Videotec employed on Russian roads
Interview to Aleksandr Tryukhalo, Sales Department Manager of
ARMO-Systems
Video surveillance cameras are an important part of intelligent transport systems. Aleksandr Tryukhalo, Sales Department Manager of ARMO-Systems, has been telling us about Videotec cameras and housings used on city roads, highways and speedways in Russia.
For three decades the Italian company Videotec has been developing and manufacturing security equipment that brings safety to transport facilities.
- What is the purpose of installing Videotec equipment on roads?
Let's have a look at the basics first: an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is a really technical network that makes traffic safer and transport services better in terms of quality. Everybody on the road needs to be updated on the traffic situation (jams, accidents and so on). An ITS is based on Automated Traffic Surveillance Systems (ATSS) where video cameras play a key role. For city surveillance these cameras are used, roughly speaking, for "security", while on highways and toll roads outside the city they are installed for monitoring. In cities, PTZ cameras are usually placed at intersections for recording accidents and stopping traffic jams. On highways, PTZ cameras are required in tricky areas such as exits, slip roads joining the main carriageway and road junctions. Apart from PTZ units, all roads are equipped with fixed cameras in Videotec housings to track accidents. They record, for example, when a vehicle stops, reverses or if people throw out foreign objects.
- What models of PTZ cameras are the most popular in Russia?
The ULISSE COMPACT range of Videotec PTZ cameras are definitely the bestsellers for Russian highways. Several years ago, analogue models of this range were installed with encoders, and now preference is given to ULISSE COMPACT Full HD Day/Night cameras with a frame rate of 60fps, a 30x zoom lens and -4°C to +60°C operating temperature. Their pan and tilt speed can reach 200°/s and these cameras can have up to 250 pre-sets. For instance, you can set it so that when a signal is received from a road controller or any other peripheral device, the camera will turn in the right direction and record a video. If there is a road accident, the video can help in investigation. All models of this range are ready for different types of installation, have power supply options (230/24/120 Vac) and can be equipped with an IR spotlight or a LED illuminator, as the white light disperses less and enables the camera to "see" at a greater distance.
- What are the advantages of Videotec housings?
Videotec history began with camera housings, and I think they still enjoy great popularity. HOV, HGV and other housings are used to protect fixed cameras installed along roads, but the most common ones are HEG models for large cameras and/or lenses. They are made of aluminium and have IP66/IP67 protection ratings. Moreover they are equipped with a double or triple heater, ensuring camera operation when the ambient temperature is anywhere between -50°°C to +60°C. Besides there is an optional washing system: a VIP6A wiper and 5 or 23 L water tanks.
- How does this Italian equipment perform on Russian roads?
Videotecs reliable and robust devices completely stand the test of time and are used in serious projects. The company is constantly developing: it was one of the first companies that produced integrated PTZ Full HD cameras, equipped cameras with IR illuminators and offered a unique system for cleaning and washing the viewing window of PTZ cameras and housings. Wipers, washer tanks and the activation setting remove all dust, dirt and other mess from the windows. The software analyses how dirty the window is and its "signal" triggers the wiper. Its important to know that, with the 5 L tank for example, the camera requires maintenance approximately 2-3 times a year, and if a 23 L tank is used, maintenance can be performed perhaps just once a year.
- How is this equipment used in a system?
In short, cameras are installed either on special poles or H-frame supports. They send their signal to the server where the video streams are recorded. The control centre operator can rotate a PTZ camera, check what has happened and take action. If necessary, the ATSS software allows a command to be sent to the traffic light controller to change the operation mode in a particular direction.
- Please tell us about recently implemented projects.
You can find different cameras of the Videotec brand on numerous highways. mong Russian projects using Videotec equipment for video surveillance and traffic monitoring, the Western High-Speed Diameter in Saint Petersburg and the Third Ring Road in Moscow are the most prominent ones. The M-9 section of the highway named "Baltics" is equipped with 21 ULISSE COMPACT HD PTZ cameras and 22 weather-proof HEG housings with wipers; the М-3 section named "Ukraine" is monitored by 28 cameras of this type and 14 housings. One of the promising projects is the "13-42°km Khabarovsk Bypass Highway, which will be implemented in 2017. This project includes 47 ULISSE COMPACT HD cameras with parapet brackets and 5 L washer tanks, and 45 HEG37K1A074 housings with sunshields.
Visit ARMO SYSTEMS web site: www.armosystems.ru
