Keeping an Eye on the Traffic

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 of the 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.

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

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 their very 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 degree downward 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

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 dedicated 2Mbps / 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.

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

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.

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 selected cameras. 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 currently but is not presently activated).

Figure 7 - Personalised View of Cameras for Authorised Users

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 mobile devices (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 automatic failover mode) b. Linux Enterprise platform c. Dual RAID-1 Hard Disk Drives (HDD) for Linux OS total of 4 x HDD d. Dual 136GB High Availability redundant storage in RAID-5 configuration for: i. IP camera hosting application ii. 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

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, Machine interfaces, 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: Graeme.McGeorge@DidigyGroup.com