As recent events demonstrate, cities all over the country and around the world are looking to invest in technology to enhance safety and limit the possibility of crime. Enter the “Safe City” concept, an effort by many cities around the world to build citywide surveillance networks to help deal with crime, natural disasters, vandalism and more – even with limited budgets.
Keeping a city safe involves monitoring high-profile critical infrastructure locations, such as transit, energy and public utilities, as possible terrorist and criminal targets. Security requires shared visibility of common areas in public-private partnerships. Strategic border and perimeter crossings, as well as impromptu checkpoints, must also be secured. In an era of complex threats, multiple components must contribute to any Safe City security initiative.