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Intermodal Yard Security / Management / Dispatch System Project

A major U.S. railroad loads, unloads, stores and transfers shipping containers freighted in to its Midwest intermodal yard (exact location cannot be disclosed). Yard operations are difficult to manage centrally, and shipping containers in intermodal yards are extremely vulnerable to vandalism and cargo theft due to the fact that such yards are crowded, visibility of trains and individual containers is limited, and authorities are overextended. Theft and smuggling of high-value commercial and military intermodal cargo is epidemic.

Duos’ solution - design and installation of a turn-key rvspro™ digital video surveillance system - robust, fully scalable live video with real-time, intelligent video capability enables rail authority personnel to effectively protect cargo in intermodal yards and terminals and monitor critical switch points for fouled track. This system is typical of Duos' approach to critical high risk rail yard and intermodal yard/terminal security.

Using an IP-based architecture as a foundation, an intelligent Duos video surveillance system employs a network of fixed and PTZ digital video cameras connected to Duos' proprietary rvspro™ video servers. Each rvspro™ includes the rule-based Praesidium® intelligent vision suite to automatically deploy audio and visual alarms, process live video feed and create a video digital archive. Users can simultaneously view and control cameras positioned throughout the intermodal yard by means of a customized, intuitive Graphic User Interface (GUI) allowing simultaneous viewing of live video, operation of PTZ cameras, and monitoring of the entire system by operators located variously within the organization. The screen graphic shows intrusion points and fouled track locations, and yard masters can acknowledge alarms and respond to the fouled track according to operational protocol. Events are time stamped and stored for later retrieval. Stored video clips are fully searchable and can be annotated by the operator.

The system greatly enhances intermodal yard operations and control and minimizes the capacity for criminal activity. Railroad police, local law enforcement and other first-responders are thus able to counter criminal activity in a timely manner.