Moscow Expands Capabilities of Smart Road Surveillance

The Moscow Center for Traffic Management (TsODD) has announced a tender on the government procurement portal for the “organization of an intelligent video surveillance system.” According to Kommersant, which was among the first to report on the procurement, the initial contract price is 4,292,446,981.75 rubles.

The city authorities plan to lease 1,300 video cameras from the contractor, with 770 of them to be installed on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD). Each surveillance unit will consist of three cameras equipped with infrared illumination up to 250 meters and a 40x optical zoom.

Advanced Monitoring Features

The new cameras will monitor unusual situations on the roads and transmit live video feeds to TsODD. The system is expected to begin deployment in the city in 2022. According to the documentation, the equipment will use neural networks to analyze traffic, detect and record road incidents, debris on the roadway, parked vehicles in traffic lanes, fallen cargo, animals, car parts, and other objects that pose a threat to road safety.

The system will also be able to automatically recognize traffic jams, detect smoke and fire in the event of accidents or traffic violations. Additionally, the smart cameras are tasked with identifying “unauthorized vehicle entry into restricted zones,” such as cars driving onto sidewalks or shoulders.

Focus on Safety, Not Fines

TsODD clarified that these cameras will not be used to fine drivers. However, information from the cameras will be relayed to emergency services or the nearest patrol unit for response and assistance. Details about accidents or obstacles will be displayed on electronic road signs. The system will be able to detect incidents and immediately notify emergency services.

Officials noted that the neural network has already been trained on large datasets from other countries, although the contract for system deployment has not yet been finalized.

The deadline for submitting applications is January 12, 2022.

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