Philly's Cameras Cost 20x More Than Planned

Author: Carlton Purvis, Published on Apr 22, 2013

Last year, the City of Philadelphia commissioned a review of its multi-million dollar surveillance system. In the planning stages, the system's cost was estimated at around $3,000 per camera, but the actual cost so far has been $136,000 per functioning camera at $13.9 million, with an additional $3.2 million awarded after the original contract for replacement cameras, repairs and maintenance, the audit found.

According to the 30-page final report, more than half (53%) of the city’s 216 surveillance cameras weren’t working. Of 20 cameras randomly selected by auditors, only nine could actually provide video images. Ten of them needed to be repaired or weren’t in use for unreported reasons. Additionally, the portable overt digital surveillance systems (PODSS), which were supposed to be moveable throughout the city to cover crime hot spots, haven’t moved since installation because they are “too heavy.”

*** ******* **** ******** ** **** ** * ******* ****-***** initiative ****** ********* ***** ******* **** *** ********* ** ****** “Philadelphia ************* ***** ** ********* ****** **** ******* **** *** ******** crime” (*** **** **** *** **** *** ****** ** ***** the ****** ** ************ ******* ** ***** *** ******** ********* about ***** ********** ** *** ****** **********. *** ***** ***** no *********** ******* *** ****** ** ******* ** ** **** and *** ****** ** *********).

The ********

**'** ********* *** *** *** ******** *** *** *******. ***** we *** *** **, **** ** *** ******* ** *** original ******** **** **** * ****** ***** ******* **** ****. *** ******** *** *** $*.* ******* *** ******************** ** *** ******* **** ** ****** ** ****** ** additional ***.

Messy ******* Purchase, installation and maintenance is overseen by the city’s Office of Innovation and Technology. Not only did the audit find that the OIT wasn’t maintaining records properly, but many cameras that were purchased were never installed. The city was using AXIS and Sony cameras which were both under one-year warranties, according to the report, but because of poor record keeping, OIT doesn’t know which cameras they are and may have paid for repairs and replacements of cameras under still warranty. Several cameras from the original contract are still sitting in a warehouse unboxed.

*** **** **********’* ****** ******** * ********* ****** *** ********** ******** **** *** *********, ********* * ****** *** *** ** ** ***** **** the *** *** “************** ***********.” **** ****** *** ******. **** contract *** *********. *** *** **** ****************** **** ** *** ******* ** *** ***.

****** **** ********* ***** *** ******* ****** ** ******** ** the **** ** ************ ********* ** ** **** **** ********** **** about *** ********: "****** ** ***** ** *** **** *** company ********* ***** *** ******** **** *** **** ** ************ ... Unisys ********* *** *********** ***** *** ******* ** ****, ***** which *** **** **** **** ********** ** *** *******."

*** **** **** ** *** ** ***** ** ************* ** *** ******* **** *** ***.

*********

** *** **** ** ******* **** *********, *** ******* **** ******** *** ***** ********** ********, ****** **********, ** ****'* **** ********* ** *** *******. **'* *** ***** if *** **** *** ***** ** *** ****** ** *** company ** *** **** ** ******** ** ** ****** ************ had ******** ** ** **** ********* ********.

Avoiding *********

*** *** *** **** ********* ** ****** ********* ********* ***** why *** ****** *****’* ****. ** ********* *** ****** **** a **** ** ********* ******* ** *** ********* **** ********** **** ********* *** *** ***** ** ***** scheduled *****. ** ********, **** ******* *** ** ******* ************ system ***** ** * *** ****** ***** *** *** **** released. The **********’* *************** *** ********, ***** *** **** *** *****’* ************** ** *** ******* ********** ********* ** ***** ** *** ******* ** ***** are ***** ** ***** ******* *** *** ** **** ******* don’t ****.

*** ****** ** *** ***** **** ** ** *** **** asked ** **** ** *** ********* ****** ** *** ************, not *** ********* ******* ****** ****.

Huge **** / ************ *****

***** **** ************ *** ****** * *** ***** ** *** wake ** *** ****** *******, *** ******* ***** *** *********** issues ** **** ******* ***** **** ******** ***** *** ********* of **** **** **** *******.

