Sustainable Land Development Today - February 2008 - (Page 36) TECHNOLOGY Technologies for the Built Environment From improved safety and security to enhanced communication, these systems boost the attraction for commercial and residential developments By Rick Seiden, AICP As developers, designers, and real estate professionals, it is important to understand how technology can differentiate a project from the competition, make it unique, safer, and more successful. New technologies are continuously being introduced into development projects, but as in other aspects of human activities, urban and retail technologies are becoming more ubiquitous and complex. Professionals in the real estate development industry should be aware of which technologies are becoming standard in new projects and which ones are simply under consideration. By understanding new and emerging technologies, real estate professionals and developers can keep their new developments innovative, safe, vibrant, and most importantly profitable. This article focuses on three technologies selected to illustrate this point: one is already here, the second is quickly being deployed, and the third is on the horizon. can range from simple to extremely sophisticated. Large cities such as New York and London already have cutting-edge surveillance systems and many retail environments have installed cameras. Video surveillance systems can make a development safer and provide shoppers, visitors, and residents with a heightened sense of security. Urban surveillance technology is typically a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) network. Unlike broadcast television, where images are transmitted to a mass market, CCTV is a closed system sent only to authorized personnel such as project security officials, municipal employees, police agencies, and first responders. More specifically, it is a system in which a number of video cameras are connected in a closed circuit or loop, with the images produced being sent to a central television monitor or recorders. These systems can be quite dynamic, capable of zooming and panning, and capturing images of license plates from thousands of feet away. Multiple cameras working in unison can track movement across a large space, and incidents can even be monitored by computer software that can have pre-set events programmed into the system to produce alarms when specific incidents occur. When considering a video surveillance system for a project, a developer should consider issues such as: • Camera placement • Number and types of cameras • Municipal regulations • Infrastructure usage • Comprehensive plans • Project aesthetics • Privacy issues Cameras come in numerous formats and prices. They can be basic low-resolution black and white models or extremely sophisticated devices equipped with night vision, motion detection, bullet-proof casings, zoom, and high-definition recording features. The cost runs the gamut for the installation of urban surveillance systems. Some advanced features may include: • Control of each camera using a joy stick to move, pan or zoom on a specific area or incident. • Recording and storage of images on tape or on a digital video recorder for the purpose of archiving and analyzing past incidents, particularly after a crime is reported. • Analytic software that can trigger alarms for pre-set events, such as a car parked in a restricted zone Established Success: Video Surveillance Urban video surveillance has been deployed widely in both large and small European projects, towns and communities and is quickly spreading in North America. Many of us are familiar with cameras set atop traffic signals, also called red-light cameras. Video surveillance is basically the same technology, but it is deployed in strategic locations throughout communities, retail spaces, or industrial areas and their complexities 36 February 2008 Sustainable Land Development Today
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