Managing Big Data

More law enforcement agencies are deploying drones, not just during major events, but on a daily basis for a variety of calls. When coupled with other devices used on patrol including body-worn cameras, dashboard video systems and LPR, the process of transmitting all of that footage and data can be cumbersome.

This article appeared in the July/August issue of OFFICER Magazine. Click Here to subscribe to OFFICER Magazine.

Jason Tyre, Business Development Manager—Cities for Milestone Systems, a company that manufactures open-platform IP video management software, recently spoke to OFFICER Magazine about how new technology is allowing law enforcement agencies to send data collected by drones and other devices to one centralized Video Management System (VMS).

Before joining Milestone Systems about two years ago, Tyre worked for the Phoenix Police Department, where he was assigned to the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) and also was a Task Force officer with the FBI. His unit’s primary focus was on protecting critical infrastructure during large scale events including the Super Bowl, NASCAR races and presidential visits.

“From an event perspective, if we know about the event ahead of time, we will go out and scout the area or route to identify existing cameras we have access to, and locations we can set up temporary cameras to help monitor and manage the event,” he says. "We would also utilize live-streaming body cameras and drones to help fill coverage gaps and provide a mobile capability if the incident or event moves beyond the preplanned footprint."

Adding drones to the mix

According to Tyre, there are two major challenges that video and data management pose to law enforcement agencies when it comes to drones. He says the first is being able to share the video and data collected by the drones. “Most of the time when you operate a drone, that video is coming back to the operator itself, and they’re relying on information to be relayed over the radio,” he says. “With the evolution of technology and connectivity, we’re starting to see agencies that want to take that video and make it available for decision-makers. That way, everybody can have a common operating picture to understand what is going on.”

Tyre says another major challenge is connectivity, noting that traditionally, mesh, microwave and cellular signals have been used to move this data. “When we talk about video and sending it, we have to not only consider the downlink speed, but particularly the uplink speed. Most cellular networks are designed primarily for downlink because most people want to watch stuff on their phones, not necessarily stream video back,” he says. “If we’re looking at a large event where there’s a lot of people in the area, normally those cell towers are not designed to have 200,000 people in that area. Traditionally, sending mission-critical video over 4G LTE cellular networks was unreliable. However, with proper planning, new public safety priority and preemption for data, and the enhanced throughput of 5G, cellular is becoming an option for certain applications but there are still limitations when it comes to big data.”

He also pointed to the quality of the video as another facet that has affected file size. As technology has continued to advance, the resolution of video has climbed from 720p to 1080p to 4K. With drone video, he says live-streaming high-definition capabilities aren’t as important as the zoom and that agencies can always go back to the high-resolution recorded video on the drone for evidence. “You have to balance the throughput of that wireless connection with the amount of data that that drone is going be pushing out.”

Another key area is how those videos are managed on the backend. “I think that’s really where the video management piece comes in and combining that video with other videos,” he stressed, noting that in the case of a real-time crime center, the goal is to take video recorded from different devices and centralize that data on a single platform and to create that common operating picture. “That way an operator can see all of that data at once, and then they’re able to make strategic informed decisions.”

Advantages of a VMS

Tyre says that utilizing a Video Management System alleviates a lot of the issues law enforcement agencies encounter when it comes to managing large mounts of video and data. Once a VMS is in place, cybersecurity can be managed in a much more efficient way. A goal for many agencies is to not only have the ability to share videos internally with their own department or city officials, but to also be able to share it with other agencies they work with.

“When we start talking about how to make a video available to someone on a phone or a tablet, the VMS can help support the ability to do that,” he says. “Once that video from the drone goes into a VMS, it’s no longer just live video, but we now have the ability to quickly and efficiently review historical video and extract key details or information we may have missed and take full advantage of different analytics and AI solutions to help further an investigation.”

The use of drones as first responders can make them a force multiplier by increasing officer safety, public safety and efficiency, he notes. “One of the biggest things law enforcement agencies are struggling with is manpower issues. How do they do more with less? And that’s really where they’re now relying on the technology.”

According to Tyre, by bringing the data transmitted by drones into a VMS, it helps create a “single pane of glass” in order to have a single location that can use gunshot detection data, drone and fixed camera feeds and LPR data. “I can take my CAD, my RMS, all of these data points, all of these systems and bring them together in a single location,” he says. “That way I have a good understanding of what’s going on.”

Drone considerations

As agencies continue to build out their drone programs, Tyre cautioned that there are different drones for different applications and that each comes with its own specifications. “You can pick a drone and it can be kind of a multitool, but it doesn’t necessarily do all of them really well,” he says. “For maybe a smaller agency, they’re just happy to have a drone, and they use it however they can. However, a more advanced program or a larger agency is looking at drones that are used for specific applications.” One example is a drone that is used for tactical applications inside a structure. “The communication protocols and RF frequencies are specific to these environments, placing a higher priority on reducing video latency and RF penetration through walls to help ensure the pilot is able to successfully navigate the drone throughout the structure. Additional features such as two way communication through the drone are highly utilized, enabling law enforcement to communicate to a suspect during a barricade situation.”

When it comes to launching a Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program, he says they can hold big benefits for departments with staffing issues looking to decrease response times. “One of the biggest things that law enforcement agencies struggle with is manpower issues. How can they do more with less? That’s really where they’re relying on the technology.”

He says that when considering a DFR program, the biggest things he would consider is how far the drone can fly and how long can it fly for. “I think it’s really important for people who are looking to build this capability into their agency that they understand that you can look at a single drone and do a lot of things, but if you want to get the right tool for the right situation, you have to be specific about the drone selection for the different applications and understand the why behind it.”