In the fast-paced world of public transport, security is a growing concern. With thousands of passengers moving through stations, buses, and trains daily, ensuring the safety of individuals and protecting public infrastructure from vandalism, theft, and other criminal activities is paramount. AVA-X’s AI-powered solutions, Sentinel LIVE and Sentinel INVESTIGATION, provide a powerful, integrated approach to address these challenges. Together, they offer real-time perimeter surveillance and deep video analysis, helping authorities identify and respond to security threats, from graffiti vandalism to missing persons. In this blog, we explore how these technologies combine to elevate public transport security to new levels.
Public transport systems are lifelines for cities worldwide, connecting people to work, education, and leisure. However, they also pose significant security challenges, as their open and accessible nature makes them vulnerable to various threats, including vandalism, theft, and even missing persons cases. Traditional security systems, though helpful, are often inadequate when it comes to providing real-time alerts and in-depth analysis of incidents.
Sentinel LIVE for Perimeter Surveillance
In a busy public transport environment, keeping an eye on every corner is next to impossible using only human personnel. That’s where Sentinel LIVE comes into play. Designed by AVA-X, Sentinel LIVE is an advanced AI surveillance system that uses facial recognition technology to enhance perimeter security and monitor real-time activity across transport hubs like bus stations, train depots, and tram stops.
Sentinel LIVE integrates seamlessly into existing CCTV networks, instantly upgrading them with its AI capabilities. With its ability to analyze video feeds in real-time, it can detect suspicious activity or unauthorized individuals entering restricted areas, sending immediate alerts to security teams. This ensures that threats are intercepted as they occur, drastically reducing the time between detection and response.
For example, at a busy train station, where numerous entry points and vast areas need monitoring, Sentinel LIVE can track individuals behaving suspiciously, such as someone lingering in a restricted area or tampering with equipment. This allows security teams to take quick action and prevent potential incidents before they escalate.
Sentinel INVESTIGATION for Video Analysis
While real-time surveillance is essential for stopping crimes as they happen, thorough post-incident analysis is crucial for investigating past events and identifying perpetrators. This is where Sentinel INVESTIGATION proves invaluable.
Sentinel INVESTIGATION is designed to analyze video footage from CCTV systems and pinpoint specific events or individuals. Whether it’s tracking a thief, identifying a graffiti sprayer, or finding a missing person, this AI-powered tool can quickly process vast amounts of recorded footage, highlighting key moments or persons of interest without the need for manual review. The AI can analyze hours of video footage in minutes, saving time and resources for security teams.
Let’s take a use case involving graffiti vandalism. Imagine a public bus is defaced with graffiti during the night. Traditional security measures might struggle to identify the culprit, especially if the video footage covers several hours of uneventful scenes. However, with Sentinel INVESTIGATION, the AI can rapidly scan through the footage, identifying the exact moment the graffiti was sprayed and pulling up clear images of the perpetrator. Security teams can then use this information to track down and apprehend the individual quickly.
In addition to catching vandals, Sentinel INVESTIGATION is also ideal for handling more serious crimes, such as theft or missing persons. If a passenger reports that their wallet was stolen on a crowded train, the AI can sift through the video recordings to identify the moment the theft occurred and provide a clear image of the suspect. Similarly, in the unfortunate event of a missing person, the AI can scan footage from multiple cameras to trace their movements, helping authorities locate them swiftly.
Use Case: Identifying Graffiti Sprayers, Thieves, Missing Persons, and Burglars
Public transport systems are frequent targets of vandalism, theft, and even burglary. Additionally, given the large number of daily passengers, transport authorities are often called upon to help locate missing persons. Sentinel LIVE and Sentinel INVESTIGATION offer a robust solution to these challenges by providing both real-time and forensic capabilities.
- Graffiti Sprayers: Graffiti is one of the most common forms of vandalism in public transport systems. Catching graffiti sprayers in the act is difficult without constant monitoring. With Sentinel LIVE, however, security teams can receive alerts as soon as suspicious activity is detected in areas prone to vandalism, such as train cars or bus stations. Once the incident is over, Sentinel INVESTIGATION can review footage to identify the offender, even if the act took place during off-peak hours or in poorly monitored areas.
- Thieves: Pickpocketing is a notorious problem in crowded public spaces. Sentinel LIVE helps detect unusual behavior, such as individuals closely following or crowding others in suspicious ways. If an incident is reported, Sentinel INVESTIGATION can analyze previous footage to track the thief’s movements, providing security with crucial information to apprehend the suspect.
- Missing Persons: Whether a lost child or an elderly individual with dementia, missing persons in public transport systems can quickly turn into critical incidents. Sentinel LIVE can help locate the missing person in real-time by scanning for their facial features across multiple video streams. Sentinel INVESTIGATION, meanwhile, can analyze past footage to track their movements and provide leads for where they might be.
- Burglary: While not as common as petty crimes like graffiti or pickpocketing, burglary can occur in transport offices or secure storage areas. Sentinel LIVE can instantly detect unauthorized access to these areas, alerting security before a full-scale burglary occurs. If the crime has already taken place, Sentinel INVESTIGATION can provide a detailed review of the footage to identify the perpetrators and track their escape routes.
The Power of Combining Sentinel LIVE and Sentinel INVESTIGATION
Individually, Sentinel LIVE and Sentinel INVESTIGATION are powerful tools. But when combined, they provide a comprehensive security solution for public transport systems.
Sentinel LIVE excels at real-time monitoring, ensuring that security teams are alerted to potential threats as they unfold. By keeping a constant watch on entry points, platforms, and other high-traffic areas, it helps prevent incidents from happening in the first place.
On the other hand, Sentinel INVESTIGATION offers a forensic approach, allowing security teams to delve deep into past events to identify and track down culprits after an incident has occurred. Its ability to sift through vast amounts of video footage and isolate key moments makes it an indispensable tool for investigations.
By integrating both systems, transport authorities can ensure that their security is both proactive and reactive—capable of stopping incidents in real-time and investigating them thoroughly afterward. The combination of real-time alerts with detailed post-incident analysis forms a security net that is difficult for criminals to slip through.
Conclusion: Elevating Public Transport Security with AI
Public transport systems require a security solution that is as dynamic and flexible as the environments they serve. Sentinel LIVE and Sentinel INVESTIGATION from AVA-X offer the ideal combination of real-time surveillance and video analysis, giving security teams the tools they need to prevent and solve crimes quickly and efficiently.
With these two AI-powered solutions working together, public transport authorities can ensure safer environments for passengers and staff alike. Whether it’s identifying a graffiti vandal, tracking down a thief, or locating a missing person, the integration of Sentinel LIVE and Sentinel INVESTIGATION marks a new era in public transport security—one where technology plays a pivotal role in keeping our cities safe.
