Sep 17, 2014

Recently, a number of cities have installed wireless surveillance system as part of their law enforcement and public safety efforts. Although the vast majority of these initiatives result in reduced crime rates and boosted security in an area, some wonder if these projects are worth the investment. Municipalities that have wireless surveillance systems deployed will be the first to note the advantages that the technology has afforded them, including the following benefits:

Worth the cost

One of the first questions that many officials ask when weighing the pro’s and con’s of a surveillance system is whether or not the technology will be worth the investment. Oftentimes, this is something that is very difficult to quantify. However, according to Security InfoWatch, Dr. Nancy La Vigne, director of the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center, carried out research which uncovered the benefit-to-cost ratios of wireless surveillance systems in place in major cities. After examining Chicago’s surveillance technology, La Vigne found a 4.29:1 ratio, and a 1.49:1 ratio in Baltimore.

“[F]or every dollar spent on municipal video surveillance in Chicago, the city saved $4.29 in court, law enforcement and victimization costs; while in Baltimore, every $1 returned a dividend of $1.49,” Security InfoWatch contributor Geoff Kohl wrote.

Installation and integration

When the question of cost does arise, though, many point out that when a wireless system is leveraged with a mesh network infrastructure, installation costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the technology can be integrated with existing legacy systems. BearCom noted in a recent white paper that with a hard-wired surveillance system, nearly 80 percent of the associated costscome due to cabling and trenching expenditures. These can be avoided with a wireless mesh network. Additionally, by sidestepping the wiring phase of installation, deployment time can be reduced by several weeks. Wireless mesh node systems can also be integrated with previously-established networks, allowing municipalities to continue to gain a return on investment from these legacy technologies while moving the region into the future of public safety.

An opportunity for education, advancement

One of the typically referenced reasons for not adopting wireless surveillance technology is a lack of department knowledge about the system.

“The most common reason people reject a mesh network system is because they do not understand the technology or they fear it may be too complex to learn,” BearCom stated in the white paper. “With the proper training, these networks can be – and already are – very easy to operate and maintain.”

As such, the technology presents an opportunity for municipalities to better educate law enforcement and other key staff members about the system and how it can benefit the city. As wireless surveillance is the direction public safety efforts are moving, it is advantageous for officials to get to know this technology sooner rather than later.

For more information on how wireless surveillance can benefit a region, decision-makers should contact a trusted provider likeFiretide. Firetide offers a range of products and solutions to address every public safety need.