March Networks Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and software are being used by Caminos y Puentes Federales de Ingresos y Servicios Conexos (CAPUFE), the Mexican decentralized government agency responsible for federal toll roads and bridges. The integrated March Networks video system is designed to provide CAPUFE supervisors and audit staff with real-time monitoring capabilities of some 31 million transactions per month at tollbooths across the country and is part of the organization's ISO 9000 certified control system procedures.
The DVR and software implementation was provided by systems integrator, Controles Electromec'nicos, S.A. de C.V. To date, approximately 100 systems have been deployed throughout the 165 toll plazas that CAPUFE oversees. The DVRs have been integrated with toll systems transaction data using the March Networks Software Development Kit (SDK). The integration provides CAPUFE staff with a wealth of information, including the date and time that a vehicle moved through a toll plaza, type of payment and amount collected in the tollbooth, operation mode and event number. Auditors are also able to use the integrated data to ensure consistency when comparing collected tolls with estimates produced by embedded toll system pressure sensors that automatically calculate toll costs based on number of axles and dual tire classification.
CAPUFE attributes improved productivity, operational cost savings and greater employee satisfaction to the new DVR implementation. In a recently conducted internal survey, staff using the DVR reported that the systems are saving them time and effort each day, and have even made their jobs less stressful. The agency is able to pass the benefits of operational cost savings on to the Mexican public through better services and further enhancements to its road and bridge infrastructure.
"CAPUFE recently received the Innova Recognition award, issued by the office of the Mexican President, in recognition of its efforts to use technology to develop innovative services that benefit the country and its citizens," states Carlos Roca G'mez, CAPUFE director of operations. "This March Networks DVR installation is a prime example of CAPUFE's leadership in this area."
Authorized users at CAPUFE's regional offices access the live and archived digital video data via a satellite-based wide area network (WAN). At the agency's head office in Cuernavaca City, 37 miles (60 km) from Mexico City, staff connect to the DVRs over a wireless WAN using both PC systems and PDAs running the March Networks DVR Mobile Viewer software.
Previously, CAPUFE relied upon analog video technology and reviewed six competing DVR brands in its search for a high performance digital video system. Priority requirements for the new system were 100 days of storage capacity, easy video search and retrieval, and product reliability.
