This article first appeared in the Railway-News magazine, Issue 2 2024.
Wireless monitoring systems have been improving safety and cutting service disruptions for some time and although the technology is now established, it has matured considerably in recent years.
CCTV systems are delivering a much-enhanced product with each advance in digital technology. Specialist supplier Arentis Limited boasts 20 years’ experience in the rail sector.
Arentis provides CCTV solutions for use at crossings, onboard and for depot and station security, most notably manufacturing the Network Rail-approved XNET-TE system in use at UK level crossings.
The company’s latest product − VA-CONNECT − is a wireless camera transmission and recording system which allows clients to view live and recorded video footage from remote locations or from settings where wired infrastructure is cost prohibitive. It can be deployed on manually controlled barriers with obstacle detection (MCB-OD), automatic half barrier crossings (AHBCs) and barrow crossings, delivering live video images on demand or triggered by events on the track, and can also provide continuous recording.
VA-CONNECT allows up to 16 CCTV video images to be recorded locally and streamed wirelessly. It provides workers with access to images, allowing them to review maintenance faults, crossing misuse and detect trespass via inbuilt analytics.
The system comprises a remotely located video recording and streaming unit for connection to local cameras and wireless communications. A cloud/ WAN-based management server provides the hub for administrator management of field units and users. Users access the system through client applications (including Windows and iOS) to view, control, review and download recorded footage. This can be done from the user’s mobile, once they have the correct software installed.
Use the form opposite to get in touch with Arentis Limited directly to discuss any requirements you might have.