Super Surveillance

When the Colts and Saints square off at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIV, each will have epitomized the concept of teamwork in their quest to capture the NFL's Lombardi Trophy. This will be plain to see for the more than 75,000 fans in attendance and some 100 million watching on TV. Not nearly as conspicuous yet critical to the enjoyment and safety of all is the equally cohesive teamwork behind the event's video surveillance system.

The key players on this team are Aware Digital, Sony Electronics Security Systems Group and the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) Homeland Security Section, in conjunction with the FBI and Miami Dade County Fire Department. The systems integrator, manufacturer and first responders have forged a special partnership dedicated to designing and deploying the best possible solution to ensure smooth operations in and around the stadium, which also hosts the Pro Bowl on Jan. 31.

"The system will provide added situational awareness for law enforcement on the stadium grounds as well as offsite to many different agencies," says Joshua Mann, president of Miami-based Aware Digital. "The system will be used for inbound and outbound traffic control, incident management and overall force multiplication."

Integrator Aware Digital bid and was awarded the Super Bowl project by MDPD, which allocated some its own budget as well as grant proceeds to fund the initiative.

"We have worked with Aware Digital for more than two years now. They have always helped me out whenever I needed anything for other events such as the Miami Dade County Youth Fair," says Detective Juan "Johnnie" Villalobos, a 23-year veteran of the force who is coordinating the department's surveillance system efforts for this event.

The project necessitated a keen blend of technology and coordination.

"Video from many different sources, including analog, IP PTZs, microwave, mast-mounted cameras and more, has to be consolidated and distributed out to many different locations and in many different formats such as Mac, PC, flash, iPhone, etc.," says Mann. "Aware Digital is providing solutions to not only distribute these feeds but also to bring in additional outside feeds from other agencies and devices."

Read the full story at Security Sales & Integration's IP Video Network.