The Houston Living Lab was established by the Houston First Corp in 2017, collaborating with Milestone and partners to deploy video tech for the Super Bowl Live Festival with a million fans. The central command became a testing ground for best-in-breed solutions, creating smart city innovations for others in their industry.
XProtect® Smart Wall
Challenge: Provide Situational Awareness for Multiple City Agencies
When hosting large events spread across multiple venues, Houston First Corporation (HFC) found that the added crowd congestion changed the security environment, rendering normally functioning security systems inadequate. With an upcoming Super Bowl Live festival potentially drawing a million football and music fans, HFC needed to upgrade its system to provide real-time video situational awareness to multiple city agencies.
Solution: Create Houston’s First Video Technology R&D Lab
After successfully collaborating with Milestone Systems and other security manufacturers for the Super Bowl Live events, HFC established the Houston Living Lab. The HLL allows city departments and partners to test and validate technology in an active environment. Technology partners include Milestone Systems, Axis Communications, Cradlepoint, Dell Technologies, Haystax, Siklu, acre Comnet (formerly Razberi) and Verizon. Video analytics are provided by Athena Security, Citilog, EAGL Technology, Evolon Technology, Irisity (formerly Agent Vi) Sound Intelligence, and AirSight (formerly 911 Security).
In addition, many other security companies provided a host of complementary technologies used during Super Bowl Live that are now deployed in the HLL, including video analytics for real-time detection of situations of interest, rapid search and analysis of recorded video, and extraction of statistical data. Other technologies include video-based traffic solutions, audio sensor systems, perimeter surveillance, and a system for real-time tracking of drones.
Result: The Efficient Deployment of Smart City Initiatives
Milestone XProtect® Expert open platform video management software was the ideal choice for Super Bowl Live and the Living Lab team. By joining forces with emergency agencies, industry partners, and private businesses, HLL now develops and tests smart city initiatives. This unique and collaborative learning environment enables the rapid installation of technologies that benefit public and private security teams, assist traffic management, and improve city operations.
The Milestone VMS provides seamless integrations with cutting-edge security applications. The cameras are integrated with XProtect® Smart Walls in multiple security and parking command centers spread across facilities in the theater and convention districts, providing complete situational awareness at any given moment. HFC is now able to identify dangerous situations and be proactive rather than reactive, to help mitigate risks. They have visibility into different situations such as vehicles driving the wrong way, large crowds gathering in an area, or even listening for glass breaking, car alarms, gunshots, or aggressive behaviors.
