to become a critical tool, according to Mark Rushton, business development director at Vitec. “While sometimes seen as controversial, technologies such as facial recognition can process hours of data and highlight feeds or clips that should be further scrutinised by human eyes. Other examples could include automation of traffic flow being fed live images of congestion or accidents. Combining this form of mapping with predictive behavioural algorithms will allow the emergency services of the future to predict the movement of a protest or the aftermath of a major incident, enabling them to deploy people and resources more effectively.”
Emergency, defence and security services are already using IPTV for distribution and dissemination of live video for situational awareness and tactical planning, adds Rushton. “Video feeds come from many sources (news broadcasts, social media, police helicopters, CCTV), and alongside traditional, in-house resources, two-way tactical conferencing from command centres and mobile situation rooms, they provide unparalleled information about what’s happening on the ground and aid realtime decision making and resource planning. A recent example would be the video content used to create a viewable timeline of the Capitol riots in Washington DC.”
Mainstay of control
AV has become a mainstay of command and control centres. “Multiple and varied data feeds must be instantly accessible and visualised via multiple outputs, which usually consist of vast digital surfaces and smaller visual displays,” says Stephen Wair, business segment lead for control rooms at Sharp NEC Display Solutions. “The ability to link sources such as CCTV to mapping information and location data allows faster interpretation of events and faster and more accurate decision making.”
More localised video applications are also on the rise. “The police and ambulance services are increasingly using video collaboration as part of their interpreter network, which is proving much more effective than connecting people to an interpreter by phone,” says Nigel Penny, public sector video collaboration specialist at Logitech.
In transport hubs, such as railway stations and airports, AV is moving beyond its traditional role of information boards and audible announcements.
“The ability to quickly and automatically deploy customised messages is setting new standards of innovation for public transit communication,” says Justin Young, general manager of AtlasIED. “AI and machine learning are enabling AV systems to analyse travel patterns and adapt messaging accordingly. For example, predictive analytics can determine when and where the heaviest flow of traffic occurs at a train, bus or airport terminal, and deliver messages more frequently to those areas than to less populated ones.”
Personal safety and customer experience are also major focuses, as evidenced by the increased integration of wayfinding and visual notification technologies with content management systems. “At New York’s LaGuardia Airport, for example, audible announcements are automatically displayed on digital signage to help travellers with hearing impairments,” says Young. “This same signage is used for wayfinding, including directing people to the nearest exit during an emergency. The system also steers announcements to certain amplifiers, plays back recorded messages in a variety of languages, automates the boarding process, and converts text messages to speech.”
AV use in defence training
In defence, AV has valuable applications in research and development and military training. “New technologies such as simulation, immersive domes and virtual reality rooms are being used to expand research possibilities and increase the quality of training,” says Johan Besnainou, France and Spain director of ST Engineering, Antycip.
“Live training costs a fortune, and simulation is a solution for training helicopter pilots, missile aimers and other combat personnel in a cost-effective way, as close to reality as possible but without the danger.”
He cites a recent upgrade to ship defence simulators for the French Navy in Toulon and Brest, providing an immersive solution allowing personnel to train in front of a 270-degree curved image projected on to a 16m wide dome. “With these simulators the French Navy can create intervention scenarios in an immersive environment, allowing personnel to train and practise shipboard defence against any kind of threat. The simulators also help evaluate the chain of command and the response process, helping the crew to better identify, classify and react appropriately to threats. Personnel can create training scenarios with immersive and realistic rendering, both for the officers managing the ship’s operations and, at a 3D visualisation level, for the personnel manning the weapon systems.”
In addition, of course, the public sector is busy embracing the same kind of AV solutions as private sector firms, such as remote working. “All government agencies have aggressively embraced collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom in a big way,” says Steve Franklin, executive director of integrator, Cinos.
“While the initial strategy was to enable their use across various business units, now the second phase of implementation has begun, focusing on making these environments effective for longer-term flexible working.”
However, the public sector can pose unique or heightened challenges for AV suppliers. “Security, for instance, is paramount in defence, especially in AV-over-IP where top secret military information is shared over video, and in emergency services, where confidential handling of personal data is very important,” says Ooms.
Government versions
Crestron even produces specific government versions of certain products, such as touch screens without Bluetooth, microphones or Wi-Fi, and control processors with SSL security and authentication permanently enabled and the built-in FTP server disabled.
“Obviously reliability is important, including dedicated support and a clear preventive maintenance plan to ensure that control room technology, for example, is online 24/7,” Ooms adds. “And many government organisations have buildings spread over several campuses, cities or countries, with one central team responsible for maintenance and deployment, so remote management and deployment greatly simplify their job.”
“Eco-conscious design, deployment and ongoing operation is becoming important to the public, who want to be reassured that public services aren’t unduly affecting the environment,” says Henry Rawlins application manager at ASL. “These can also benefit public organisations directly, in reduced capital and operational costs, and improved maintenance and operational reliability.”
Product certification for both physical and environmental operation is also key. “Most defence operators have very high standards that are not easily achieved,” says Rushton. “Examples range from vibration, electromagnetic and operational temperature range, to where individual components are sourced and the location of product assembly and final manufacture. Recognised security penetration resistance is also required. Once you have the certified products, the next hurdle is having the correct credentials in place to operate in this market. Export certification of data and data handling and security clearance of personnel are essential.”
Finally, depth of purse and length of process are issues that will probably never go away. “Often in the public sector approval and funding can take much longer to obtain, with tenders often being long processes,” says David Corker, sales manager at integrator, CDEC. “Budgets, of course, can be an issue, especially when it comes to public-facing AV which can be seen as non-essential.”
“Public services have to ensure that investments in technology deliver a return and value over the long term, including products with a long life cycle and reliable performance, and solutions that can scale to support future needs,” Göransson adds.
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