London traffic cameras set for switch to digital

Digital switch will allow deployment of more mobile cameras

TfL is switching its traffic enforcement systems to digital

Transport for London (TfL) is switching its traffic enforcement systems from analogue to digital so it can use more mobile cameras to monitor the capital’s streets.

London already has a small number of digital vehicle-mounted and portable CCTV systems, but the images have to be manually transported to the control centre.

TfL’s planned £4m infrastructure overhaul will allow data to be transmitted directly to its headquarters.

The scheme includes automatic number plate recognition software, mobile cameras mounted on vehicles and buses, and portable CCTV cameras.

The programme extends small-scale trials of camera-mounted smart cars that have been running for the past 12 months, says a Tfl spokeswoman.

‘It is now time to roll this out to mobile, static and roadside CCTV cameras,’ she said.

The switch to digital hugely increases the capacity of the system, supporting more cameras and processing more data, says Gartner research vice president Robin Burke. ‘It will allow TfL to access data immediately and process it more quickly,’ he said.

But motoring groups say TfL must be sure the technology improves traffic monitoring efficiency, rather than just supporting more cameras to raise revenue.

‘We welcome any technology that improves traffic monitoring, provided there is a good business case for more cameras over investment in other areas such as roads,’ said IAM Motoring Trust head of technical policy Tim Shallcross.

The first phase of the TfL scheme, to go ahead in the autumn, includes new servers for offence viewing and decision systems, data management and CCTV control.