Vigilant’s technologies are so unique because we provide agencies with a facial recognition gallery of more than 16 million images that grows every day, as well as powerful analytic and search features, and offer a commercial data component to our LPR technology, which no other organization has.
TD: How does Vigilant’s solution utilize real-time data to help law enforcement?
TJ: Our technology can be used on any platform, allowing officers to snap photos on their mobile devices and quickly upload them to their agency’s gallery. This allows them to share information as needed, manage watch lists and receive real-time alerts relevant to current cases. More specific to the LPR side, we offer camera solutions equipped with our Car Detector Mobile (CDM) software that immediately pushes through any updates while officers are mobile, ensuring that users have the most accurate and up-to-date data.
TD: What devices are capturing the data that Vigilant’s technology utilizes? What is the plan to incorporate more data/devices as IoT devices and Smart Cities become more prevalent?
TJ: Fixed and mobile LPR cameras take photos of license plates, capturing the date/time and GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken. Our mobile application allows users to capture plates using any Android or iOS device.
We are constantly innovating to incorporate the latest IoT technology where the environment allows.
TD: How does law enforcement use this data utilization in order to prevent, detect or solve crimes?
TJ: On the facial recognition side, our database houses more than 16 million images, all of which are accessible to agencies to aide them in their assignments. Facial recognition technology speeds up the process of identification by automating the process of investigators knocking on doors with a photo, or having a victim sift through hundreds of mugshot photos just to identify a suspect, which helps solve crimes faster. The investigative process involves a careful examination of the original photo for facial recognition quality in resolution, lighting and subject pose to see if it is viable for a search by the application, and an intense vetting process to determine whether a face in the image could potentially match the person of interest selected from the gallery.
On the LPR side, for example, police in New Jersey were investigating a shooting that left two people injured. The suspect’s license plate was known, but the associated address was outdated. When LPR data was searched, they found the vehicle was parked 4 out of 5 nights outside the same New York City address, which meant the suspect was likely residing nearby. After investigating further, conducting surveillance and gathering additional information, police were able to make an arrest. This is just one example out of hundreds of cases nationwide where LPR technology helped law enforcement agencies keep their communities safe and bring criminals to justice.
Another way agencies can use LPR technology as a crime-fighting tool is by creating what’s called a “virtual fence” around a perimeter (city limits, a parking lot, etc.), by installing a network of LPR cameras to monitor an area. Fixed LPR cameras are installed at key entries and exits, often referred to as choke points. The cameras detect all vehicles entering and exiting through the choke points, capturing the plate number and image, as well as the time, date and location of every detection. A robust back-end allows for investigative analytics and real-time alerting – no IT integration required. This helps identify stolen vehicles or persons of interest entering the perimeter.
Additionally, by sharing information across agencies, law enforcement agencies have a higher chance of solving and preventing further crimes from happening.
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