When New York City is mentioned, most people almost immediately think of the Manhattan skyline with its iconic Empire State Building. Indeed, people view New York City as the very definition of the urban environment. What many do not realize is that New York City has an extensive park system totaling over 28,000 acres of green space. On the west side of Manhattan lies the Hudson River Park, developed and managed by the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT), a unique partnership between New York State and New York City.
Hudson River Park is the second largest park in Manhattan after Central Park. Stretching from 59th Street to the Financial Center downtown, this stretch of green space is approximately four miles long and has an area of 550 acres. Aside from public open spaces, Hudson River Park also includes sites like Chelsea Piers and the Intrepid Museum. There is much history at Hudson River Park, including being the intended arrival location of the famous Titanic ship that never made it to New York City.
THE CHALLENGES
Large coverage area | Long piers without fiber | High-bandwidth video
HRPT wanted to add video security cameras throughout the four-mile length of the park, including on multiple piers. In some cases, the piers stretch nearly 1,000 feet into the Hudson River. The challenge was to provide connectivity for all camera locations throughout the park.
Given many of these cameras were out on the piers, this meant no wireline was available, and often times, there was no power either. Though fiber was considered, its price tag was estimated at $30M – an amount that was just not feasible.
Multi Media Communications (MMC) stepped forward with an alternate approach – use Siklu by Ceragon’s gigabit mmWave wireless systems to connect each and every camera – over 100 cameras in total. MMC had experience with 5 GHz wireless systems, but concerns over capacity and interference in this mission-critical application had them looking for alternate wireless solutions. MMC worked with Alliance Communications who provided technical assistance with system solutions for the project.
THE SOLUTION
Siklu by Ceragon EtherHaul PtP street-level and rooftop radios | Siklu by Ceragon MultiHaul TG PtMP radios
The location of the cameras varied throughout Hudson River Park, with ten cameras here, one there, and so on. This meant that sometimes a point-to-point (PtP) link was the right solution, and other times a point-to-multipoint (PtMP) system was the right technology choice. The diversity of the network meant the solution provider had to be able to deliver on all the various radios needed based on location and capacity. Only Siklu by Ceragon, with the widest portfolio of mmWave radios on the market, could do the job. Siklu by Ceragon’s EtherHaul PtP street-level radios, EtherHaul Kilo series rooftop radios, and MultiHaul PtMP radios, totaling 112 radios, were all used in the network with zero fiber or wireline connectivity.
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Multi Media Communications, with the support of the Hudson River Park Trust, has been steadily adding and expanding this wireless video security network for several years. Today over 150 cameras are delivering video streams to the video management system that HRPT monitors 24x7.
Many of the cameras are mounted on light poles, which sounds like easy access to power, with one caveat – during the day when the lights were off, there was no power to the cameras or radios. MMC reached out to Solis Energy which offers an extensive selection of battery and solar power backups. Over 40 locations use Solis Energy battery backup systems, powering cameras and Siklu by Ceragon radios during the day and recharging at night.
THE RESULTS
Easy deployment | Gigabit capacities | Enhanced reliability | Improved security
Today this extensive network is a shining example of blending the right components of a highly technical solution and delivering robust, mission-critical performance. Because HRPT can have video surveillance on many more park areas at one time than it could previously do with staff alone, the system has become an important part of the park’s security system.
The network continues to grow with a planned expansion to Pier 57. This location will deploy Siklu by Ceragon's latest wireless connectivity solutions.
Going forward, HRPT sees the potential of the network’s gigabit capacity as an opportunity to add more applications, such as connecting key card access systems throughout the park’s many locations. One thing is clear – with mmWave wireless solutions from Siklu by Ceragon, installed and supported by MMC, the Hudson River Park system is providing greater security for New Yorkers and tourists enjoying its green spaces.
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