Didigy Solutions - Keeping an Eye on the Traffic

8/3/2019 Didigy Solutions - Keeping an Eye on the Traffic

1/7

Connect Freight GoVisual Case Study

he Victorian Governments Department of Transport - Connect Freight initiative

seeks to develop Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based

solutions that will improve the efficiency of Victorias freight and logistics industry.In the 21st century, core transport infrastructure includes not only roads, bridges

and ports, but also ICT.

System Overview

Intelligent Transport Systems Australia engaged Didigy Solutions to provide

technical and project management services for the GoVisual component of the

project. The initial goal of GoVisual is to enable stakeholders to view live video

images from the Swanson Dock area via internet connected web browsers and

mobile devices facilitating visual proof of congestion, available slots, truck arrivals

and port conditions.

Fixed dome IP cameras are connected using BPL (Broadband over Powerline) to a

central aggregation point where the signal is fed via a 2Mbps Private Network

using WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology to the

Rialto building. This signal is then relayed by WiMAX to ITS Australia based servers

and storage infrastructure in Port Melbourne.

The camera content is delivered from ITS Australia to the Connect Freight Public

Access web site hosting server and directly to the Internet for authorised users ofthe system via a dedicated 1Mbps link.

The system also includes multiple Wi-Fi Access Points for future provision of

telematics information into and out of parked vehicles awaiting access to the

container facilities. Some envisaged uses are real-time access to the Vehicle

Booking System (VBS), slot loading times, delay advice and access to the internet

for freeway and major arterial information, in-truck driver education, Instant

Messaging (IM), IP telephony (Skype) and port familiarisation videos for new drivers.

T

KKeeeepiinng aann EEyee oonn tthhee TTrraaffffiicc


2/7

Camera Selection & Positioning

Camera positions were chosen to provide views of the Patrick Superpark, P&O

Ports entry points and overall traffic in the Swanston Dock road precinct.

Cameras were selected for excellent daylight viewing as well as good twilight and

night viewing. Cameras and housing also required a small form factor to ensure

wind loading on the light poles remained within design limits. Due to privacy issues,

the cameras were mounted so that no personally identifiable information was

available from the system.

Figure 1 - Camera Location Map

Six Axis 225FD cameras were selected for their performance, IP66 rated housing,

inbuilt fans and heaters. They were mounted on the existing 12 metre high street

lighting pole (Fig. 1) spanning a 350 metre distance.

Figure 2 - Mounted Cameras and Equipment Cabinets


3/7

On-Site Transmission Systems

Supplying power and connectivity between the cameras back to a central

location within a strict budget ruled out a fibre backbone which would be

required to span the distance. Also, a request by Patrick Stevedore to not use

wireless based technology in an already crowded RF spectrum resulted in the use

of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) supplied by NEC Australia. This was one of theirvery first deployments in Australia and worked exceedingly well giving between 70

180Mbps bandwidth availability between each camera / Wi-Fi location back to

a head end unit at the central aggregation point.

Figure 3 - Broadband over Powerline (BPL) Diagram

Wi-Fi Access Points

Three Cisco Aironet 1300 Access Points fitted with Huber + Suhner directional

antennas aimed away from the Patrick Stevedore facility and 45 degreedownward firing were used to ensure any rearward transmissions were directed

above the facility whilst still giving good coverage to the roadway area.

Figure 4 - Wi-Fi Access Points and Antennas


4/7

Off-Site Transmission System

The Swanson Dock area is not well serviced by traditional ADSL connections with

the best connection speed available < 200kbps downlink and < 50kbps uplink to

deliver the video content back to the servers which was unusable.

A cost effective alternative was required which resulted in a Layer 2 dedicated2Mbps / 2Mbps Bi-Directional Private Network using WiMAX on proprietary RF

spectrum to minimise interference with the Patrick Stevedore RF infrastructure. Also,

the narrow beam produced by the high gain directional antennas directed

upwards and away from surrounding facilities to the top of the 250 metre high

Rialto building further reduced potential interference.

The signal was then transmitted from the Rialto by WiMAX to Intelligent Transport

Systems Australia in Port Melbourne where the Didigy Solutions server and storage

infrastructure is located.

Internet Access

A 1Mbps / 1Mbps Business Grade SH-DSL internet connection provides external

access to the server / storage systems for both the Connect Freight Public Access

website and the Authorised User camera website.

Figure 5 - 2Mbps / 2 Mbps Bi-Directional WiMAX Private Network


5/7

Connect Freight Public Access still images are fed to the Connect Freight Public

Access webserver on an on-demand basis when a new user enters the website or

a connected user requests a refresh. Views are restricted to 160 x 120 pixel.

Figure 6 - Public Access Connect Freight website

Connect Freight - Authorised Users Users request access to enhanced services

by applying through the Connect Freight Public Access website. Applications

are processed by the Department of Transport and approved users are passed

to Didigy Solutions for implementation.

Authorised viewers then have access to:

a. Higher resolution (up to 640 x 480 pixel) views on a per camera basis.b.

The ability to personalise their web browser views with selectedcameras.

c. Different resolutions on a per camera basis.d. Access via mobile phones (2G static images, 3G streaming images)

and internet connected mobile devices.

e. E-mail, SMS and MMS alerts (this capability exists in the system currentlybut is not presently activated).

Figure 7 - Personalised View of Cameras for Authorised Users


6/7

Server & Storage Infrastructure

The requirement to provide real-time, constantly updated images for the

expected 50 - 100 users meant that conventional methods of connecting directly

to the network video (IP) cameras would not work.

Therefore, a High Availability server based system capable of servicing a large

number of concurrent users was implemented.

Didigy Solutions Software Development Unit supplied the following systems:

1. Browser based system for viewing cameras by PC, web connected mobiledevices (UMPC, PDA) and 2G / 3G connected mobile phones.

2. Linux based non-proprietary network routers and DNS Server.3. High Availability (HA) Server set :

a. 2 x Dual Xeon servers (one Active with one Passive in automaticfailover mode)

b. Linux Enterprise platformc. Dual RAID-1 Hard Disk Drives (HDD) for Linux OS total of 4 x HDDd. Dual 136GB High Availability redundant storage in RAID-5

configuration for:

i. IP camera hosting applicationii. 2 x synchronised copies of video content with auto failover for

content capture to provide archival footage for further

research into traffic conditions

Figure 8 - High Availability Server Set with Redundant Distributed Storage Array


7/7

ITS Australia Data Centre

ITS Australias purpose built facility in Rocklea Drive, Port Melbourne provides the

co-location facilities for the Didigy Solutions server and storage system.

The Centre has security, card access control, video surveillance system (also

supplied by Didigy Solutions), conditioned power, Uninterruptible Power Supply

(UPS) and triple redundant air conditioners.

Didigy Solutions Pty Ltd can provide the following services:

- Project Management - Software Development Personnel Windows & Linux

- Special Purpose Project Teams - Software and Hardware Development for Bespoke Systems

- Technology Transfer and Training - Hosted Services for Offsite Storage of Surveillance Content

- Technology Audits - Remote Monitoring, Control and Management

- Network Design, Equipment Provisioning and System Commissioning

- Integration of Multiple Disparate Systems Single Location or Dispersed (SCADA, IP, Machineinterfaces, etc)

Didigy Group Pty Ltd - National Intelligent Transport Systems Centre

Unit 3, 3 Rocklea Drive, PORT MELBOURNE 3207

Contact: Graeme McGeorge +61 (412) 165 555

Web http://DidigyGroup.com E-mail: [email protected]

Documents

Didigy Solutions - Keeping an Eye on the Traffic