Rio Builds Advanced Command Center

Rio Builds Advanced Command Center

אילוסטרציה (123rf)

This post is also available in: heעברית (Hebrew)

Illustration (123rf)
Illustration (123rf)

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most densely populated cities in South America. Much of the city is vulnerable to flooding, and about three-quarters of Rio’s districts have areas at risk of landslides. High temperatures can make living conditions unbearable. In addition, a high crime rate and poor infrastructure make the city difficult to govern. In preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, authorities are looking to improve living conditions, response times to disasters, and establish a more efficient system to deal with the city’s many challenges.

According to HomeLand Security News Wire a 2010 rain storm encouraged Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes to develop a solution for dealing with future rain storms and disasters. Such a system will help monitor the city, share information across departments, manage emergency crews, and direct repairs. Paes’s solution is an advanced, two-story control center named COR.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

The Guardian reports that the high tech integrated urban command center unites Rio’s thirty departments and some private suppliers in a single monitoring room where operators can track real-time conditions of the city and coordinate a response to emergencies and disruptions. Data is shared in real-time with various city departments and private contractors covering transportation, sanitation, health, and security services. About seventy control center workers operate on desktop screens and observe designated areas of the city on a giant wall monitor divided into a grid showcasing live video feeds from traffic and surveillance cameras.