Sophisticated cameras to track suspicious activity and alert police

“We are planning to install this software in the next phase of the CCTV installation programme in Vadodara,” added Asthana. Senior police officials are being trained by experts to operate the software.

The software works on the simple principle of picking up pixels from one frame to another while the images are getting stored in the camera,and detect if the object in front of the camera remains stationary for a long time.

“When it detects some object lying at one place for a very long time,it sends out a signal to the police control room through radio frequency. The information is then relayed to the nearest police patrol,” added Asthana.

He further said the camera with the new software also detects frequent movement in front of it. “If there is some suspicious movement in front of the camera,the software would record the pattern of movement. Based on the algorithms,it would see if the frequency of the movement around a particular place or object is high,in which case it would alert the police control room,” Asthana said.

Meanwhile,of the 36 cameras installed across various locations,four have started working as the first phase ends. Asthana said there might be certain kinks in the camera connections,which are going to be fixed as the project approaches its second stage.

“We are setting up routers for the wireless connections. That is why sometimes wires dangle from the cameras. However,as the system starts functioning with all the 100 cameras to be put up in the city,it would be a complete wireless affair,” said the city police chief.

The commissioner has also asked the major shopping malls in the city to have CCTV cameras installed at the entrances and outside their buildings.

“There must be cameras facing the roads or the approaches to the malls or commercial establishments so that (untoward) incidents can be averted,” he said.