REAL-TIME VIDEO OVER COPPER NETWORKS: A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Real-Time video for traffic monitoring is an element common to many transportation management systems across the world. The ability to remotely view that video on a real-time basis is dependent upon video quality and available bandwidth on the communications link. If bandwidth is limited, typically video compression is required which generally results in loss of video quality. Remote viewing (e.g. over one mile) of high-quality analog NTSC video typically requires high-bandwidth, high-cost infrastructure such as fiber-optic cable. It is also possible, however to pass this high-quality video the same distance over copper communications networks, provided proper amplification exists. Using this option, agencies can utilize their existing copper-based communications infrastructure for traffic monitoring purposes, thereby minimizing infrastructure upgrade costs. This paper examines how two agencies, the Cities of Concord and Walnut Creek, CA pursued this option to provide traffic monitoring capabilities to their transportation management systems.