SeeTec Communications: better security at RailCity Stations

SeeTec Communications: better security at RailCity Stations. SBB operates a 3000-km-long railway network in Switzerland that transports 300 million passengers and 60 million tons of freight each year. Increasingly, the largest of its 750 stations are developing into attractive meeting points with a wide variety of service and shopping offerings. These stations are centers of public life, heavily frequented and easily accessible.

Railway stations are top business locations: every day, over 300,000 commuters pass through the Zurich station; in Berne 130,000; in Basel 120,000; and in Geneva 85,000. The seven major SBB railway stations – Zurich, Berne, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, Winterthur and Lucerne – have been linked together for several years under the name “RailCity”.

Based on uniform quality standards, the stations have been expanded into transportation centers with various attractive shops and services. “RailCity” stands for the major SBB stations with their international trains, comprehensive services, and attractive opening hours, even on weekends. For the largest stations, SBB demands the highest quality standards in every respect – including security.

As the operator of RailCity, SBB Immobilien places value not only on architectural measures, cleanliness and the constant presence of rail police and property guards. In the three largest RailCity railway stations – Zurich, Berne and Basel – video surveillance systems were already previously in use as an additional security element. With the project “Multimedia RailCity”, this video surveillance was extended to four further RailCity locations: Lucerne, Winterthur, Lausanne and Geneva.

At the same time, the analog video system without recording function in Zurich was partially replaced and integrated into the new solution. For SBB Immobilien, it was important to have a networked solution that was based on IP technology. “Our requirements demanded a system that was fully multimedia-capable, not a hybrid solution” said Project Manager Andreas Thurnheer, Director of SBB’s Service Center for Intervention and Disturbance Management. The aim was to allow secured surveillance data to be made quickly available.

In addition, there was to be capacity for new surveillance centers to be set up as required and centrally controlled. SBB searched for a competent general contractor able to develop a technical end-to-end solution for the high level of operational demands. The solution was to be expandable, in the modular sense, and ready for use within the time required. Important criteria included simple operability, fulfillment of technical safety requirements, guaranteed maintenance and operation over the duration of the lifecycle and online visualization of system availability at all times.

The Solution

The final choice was made for SeeTec Certified Partner Alcatel-Lucent as general contractor and service integrator because the company had submitted the best offer. “Alcatel-Lucent best fulfilled our demands in terms of technology, quality and price,” Andreas Thurnheer explained.

Furthermore, Alcatel-Lucent had extensive experience in the area of rail-specific video surveillance. Thurnheer: “In the end, we chose the bidder with the best cost-performance ratio.” Alcatel-Lucent implemented the project as general contractor and relied on cooperation with other business partners. The right software had to be evaluated for the networked solution. The objective was to present a solution that couldn’t be beaten in terms of efficiency, operability and a long life – “A real challenge,” as Andreas Thurnheer admitted. A challenge that was brilliantly mastered by the SeeTec 5 software.

The Results

The new, centralized and IP-based video surveillance solution builds on the software of the company SeeTec, a pioneer and market leader for network-based video surveillance. The video data is saved locally on a total of six HP servers (media databases). These are connected to a central server which administrates the decentralized media database servers.

HP workstations with up to four monitors are employed for monitoring and outsourcing visual data. The camera images of the five newly equipped Rail-City train stations are now being presented in regional centers on bestsuited multimedia terminals. All video data is saved for 24 hours and then, in accordance with data protection laws, automatically recorded over. In case of an incident, the data in question must be secured within these 24 hours.

Alcatel-Lucent Switzerland guarantees support organization. “In case of a disturbance, it is assessed via triage as to whether SBB Telecom is responsible – for example, in case of disturbances with network parts – or whether we need to turn to Alcatel-Lucent’s helpdesk,” Andreas Thurnheer explained. If necessary, a support intervention is made, for example if a damaged camera needs to be replaced.

“So far, this support structure has worked wonderfully,” Thurnheer emphasized.

The Customer

Thanks to the new IP-based video solution, it is now possible to secure video data for handover to investigators up to 24 hours after an incident and keep it available for further investigations. This provides police forces with an additional instrument for solving crimes. At the same time, it has been proven that broadly communicated video surveillance has a deterring effect, thereby increasing security. For visitors to the stations and rail passengers, video surveillance promotes a feeling of safety – particularly in the off-hours.

In case of an incident (for example: a fire, the use of the emergency telephone, etc.), authorities can receive an immediate image and overview of the situation thanks to the video surveillance. They can then immediately initiate the appropriate measures (direct customer, direct emergency services, etc.).

“The new solution has proven to be highly successful in practice,” said Andreas Thurnheer from SBB. “And what’s important for us: the system is very stable.”

Failures occur almost exclusively due to acts of vandalism, and the only malfunction of the platform since commissioning in January of 2006 was quickly corrected. The video surveillance has already been useful to police and crime investigators on several occasions thanks to its fast deployment of the security and assistance personnel of Securitrans.

“For video data handling that is in accordance with data protection laws – an example is the release of images at the order of the investigating magistrate – the users in the surveillance centers are strictly obligated to observe the regulations stated in the certified user handbook.”

Feedback from users has also been positive, said Thurnheer. “The change from a ‘flowing’ television image to a new state-of-the-art solution with 5 frames (JPEG) per second took some getting used to, but the excellent picture quality and the additional features are a definite advantage.”

Products used:

•  Swiss Federal Railway SBB 
• SeeTec 5 Software with 25 SeeTec Clients 
• 310 AXIS Network cameras, partly megapixel cameras 
• Existing analog cameras were integrated using AXIS-Encoders 
• 6 HP-Server (media databases) 

About SeeTec:

SeeTec manufactures the camera management software SeeTec 5 for network-based video surveillance. The company, founded in 1997, developed the world‘s first IP software solution for network cameras. Customers such as ARAG Insurance, Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG and Müller, the drug store chain, all use the new technology.

The SeeTec 5 software turns network camera products from renowned manufacturers (ACTi, Arecont Vision, Axis, Grandeye, IQInvision, Lumenera, Mobotix, Panasonic, Sony) into flexible complete systems, which are integrated into IP networks.

SeeTec products are distributed by IT and CCTV retailers. Dealer seminars are available all year round. SeeTec already operates European subsidiaries in Switzerland and Austria. Further subsidiaries are in the pipeline.

About Alcatel-Lucent:

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprise and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move.

With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry.

Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 17.8 billion in 2007 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: www.alcatel-lucent.com

Contact:

Kaj Svenningson
SeeTec Communications GmbH & Co. KG,
Philippsburg, Germany
Tel.: +41 41 455 21 09
Fax: +41 41 455 21 06
vertrieb@seetec.de
www.seetec.eu