Background

The N4 Toll Route is a brownfield toll road concession stretching 630 kilometers from Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique and a deep-sea port on the Indian Ocean. Operational since August 2000, the N4 is one of the most important trade routes in the region, running across South Africa from Botswana to Mozambique.

Challenge

Surveillance on the N4 route is mostly comprised of analog cameras and DVRs. Swapping out antiquated analog equipment for IP surveillance across 630 kilometers poses a monumental challenge in and of itself without factoring in the need for a seamless transition without disturbing daily toll operations.

Solution

Commissioned by Trans Africa Concessions (TRAC), VIVOTEK collaborated with system integrator, Africa Technology Operations and Maintenance (ATOM), to upgrade and replace hundreds of cameras on the N4 Toll Route. This included upgrading from many individual DVRs to a centrally managed system using VIVOTEK’s VAST 2 software. A total of 130 VIVOTEK 2-megapixel IP9165-LPR-A Kit cameras were installed for License Plate Recognition (LPR) on the N4. These cameras are outdoor-ready with IP68 and IK10 rated housings, and their anti-glare capabilities enable crystal-clear LPR across two lanes at speeds up to 90 km/hr. Additionally, 105 VIVOTEK IB9387-HT cameras were installed at N4 toll booth lanes to provide overview surveillance coverage. The 5-megapixel, hi-res IB9387-HT outdoor bullet cameras offer superb image quality at 30/60 fps in 1080P. They are also equipped with IR illuminators up to 50 meters for night visibility. Both the IP9165-LPR-A Kit and IB9387-HT cameras serve dual functions of surveillance and detection, effectively minimizing financial loss from intentional and unintentional incidents. Furthermore, 105 VIVOTEK IT9389-H cameras were installed inside toll booths along the N4 to record high-quality audiovisual data as evidence in case of disputes. The 5-megapixel IT9389-H outdoor turret cameras feature VIVOTEK’s Supreme Night Visibility (SNV) and 120dB WDR Pro, ensuring hi-res images at 30 fps any time of day.

Result

VIVOTEK provided an excellent cost/benefit tradeoff for the client. The N4 Toll Route was able to replace their old system of analog cameras and DVRs with a network of high-resolution LPR cameras and 5-megapixel surveillance cameras consolidated into a seamless IP surveillance system using the VAST 2 central management software. VAST 2 simplified the management of the cameras while providing end-user analytics. The entire system with all peripheral benefits was achieved at a price point similar to that of just the DVRs from another vendor.

Customer Feedback

“We have worked with many brands of cameras and prefer working with VIVOTEK for their easy setup and configuration, and also the reliability of the products. The cost-effectiveness is also a plus point.”
-Trans Africa Concessions (TRAC)