Current ****** After the meeting in February, a city spokesperson said only *** ******* (** *******) **** *******. **** ****** *********** ** ** ** ********* **** *********. *** ****’* ***** ****** **** ** *** *** audit **** ** ******** “******** **** *****.”

Comments (2)

Brian Karas

04/24/13 04:33pm

**** *** ** ***-**********, *** ** ***** ****'** *********.

Mark Rindy

04/24/13 09:14pm

**** ***** ** ****, * **** ** *** *****, *** original ******** ** *** *********, ****** ***** ** *** **********

A tale of two boats!

Login to read this IPVM report.

Why do I need to log in?

IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on Installation

IP Networking Course September 2017 on Aug 17, 2017

This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals plus it includes live training, personal help and...

Competing Against Schneider Electric on Aug 04, 2017

Schneider Electric overall does ~$30 billion USD annual revenue. One of its many parts is a building / security systems integrator. Another is...

Access Control Commissioning / Install Checklist on Aug 03, 2017

This 80+ point checklist helps end users, integrators and consultants verify that access control installation is complete. It covers the following...

Dahua 4K Turret Tested Vs Hikvision (N84BG44 ) on Aug 02, 2017

Dahua has released their latest low cost 4K model, the N84BG44, claiming Smart H.265+ and 50m IR range. We bought and tested this new model against...

$8 Billion Utility Georgia Power Enters Surveillance Business Offering Avigilon And Genetec on Jul 19, 2017

Utilities are typically considered major customers of surveillance integrators but one utility, Georgia Power, with $8+ billion in annual revenue...

Convergint Total Recall CrimeEye Product Profile on Jul 11, 2017

Deploying video surveillance in metropolitan areas often brings challenges, including lack of infrastructure or excessive costs to extend...

US States Security Licensing Guide on May 30, 2017

In the US, many states require integrators to be licensed to install burglar alarms, CCTV, electronic access control, or all three, and...

Alarm Supervision Guide on May 24, 2017

Burglar alarms can constantly monitor the health of attached circuits, sensors, and devices to ensure that they remain operational. This is known...

Amazon Techs Installing IP Cameras Tested on May 18, 2017

In 2015, Amazon started offering video surveillance installation. Now, Amazon has made it a lot easier, with automatic add-on options and...

FLIR Is Giving Away $3,000 Demo Kits on May 17, 2017

Everybody likes free stuff, and FLIR is using that concept to attract dealers by giving them $3,000 worth of demo gear for attending a...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Avigilon CEO Attacks Asian Companies Cyber Insecurity on Aug 18, 2017

Avigilon CEO is taking aim at their Asian competitors. And he is going directly after these company's cyber security issues. In this note, we...

Sony Next Gen HD Dome Camera Tested (SNC-EM642R) on Aug 18, 2017

Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR...

IP Networking Course September 2017 on Aug 17, 2017

This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals plus it includes live training, personal help and...

Knightscope Raises $10 Million With $3,320 Average Per Investor on Aug 17, 2017

Congrats to Knightscope. And condolences to their legion of little investors. Knightscope has disclosed they have raised $10+ million from their...

Axis and Arecont Legal Conflict Over Multi-Imager Cameras on Aug 17, 2017

Arecont threatened Axis. Axis has responded by moving to invalidate an Arecont patent. It is an important contest. Multi-imagers are Arecont's...

Directory Of Consumer Security Cameras on Aug 16, 2017

The consumer camera segment continues to grow, with new startups and models from existing players released seemingly every month. In this report we...

Cat 5e vs Cat 6 vs Cat 6a Network Cable Usage Statistics on Aug 16, 2017

Cat 5e? Cat 6? Cat 6a? What do integrators use in practice, today? 140+ integrators told IPVM. Here are the results: For those who want to...

Hikvision Responds To Cracked Security Codes on Aug 15, 2017

Hikvision has responded to IPVM's report on Hikvision's security code being cracked, both with a 2 page update to dealers and communication...

Stolen Video NVR / DVR Statistics on Aug 15, 2017

"But what happens if someone steals my recorder?" Anyone who has done more than a handful of jobs has probably heard this question several times....

Hikvision Europe Cutting Out Unauthorized End User Sales on Aug 15, 2017

The days of anyone buying Hikvision from anywhere off the Internet are numbered, at least in Europe, if Hikvision's plan comes to fruition. In...