See them first: Video Surveillance Systems
By Michael Melaniphy, Vice President, Public Sector, MCI

Onboard video surveillance systems are rapidly gaining popularity in the motor coach industry both in the private and public sector.  These systems are not new, as public transportation operators have been installing them for more than ten years.  Over that time, the systems have improved significantly, and we, as an industry, have learned more about how to use them.

The original video systems used VCRs and typically had two black-and-white cameras, only one of which would be active at any given time.  They intimidated drivers: More than one driver was captured placing paper or tape over the lens. Some drivers even went so far as to put big fishing magnets on top of the videotape recorder in an effort to blank out the recorded images.

Over time, drivers have learned that the video systems are more friend than foe. Videos have captured abusive passengers, cars running red lights prior to hitting the bus and numerous other incidents in which drivers were proven to have done their job well.

New systems go digital
The newest video surveillance systems are significantly improved. They use digital image storage systems that eliminate videotapes. Image-storage capacity can range from 15 minutes to several days. Cameras are now offered in a wide variety of configurations. There are both black-and-white and color cameras, low-light cameras, wide-angle lenses, long focal length lenses, hardened enclosures for use on prison buses and cameras built specifically to operate on the exterior of the vehicle.

Depending on the system selected, more than just video images can be captured in real time.  Specific examples of data that can be collected are: audio, brake lights, turn signals, vehicle speed, engine RPM, wheelchair deployments, and even the force of an impact. These inputs can be invaluable in reconstructing the series of events that led up to an incident as well as what occurred afterward.

Jim Kelty, maintenance supervisor for Low Country RTA in the Hilton Head Islands, says the onboard surveillance cameras have helped capture incidents such as a car swerving into a coach's front end, kids throwing rocks at windows and the disappearance of onboard equipment. "They've proved very beneficial when we've needed them," says Kelty. "It's like having an extra set of eyes." Low Country RTA has four-camera systems on four buses and will soon take delivery of four more coaches with five cameras each.

Protecting against fraud
Sometimes, the images captured after an accident are more important than those of the incident itself. Over the years, there have been many examples of post-accident activity captured by onboard video such as passers-by boarding a bus after an accident with the intent of filing a claim, seemingly happy passengers suddenly faking severe pain when an ambulance rolls up on the scene, and even physically challenged passengers undoing their seatbelts and falling to the floor only to later claim that they were never secured properly. 

Video surveillance systems on the market today range from simple, self-contained two-camera systems up through 10-camera systems with multiple data inputs. Expectedly, the prices vary just as widely.

Coming to terms
When it comes to the quality of the video images, there are a couple of things to consider. The first is Frames Per Second (FPS). The more FPS recorded, the better the quality of the images captured. This is the difference between "stop action" video that may only capture 3 FPS vs. real-time images that may run at 15 FPS or more.

Several items limit the FPS capture rate. The first is storage. The more images captured per second, the more storage one will need. A 15-FPS rate requires five times the storage as a three-FPS rate to achieve the same duration of video storage.

The second constraint is the number of cameras being used. The image storage system has a finite capacity to store "x" number of images per second. The more cameras that are trying to input data to the storage device simultaneously, the fewer frames each can capture per second.  For example, if a recorder has a storage capacity limit of 60 FPS and the bus is equipped with 10 cameras, then, on average, each camera can only input 6 FPS worth of data to the recorder. (10 cameras x 6FPS = 60 FPS limit).

Another image storage item to consider is long-term data retention of an incident. The two most common systems on the market today are removable hard-drives and fixed digital storage.  Removable hard-drives can be taken out of the coach and stored in a secure location for later playback. They are encased in a hardened enclosure and designed to slide in and out of the recorder. These allow for improved control over the "chain of custody" of the original images.  However, this can be expensive over time. The more common systems have a digital storage device that is integral to the recording unit. Images of an incident that one wants to save are typically downloaded to a laptop for later viewing off of the vehicle.  It's important to remember that many systems require a separate software package for the office computer to be able to view the captured images. These are typically sold separately.

In the event
Most, if not all, video storage systems are configured to run continuously and to write over the oldest images on the hard drive. This means that after an incident, one needs to quickly download the images before they are written over. More sophisticated systems have an "event save" mode.  Specifically, when an incident occurs, that moment in time is tagged on the storage systems and not allowed to be written over. The event tagging is typically triggered by one of two modes. The first is an "event save" button in the driver's area.  Drivers can activate this button if they feel threatened or have an incident either onboard or outside the vehicle. The second type of trigger is an impact sensor that detects a spike in "G"-forces and then tags the image. This requires no driver input. Some of the more sophisticated systems will actually go back several minutes before the trigger activation and secure the data as "event save" information so as to capture the events that led up to the incident.

There is one final item to consider with regard to recording time. Some systems will allow for video cameras to run up to 15 minutes after the coach has been shut down. This has proven invaluable in capturing illicit onboard activities when a driver thought the image was not being recorded because the coach was shut off.

Point of view
With regard to camera placement, the options are almost limitless. However, over the years, several areas of have proven to be more valuable then others. Specifically, the driver's view out the front windshield, the entrance stepwell, down the aisle, the rear seating area and the wheelchair lift location. Additionally, some operators have installed cameras to record the driver's movements and images from behind the coach.

When some systems can also record audio, be sure to consult your attorney before recording audio without consent.

Outlook for the future
In the future, we will be able to view the onboard images real-time from remote locations. Imagine the benefit of being able to view an accident or incident scene from your dispatch office in real time. While the technology currently exists, the band-width to transmit it is very limited, but it is coming.

The bottom line is that onboard video surveillance is a mature technology that is available today for both new-production coaches and for retrofit into an existing fleet. Time and again, the images collected have demonstrated their ability to pay for the systems themselves. Plus,as Lou Quaglia, MCI public sector business development manager points out, "Now, with the Homeland Security funds that are available, I think you're going to see a lot more of these systems."

There are packages available today to fit your needs and your budget.  Ask your coach sales or MCI PRO Support representative for more information about how you can add video surveillance to your motor coach fleet.

The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com.