AI-enabled CCTVs will check crime
dubai — Thousands of CCTV cameras will serve as eyes and ears for the Dubai Police as part of an ambitious security project that was rolled out on Saturday.
Cameras belonging to government and semi-government departments and partners in the private sector will be linked to the police control room, which will help the cops respond to an emergency even before it is reported.
The ‘Oyoon’ project will make use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to alert the police about crimes in progress or traffic violations.
The project will be up and running by 2019, said Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, commander-in-chief of the Dubai Police for criminal investigation.
DUBAI — The Dubai Police will soon have eyes all over the emirate thanks to a new security project that was launched on Saturday. The project will link CCTV cameras in operation across the emirate to the police control room and is projected to make Dubai the safest city on earth.
Radars operating on Dubai roads will also be linked to the system so that even traffic violations can be monitored from the control room. The ‘Oyoon’ project will see participation from government and semi-government departments and the private sector.
Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commanderin-chief of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Dubai Police, said the project will make use of artificial intelligence (AI) and sophisticated technology to prevent and reduce crime. “The camera footages will help the police respond to an emergency even before it is reported,” said Maj-Gen Al Mansouri. Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, deputy director of Criminal Investigation (administration), said the cameras will rely on AI to detect faces and alert the police about crimes in progress. “This will help us respond to emergencies quickly.”
The system will also help reduce traffic violations, as it will give the traffic police eyes over all the roads in the emirate. Maj-Gen Al Mansouri added: “The tens of thousands of cameras in Dubai will be unified and linked to the police operations room to enable security personnel to prevent crimes. The live feed will help the police investigate crime and monitor traffic violations, thus enhancing the security of all residents and visitors.”
The project will help the police take decisions “quickly and efficiently. The police wouldn’t need to be physically present at sites for monitoring and analysis.”
An Oyoon committee has been formed that will be presided over by the Dubai Police chief, Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri.
The camera footages will help the Dubai Police respond to an emergency even before it is reported.” Maj-Gen Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, CID, Dubai Police
The cameras will rely on AI to detect faces and alert the police about crimes in progress.” Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, CID (administration), Dubai Police
It will have representatives from the Dubai Municipality, Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA), Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Dubai Smart Government office. It will also have representatives from the private sector.
Brig Al Jallaf said the project will be implemented in coordination with “international companies as per best international standards”. The Oyoon executive committee will include experts who will study the areas that to be covered under the project, to determine the type of cameras each area requires. “Multiple sub-committees will be formed for criminal monitoring, traffic violations, tourism issues etc.” Brigadier Kamil Batti, director of the general department of operations room, said the project is very important to “enhance the work of the police”. “It will eliminate the need for the police to be present everywhere. They can monitor all areas through the cameras.” He explained that the project will have sensors that will set off an alert in the operations room if it detects crime.
“It will also help us manage traffic during major events. Footages from the network of cameras will help emergency responders reach traffic sites as soon as possible,” added Brig Batti.