Mass transit agencies are often saddled with legacy technology and various systems that serve different purposes. 

Retrieving and reviewing data and video can be a cumbersome process for fleet managers. Each system or tool provides a piece of the puzzle, but seeing the complete picture requires tedious manual synchronization. 

Today’s commuters and municipal partners are also increasingly expecting data from transit systems to be made available to support their decisions regarding which methods of transportation to take and when. 

Legacy systems make this challenging. They don’t always communicate with one another or provide an easy method to share data. 

Top 5 Issues of Using Disparate Systems

A complicated patchwork of technology slows communications, strains resources, and ultimately costs more than modernizing your security. 

Here are the top five issues that transit organizations face due to disparate systems:

1. Silos: When each business unit has its separate technology, it requires more staff and training and makes communicating and sharing information between different departments more complex. With a unified physical security system, you can bring all of these sources of data, from all different divisions, seamlessly together in one single interface. 

2. Hardware costs: When the video management system (VMS) on your vehicles is different from those on your platform and maintenance hubs, the extra hardware costs add up. You may also require multiple access control systems (ACS) and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, with dedicated management servers. With a unified physical security system, you can manage VMS, ACS, and ALPR on fewer servers which simplifies your overall hardware maintenance costs.

3. Securely sharing video evidence: If video footage is scattered across several different departments, it takes hours for operators from various divisions to sift through video evidence during investigations. With a unified security platform, video footage can be automatically uploaded and stored in a secure location where it can be easily found and viewed. And if law enforcement needs access, a transit operator quickly shares watermarked digital files that are authenticated, encrypted, and time-stamped to ensure the evidence may be used in court.

4. Upgrade challenges: Over time, the costs associated with maintaining disparate systems add up. Costs may include multiple maintenance agreements, training for security and IT teams, and ensuring compatibility between several systems. When selecting new hardware, it’s important to choose products that aren’t locked into proprietary software systems. Look for open architecture solutions, so you can easily upgrade or add hardware over time as your needs change.

5. Cybersecurity threats: Without the proper cybersecurity measures, cybercriminals can gain access to vulnerable devices, including video surveillance cameras and door controllers, and attack sensitive data and systems. With a unified physical security platform, you can more easily secure all aspects of your system, including communications, servers, and data, both on-premises and in the cloud.

Power of Unification for Mass Transit

When teams use the same system and follow the same protocols, it’s easier to ensure key measures and efficiencies are in place. 

A unified system can help you connect your security and operational teams across different divisions through one single platform. 

A unified transit security solution is different from integrated systems. At its core, is a suite of products developed as one solution. This means that a mass transit agency can standardize on a single security platform across the organization. They can then slowly merge all independent systems onto this new platform and manage security across their entire operation as one.

The result is improved operations, security, and a better customer experience. Riders get to their destinations safely and on time, and transit teams works more efficiently and proactively.

Overcoming Departmental Silos

Making the switch to a unified system isn’t just something that benefits just one team. 

The power of a unified system is its ability to bring data together from disparate systems and departments and present it intuitively. 

Teams are divided into separate groups for maintenance and infrastructure. As a result, your transit organization may be paying for duplicate security and operation systems. Onboard systems that don’t communicate with wayside infrastructure systems are often a source of redundant technology.

A good starting point is to get everyone in the same room to talk about challenges and explore how to structure a solution that can benefit everyone. 

Departmental silos have existed for so long that teams often don’t question the divisions. One group manages buses and another manages subways or light-rail transit (LRT). 

However, once you have a clear understanding of your joint obstacles and goals, you’ll have a better idea of what technologies can support you.

Consider inviting other like-minded municipal agencies to be a part of the conversation. 

Transit agencies aren’t unique in what they’re searching for. Other departments in your community may be wrestling with similar challenges. Communicating with them early on can help you learn from each other’s experiences so you can find better solutions. Talking to vendor representatives can also be helpful. Take the time to identify partners who think like you or who have the same goals you have. 

Making the Switch

It’s difficult to build a single source of truth in a unified system, if you have some data sources that don’t communicate with other systems. 

The first step to transition to a unified system is to identify any closed systems you may have and replace them with open architecture solutions.

Identify the biggest pain points and then fix them one at a time. You may be able to leverage some technology you already have. 

For example, if you have ALPR in parking lots, you could add analytics to get a better picture of how many people use those lots and create new incentives based on that. 

You could even designate a row of parking spots close to the station for carpooling and use video analytics to enforce this. 

When teams use the same system and follow the same protocols, it’s easier to ensure key measures and efficiencies are in place. 

A unified system can help you connect your security and operational teams across different divisions and lay the foundation for the IT infrastructure that will support future expansions. 

What do you want your physical security platform to look like in five, 10, or 15 years from now?

The openness of the platform allows you to adapt to changing needs well into the future. It allows your team to stay flexible. As your needs evolve, you can adopt new technologies that will continue to enhance your operations and the guest experience.