The investigators have developed a real-time video surveillance technology for enhanced security on transit buses. The system uses digital cameras on buses, and adds a broad-bandwidth wireless network modem and unique software to expand the bandwidth for the wireless transmission of streaming digital video. The broad-bandwidth wireless real-time video surveillance system includes remote viewing, monitoring, and alerting functions at a transit central control room. Advanced data transmission and compression technologies have been used to extend the data bandwidth constraint.

Wireless networks extend the coverage of broadband services and provide ubiquitous network access to mobile devices. There are, however, many technical challenges to overcome before the vision of broad bandwidth networking can be realized. Video over wireless networks presents additional challenges due to the limited bandwidth available, the higher loss rates of signal strength, and the temporary periods of disconnectivity from the network. In order to make video streams feasible on mobile devices, new methods of wireless data transfer have to be designed.

This project was carried out by Carnegie Mellon University, with participation by the Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh. View Report