Panoramic cameras deliver real-time data for city management
The city of Centerville, OH employs Axis panoramic cameras, analytics, video management software, and video intercoms to protect municipal property, improve traffic flow, and provide better city management.
Centerville, Ohio: a little gem with much to offer
Centerville is a small suburb on the outskirts of Dayton, Ohio. Tree-lined neighborhoods, top ranked schools, dozens of parks, a championship golf course, a state-of-the-art amphitheater for community concerts, and a host of other amenities make the city an especially attractive place to live, work, and play.
Situational awareness needed for city management
Keeping a city running smoothly – even one as small as 11-square-mile Centerville – is a daily challenge. With so many services to oversee, timely situational awareness plays a key role in managing city resources effectively. And that awareness was something Centerville lacked.
Addressing this shortcoming became a priority for Centerville’s city manager. He convinced the city council to invest in a robust citywide security camera network that would help multiple municipal departments clearly see situations impacting their operations and enable them to effectively coordinate their responses. By connecting teams across a shared platform, the city moves beyond reactive security to proactive decision-making, where shared data fuels smarter operational outcomes and better city management.
We thought we were just constructing a network of public safety cameras to protect our city. What we actually created was an information network that is helping us support a variety of city operations.
A citywide network built for city management
Tasked with designing the video network, Ryan Collins, the IT Director for the city of Centerville, looked for technology that would be both informative and easy to use – something that would serve day-to-day city management as well as security. His search resulted in the city's use of an Axis end-to-end solution. Panoramic and dome cameras would provide forensic image quality necessary for citywide security. AXIS Camera Station Pro video management software (VMS) would deliver the operational simplicity needed to view, analyze, and react to that visual information in real time.
Collins used AXIS Site Designer software to map out camera placements for the city’s municipal buildings and parks. “Axis technical support staff provided input as we refined the designs a bit,” shares Collins. “Sometimes they’d recommend a different camera model based on the location and the coverage we wanted.”
The native features of the AXIS Camera Station Pro made it easy for the IT Department to centrally manage user groups, assign rights and permissions, and perform maintenance tasks like firmware and cybersecurity updates. Collins configured the solution to grant each department access to the cameras covering their own buildings, but only the police department and IT staff are authorized to view all the cameras in the network – a structure that keeps city management coordinated while respecting departmental boundaries.
Real-time data for police and city management
The biggest user group of the camera network is the Centerville Police Department. “We set up the station’s command center with multiple screens that rotate camera views of the city,” explains Collins. “In addition to dispatchers monitoring the cameras from police headquarters, officers can pull up camera views from their cruisers.”
With cameras serving as eyewitnesses to a car accident, for instance, Centerville police can quickly discern who’s at fault, identify potential witnesses and even track suspects fleeing the area.
Dispatching first responders more quickly
For dispatchers, being able to monitor the scene remotely enables them to continuously relay critical information to officers even before they arrive at the scene. Were there any severe injuries? Was there a rollover?
“Based on the conditions they see, they might decide to immediately dispatch other first responders such as firefighters or emergency medical personnel to the scene rather than waiting another 10 to 15 minutes for an officer to arrive and assess the situation,” reports Collins.
Using video intercoms to screen visitors
To protect police property and personnel at the station, the IT Department installed a video intercom at the gated lot where officers park their personal cars when they go on shift. Officers use an ID card and PIN to open the gate and park their vehicles in the protected area. If an unauthorized vehicle pulls up to the gate, the driver cannot gain access.
The Centerville IT team also installed a video intercom in the vestibule of the station. “While the lobby doors are only open during business hours, the vestibule is open 24/7,” discloses Collins. “The vestibule gives after-hours visitors a safe place to wait until someone buzzes them in. It also gives the night shift officers an opportunity to assess an individual – such as whether they’re acting erratically or carrying a weapon – before unlocking the doors.” The video intercom allows the night shift officers to see and speak with visitors. The officers can ask visitors to show an ID or have a 2-way conversation to ask about the reason for the visit. This pre-screening helps with safety and control of who can enter the premises.
Now that we have panoramic cameras at nearly every intersection, we’re collecting a lot of useful traffic data through the in-camera analytics. We know how many vehicles are passing through given intersections, the wait times at traffic lights, and so on.
Collecting data for smarter city management
While the initial impetus for installing cameras was public safety and security, the city now leverages actionable insights and metadata harvested across the system to drive informed decision-making. This operational intelligence allows the city to optimize everything from traffic flow and snow removal to the orchestration of community events creating highly efficient city management.
City management of traffic flow and road repair
“Now that we have panoramic cameras at nearly every intersection, we’re collecting a lot of useful traffic data through the in-camera analytics,” explains Collins. “We know how many vehicles are passing through given intersections, the wait times at traffic lights, and so on.”
The Public Works Department uses this information to:
• Time stoplights to keep traffic flowing
• Schedule road repair and repaving priorities
• Justify widening certain roads or adding turn lanes
Directing plowing and salting priorities
The city also uses cameras to monitor road conditions during snow events. “It’s not uncommon for it to be snowing heavier on the north side of town than on the south side,” shares Collins. “And some areas ice up and freeze faster than others.”
With cameras providing real-time information about the city’s roadways, Public Works is better able to prioritize where they’re salting and plowing – a practical example of data-driven city management in action.
Planning concert programs and other park amenities
“We use our cameras in the city’s parks to collect attendance data at our summer concert series,” discloses Collins. “The people counting analytics are a lot more accurate than when we had city workers walking around with little clickers trying to count the number of people they saw.”
The city relies on this attendance data to gauge the popularity of events and plan future programs for the community. It also uses this intelligence to assess whether there are sufficient restrooms and parking areas, concert seating, playground equipment, etc. This, in turn, informs how city management budget for future park improvements.
Protecting the city’s championship golf course
Another recreational amenity in Centerville is the Golf Club at Yankee Trace, a 27-hole championship golf course owned and operated by the city. “It’s a great community asset,” asserts Collins. “So we’ve been taking extra steps to protect it and the people who work there.”
In addition to deploying security cameras inside the clubhouse and around the golf course, the IT Department also installed a 2N video intercom at the loading dock. “Now the front desk can see and speak to delivery people to verify credentials before remotely unlocking the door,” states Collins. “Do they look suspicious? Is there actually a delivery truck in the background? It’s an additional safety feature for the staff.”
Camera data drives smarter city management
“When we began this project, we thought we were just constructing a network of public safety cameras to protect our city,” admits Collins. “What we actually created was an information network that is helping us support a variety of city operations.”
Products & solutions
You may also be interested in...
Get in touch
Want to know how you can benefit from Axis solutions? Get in touch and we will help you.
Contact us