How open integration made a city smarter than the sum of its smarts

Around 2014, city managers decided to replace and upgrade their legacy video monitoring systems. At the time, the city had about 1,800 cameras in use, with 300 network video recorders (NVRs) spread throughout. That setup was not meeting the city’s needs for efficient, centralized security operations.

City managers wanted interoperability of the system with other technologies, including access control, video analytics and building management systems. They determined that having an open platform video software that could deeply integrate third-party devices and systems was a critical requirement.

• Milestone XProtect^® Corporate video management software (VMS)
• Network cameras from Axis Communications
• Other components include providers of encoders and NVRs, storage equipment, access control, alarm systems, video analytics, GPS technology, laser scanners, perimeter detection sensors, emergency call boxes and more
• Implementation by Convergint Technologies

With the Milestone open platform architecture, integration options are unlimited, thanks to application program interfaces (APIs) to share data between systems, devices and components. For example, integrating AXIS Network Radar Detectors and AXIS Perimeter Defender video analytics with the video platform allows the city to create a virtual “fence” around designated areas and visually verify any activity.

In the first phase of the new VMS deployment, the city installed the system to cover public utilities, recreation facilities, electrical substations, parks, critical infrastructure sites, and operational work centers which include storage lots.

Sites such as the transportation infrastructure storage compounds were chosen because they’re large, and people often broke in to steal copper, fiber and other road supplies. The 24/7 video and perimeter detection enabled by the Milestone VMS with Axis devices proved to be effective protection for this and many other sites with valuable equipment.

In 2019 the city completed a proof-of-concept evaluation with Milestone Technology Partner Live Earth - an Internet of Things (IoT) visualization platform that seamlessly synchronizes data from multiple sources, combining live data feeds into an interactive map. The team mapped out most of the city, including transportation, utility and other infrastructure systems. This integration enables both real-time notifications about incident locations and the use of surrounding cameras for visual verification.

The city of Calgary has a growing group of people who access and use the video software regularly. Many of the users had never used a surveillance system, but security advisors report that Milestone’s expansive e-learning content has been critical to their success. Online videos have saved the city’s technology operations department hundreds of hours in training.

In 2013 Calgary had a massive flood that caused $5.4 billion worth of damage, so they take water level monitoring very seriously. Video now monitors the river levels in real time, and they installed more cameras for use by city water engineers. Instead of sending Security or Systems Administrators to teach them how to use the software, they just send a link to the Milestone e-Learning web page, where they can learn at their own pace.

To date, so much has already been accomplished to transform Calgary into the connected entity it is today. City officials will gladly continue to build on Milestone’s innovative foundation using a growing ’smart city’ portfolio of tools that provide efficiency, safety and security for their citizens.

With a population of nearly 1.2 million, Calgary is the largest city in the Canadian province of Alberta and is Canada’s third-largest municipality.   

Consistently recognized for its high quality of life, The Economist ranked Calgary as the fourth most livable city in the world in its 2018 Global Livability Ranking. Much of that livability can be attributed to the fact that technology plays an integral part within Calgary city management.