As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance security for passengers and employees, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) today announced it is piloting ZeroEyes’ proactive, artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology to leverage existing security cameras to specifically monitor and alert security officers to the brandishing of firearms.
“Ensuring the safety and security of our passengers and employees is CTA's top priority, and this pilot project will allow us to explore how new technology can support these efforts and further enhance the already successful and effective technology we have in place today,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Crime on our system is relatively rare, and CTA is proud to provide a safe and reliable transportation option for nearly one million passengers per day. We hope this additional protective measure will provide an added sense of security for everyone.”
As part of the CTA's ongoing commitment to a multi-faceted approach to combating crime incidents on and around CTA property, the agency partnered with ZeroEyes, a technology company that offers a visual firearm detection and situational awareness software platform based on computer vision and advanced machine learning AI. The technology has already been deployed in a variety of environments, including other major transit agencies, schools, and now Navy Pier in Chicago.
ZeroEyes technology uses existing digital security camera footage to identify brandished guns only. When a brandished gun is detected, the image is automatically sent to the ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC), which is staffed with military and law enforcement veterans for human review. ZeroEyes staff confirms if the detected object is in fact a brandished gun and notifies local law enforcement so they can respond immediately. ZeroEyes does not have facial recognition technology.
This new technology allows local police to be notified very quickly, often within a minute, after the system detects a threat. Police notifications include a photo of the suspect, the type of gun, and the specific location.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) provides law enforcement and patrol for the CTA system. CTA's security division works closely with CPD daily, and CTA's extensive security camera network is used to identify criminal activity and investigate customer and employee issues reported on the rail and bus system. CTA supplements CPD's enforcement efforts with hundreds of additional personnel deployed throughout the system every day who are also focused on customer and employee safety.
The CTA awarded ZeroEyes a 12-month contract worth up to $200,000 to provide 24/7 monitoring of multiple cameras across the rail system, as well as oversight and support equipment. The contract will be paid for from the company's annual security operating budget.
