Accomplishments for Core Goal #8: Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
CCTV
Maryland began an effort to create a statewide closed circuit television (CCTV) system by identifying and cataloging cameras and capabilities, networking those cameras, and providing an interface so that necessary video can be disseminated where it is needed. The cataloging and networking of cameras coupled with the development of a legal and policy framework for video-sharing will support a truly statewide camera system that integrates State, local, and private video. The State has also continued to build out new state-of-the-art CCTV systems at critical infrastructure and other locations and is pursuing pairing cameras with companion technologies such as license plate recognition and radiation sensors. Following are key projects and accomplishments:
- Building a shared statewide CCTV network comprised of 2023 State and local traffic, security, and vehicle-based cameras which are available to first responders and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) across Maryland. Because State and local agencies own and operate different CCTV camera networks that use multiple types of cameras and video formats, Maryland created a single, statewide platform to access CCTV feeds. This program, called MVIEW, started with less than 200 State Highway Administration (SHA) cameras in 2007 has continued to grow since. MVIEW transcodes previously incompatible video feeds from different camera types into a standard format, making them accessible with a single login for each user. This allows state and local first responders to better manage traffic incidents, special events, and emergency evacuations.
- MVIEW camera feeds are available for streaming on tablets, smart phones, and other mobile devices. MVIEW has the ability to group cameras together for ease of use by first responder. Past special events such as the Preakness, the Baltimore Grand Prix, and the 2014 Star-Spangled Spectacular have utilized MVIEW camera groupings so that first responders, command centers, and users can easily access CCTV from their portable handheld devices.
- Integrated cameras into MVIEW that are fixed to mobile vehicles such as police helicopters and the SHA emergency response team. In addition to fixed highway and roadway traffic cameras, SHA is able to transmit live video feeds from dozens of vehicle-based “dash cam”, video feeds that provide on-site video coverage of emergency incidents. During the Train Derailment in May, 2013, for example, live video from a Baltimore County Police Department helicopter showing the derailment was streamed and was viewable in the State Emergency Operation Center, the Maryland Coordination & Analysis Center’s (MCAC’s) Watch Center, MEMA’s Maryland Joint Operations Center (MJOC), as well as to first responders and decision makers.
- Maryland continues to harden transportation infrastructure by adding more real-time CCTV coverage on busses, and at bridges, airports, tunnels, and the port. The Integrated Airport Security System (IASS) at BWI is a joint project by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) to upgrade and add new electronic security measures at BWI facilities. Before the contract was completed on May 28, 2013, the program added 674 CCTV cameras to BWI airport. Additionally, the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) has added 498 CCTV cameras across 6 of their terminals.
- Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) continues to build their CCTV capabilities. There are over 1,362 cameras installed at MTA locations that are networked and monitored at the MTA’s Police Monitoring Facility, including 42 out of 86 transit stations (Metro, Light Rail, and MARC) with additional funding to install cameras at 13 more stations by the end of 2015. MTA is also currently sharing and streaming over half of its live video from its Police Monitoring Facility into the State’s Video Portal, MView, and provides logins to all of the police force monitoring their facilities on-site via their laptops and handhelds.
