Background and Challenge
In the context of the smart city Antwerp, the goal of the Police Zone Antwerp (PZA) is to become a smart agent in a digitalized city. To guarantee public safety in a growing city, the police needs to increase its visibility on the streets.
We contribute to the increased efficiency of PZA with an advanced IoT platform and smart Track and Trace system. This project is all about data which flow between city camera’s and sensors in vehicles and in the field.
An advanced IoT Platform for every type of device
Our IoT platform is designed upon a microservices and event-driven architecture with Linked Data at its core. For PZA, the platform’s primary role was to integrate a wide range of devices and sensors, enabling efficient data collection, processing, distribution and sharing. By standardizing data from different sources into a unified semantic model, the platform provided a consistent interface for consuming applications.
This foundation supported various features, starting with the integration of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Our IoT platform is hardware-independent, allowing PZA to incorporate different types of ANPR cameras regardless of their make or protocol.
The data collected from these cameras were translated into a common format using NGSI-LD smart data models, including the AnprFlowObserved model. This approach resulted in uniform data delivery with efficient and reliable real-time data processing.
A track-and-trace system for a safer city
As part of the broader IoT ecosystem, our Track & Trace solution is an important component in enhancing PZA’s ability to manage their fleet and personnel. The Track & Trace platform integrates with the provincial emergency dispatch systems and ASTRID communication radios. This allows for real-time tracking of police vehicles, bicycle units, command cars, and individual officers.
The integration with a Computer-Aided Dispatching (CAD) system improved the way how incidents reported through the 112 emergency number were managed. The CAD system relayed incident information to the Track & Trace platform, for dispatchers to view live updates on a dynamic map. This real-time visibility allowed them to allocate the nearest and most suitable teams to incidents swiftly. They use a dispatch proposal service that process the estimated arrival times, team availability, and unit types.
The platform provides direct communication between dispatchers and field units and integrates with TomTom Bridge navigation devices installed in the police vehicles. This integration provides officers with precise mission details and navigational assistance immediately upon assignment.
Real-Time Monitoring and Comprehensive Data Insights
Device monitoring is a crucial aspect of our IoT platform. The system provides a detailed reports on the operational status of devices and detects anomalies such as reduced confidence levels in cameras, indicating the need for maintenance. The monitoring solution allows for simple availability checks, but also comprehensive health monitoring to guarantee optimal performance and timely interventions.
The Track & Trace solution provides advanced reporting tools that offer in-depth insights into police activities. Detailed reports on the status, historical routes, and positions of units enabled PZA to analyze incidents and complaints effectively, leading to improved resource management and operational strategies.
Conclusion
Our solution has significantly enhanced the operational efficiency of PZA. By providing real-time tracking, improved communication, and data-driven insights, the platform empowers the police force to respond swiftly to incidents and manage their resources more effectively. The integration of IoT technology further elevates surveillance and operational capabilities, setting a new benchmark for law enforcement solutions.
“The decisive factor for Police Zone Antwerp was Inuits open platform on which their track and trace solution is based. This allows us, on the one hand, to quickly disclose the information to other applica- tions and, on the other hand, to enrich the information about fleet reporting from other applications without being dependent on a supplier. During the cooperation, there was always a constructive atmosphere. Maximum thought was given to come to solutions that meet the customized needs of a large police force.” Maarten Torfs - ICT Manager
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