How Transport Operators Can Leverage Cloud-Based Surveillance

Cloud-based capabilities are transforming many aspects of surveillance and security – not least in transport. Here, we look at four ways vehicle and fleet operators can take advantage of this increasingly affordable option.

Real-time view of vehicle performance

Vehicle maintenance is often carried out based on mileage, whether for buses, light rail, or trams. However, manually tracking the distance travelled is time-consuming and open to human error. Using telematics connected to a cloud solution, transport operators can set up alerts to plan maintenance, preventing unnecessary service disruption. More importantly, preventative maintenance can reduce the risk of safety incidents.

Cloud-connected telematics can trigger alerts for an unexpected fault or maintenance issue. This is particularly useful in the event of a subtle problem that might go unrecognised by onboard staff, only becoming apparent when it becomes a more complex and expensive fix, potentially resulting in prolonged downtime for the vehicle.

Sharing vital footage with key stakeholders

Viewing and sharing footage stored on a physical drive on a vehicle has always been time-consuming and exposes operators to corrupted or lost data. In the event of an incident, valuable time can be lost waiting for the vehicle to return to the depot for footage to be retrieved.

Cloud surveillance allows this footage to be shared in real-time with appropriate teams and stakeholders – continuously or when triggered by a physical event. For example, if an emergency brake is pulled on a train or a passenger help point is triggered.

Remote access also supports sharing footage with third parties, such as insurance and transport police. Different user permission levels can be configured to enable organisations to share live footage and control the surveillance system. This is particularly useful during large events, where transport operators, venue security, and local police could all benefit from live footage.

Smart incident management

In a Road Traffic Collision (RTC) event, a cloud security and surveillance platform can automatically create an incident with all the relevant information, such as video footage, speed, and location, should the onboard accelerometer detect force above a given threshold. It can also alert a central dispatcher that help is needed.

The same functionality can be triggered manually. For example, if a train conductor spots someone needing medical attention, they can activate the immediate sharing of footage back to the depot or control room. On-screen guidance (workflows) then support operators with the standard operating procedures to ensure a consistent response, from dispatching a first aider to calling emergency services.

Improving passenger experience

Public transport users have come to expect onboard services such as live information and Wi-Fi, each requiring their own GSM connection.

Equipment costs, installation time, and energy usage rise when additional systems such as ticketing, GPS, and CCTV are included. Integrating all these systems into one host device can lead to significant savings while providing all the amenities people want. This single IoT-enabled device can host multiple containers running isolated virtual environments, sending and receiving critical data through a resilient, dual SIM GSM modem.