I-Cube (Integrated, Intelligent Imaging) E-Mail info at I-Cube dot co dot za OR Call 082 562 8225

Khaleej Times has learnt that the Ministry of Interior (MoI), from March 1, will start enforcing Federal Law No.12 of 2007, which consists of the amended articles of Federal Traffic Law No. 21 of 1995.

In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, Colonel Ghaith Al Za’abi, Director of the Traffic Department, MoI, said the amendments had exempted some categories of vehicles from registration fees.

According to him, the exempted vehicles were those belonging to people with special needs, those used for agricultural purposes and those which were not used as modes of transport on roads. The list also included vehicles of holders of social affairs cards, vehicles of charity organisations and those owned by federal and local governments.

“The revised provisions feature severe penalties, including hefty fines, for some illegal actions,” he said.

Any person found manufacturing or using a fake number plate will risk imprisonment or fine of Dh20,000 or more. Those who change or distort a number plate or use the vehicle with such a number plate will get the same punishment. The same fate await those who dismantle a number plate and fix it on another vehicle without the permission of the licensing authority.

A prison term and a fine not less than Dh20,000 would be handed to the motorist who flees the scene of an accident that involves injuries without acceptable reasons. Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs will invite the same penalties.

“Driving a vehicle while you are not allowed to do so by a court order or the licensing authority will land you in jail for a period not less than three months and a fine not less than Dh5,000 or one of the two penalties,” Al Za’abi said, adding that those who are caught driving a vehicle without a driving licence or with a licence that is not issued for driving that type of vehicle will face the same punishment.

Those who change or borrow or rent a number plate in breach of provisions of the law will be sentenced to not more than one-year imprisonment and a fine of Dh5,000 or more. Causing an accident and failing to provide accurate information that could have revealed the mystery of the crime or accident would entail the same fate.

A jail term of not less than three months and a fine of Dh500 or more but not more than Dh2,000 or one of them will be imposed on any person who commits a crime punishable under this law but gives a policeman inaccurate personal details like name or address when requested.

A jail term of not less than one month and a fine not less than Dh200 and not more than Dh500 or one of them awaits any person violating any provision of this law or its executive regulations.

The law authorises the Minister of Interior to identify cases in which the driving licence will be withheld or the vehicle impounded.

As per the exceptions stated in this law, the minister will issue a fine schedule provided the fine does not exceed Dh3,000.

“If the offender refused this, his case will be referred to the Public Prosecution. And in case of conviction, the fine stated in the sentence should not be less than half the value of the prescribed fine,” Al Za’abi said.

The fine structure would be included in the executive regulations of the law.

A committee is tasked to formulate the structure before enforcement of the law.

I-Cube or Integrated Intelligent Imaging (I³) focuses of proactive crime prevention using real time links to multiple internal and external databases in order to generate a warning prior to crime occurring, allowing anticipation of the offence. All the projects I-Cube is involved with have a central theme of using images, as this allows both the real time and covert nature of the proactive crime prevention systems to operate to the best effect.

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS: As the person or car approaches the entrance a camera captures a number of images from which the license plate or face are extracted. These images are saved, allowing this information to be used in subsequent investigations. The face or license plate is then compared to local databases, allowing greeting of repeat visitors and external databases, such as insurance companies, stolen and suspicious vehicles, SAPS, Metro, etc. If the vehicle is listed as stolen, appropriate action should then be taken. If the vehicle is listed as never have been registered, this is a good vehicle to investigate further. Within a short period of the system being in operation, most vehicles and people have been logged and registered, allowing typically limited resources to be focused on the few remaining exceptions. The ability to leverage the equipment to operate in a marketing role, while still actively focusing on proactive crime prevention, has major advantages in a cash limited environment. If you have more than 50 people a day passing a point where we can place a camera, I-Cube has the experience and ability to turn this into a revenue stream. Please contact I-Cube to explore this further.

WHAT IS REQUIRED: The key to proactive crime prevention using real time links is that the system does not require human intervention, it is fully automatic. The camera automatically captures the image, the facial or license plate is automatically compared to both local and remote databases and if required an alarm is generated. The I-Cube solution can operate locally but using a wide range of communication means (including ADSL, 3G, GPRS, iBURST, Wireless or satellite) a real time link to multiple databases can be established, allowing immediate updates of stolen vehicles as they are added to SAPS or the insurance databases.

The system requires a camera linked to a computer, running the I-Cube Intelligent Software. The software is trained to recognise the item to be logged or counted, be that people, cars or different types of products. Once the item is logged, it can then be compared to pre-set rules or databases, allowing an alarm to be generated if the incorrect number of products exit or a vehicle enters after hours or is listed as not allowed. The ability to link vehicle colour, weight, and driver, biometric and other info as required to the license plate gives the I-Cube system tremendous advantages.

I-Cube can integrate with your existing system or provide dedicated cameras, computers and networks. Please contact I-Cube with your requirements and existing equipment.

WHAT DOES IT COST: I-Cube can provide database links only, software only, some hardware and software or a complete solution, fully installed and maintained, if required? The cost can be a capital amount, a rental per month, a cost per transaction or shared revenue. Costs range from 0.13c per chicken (based on 100 000 birds a day) to 3c per car (based on single entry / exit lanes) to R1 950.00 per month to R49 500.00 for the software and hardware. Please contact I-Cube for your specific requirements.

The following illustrates some examples of the users of this technology. Please contact I-Cube or your local IT / CCTV / DVR / biometric supplier for a customised proposal, taking into consideration your requirements, existing solutions and possible revenue sources.

SCHOOL: The entrance of the school is covered with a camera, which is linked wirelessly to a PC running the I-Cube software. The students, staff and parents are enrolled into a local database, which allows specific messages to be placed on an electronic display, while visitors are directed to the visitor parking area and then to reception. The schools limited manpower resources can then focus on the visitors, rather than the known parents or staff. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

DISTRIBUTION CENTRE: The ability to link the license plate, driver facial image, vehicle type and colour, container number and weight of the truck and weight of goods listed on the invoice prevents unauthorised removal of any items. Productivity per vehicle is up while the number of hours wasted at weigh bridges has been substantially reduced, as the distribution centre no longer allows vehicles out which would be fined for overloading. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

GOLF ESTATE: The existing cameras at the entrance and at key points through the estate were linked to the I-Cube LPR software allowing all visitors and residents to be logged at a number of points through the estate. The system was linked to a national database of suspect and stolen cars, allowing proactive crime prevention. When an alarm is detected, the armed reaction team are called into action, supporting the estate front end guards. A side effect of the I-Cube LPR solution is that the average speed of the vehicles is automatically determined, ensuring the estate remains children friendly. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

OFFICE BLOCK: Parking, or rather the lack of parking within the office block was the reason to call I-Cube. Each tenant has a certain number of bays allocated for staff and visitors. When these bays were occupied and more vehicles were allowed into the office block, major congestion resulted, causing severe frustration for both visitors and office workers. I-Cube utilised the existing cameras to count the number of vehicles into and out of the office block. When the number of vehicles approached critical level, a mobile LPR system was deployed and staff parking in visitor areas were requested to remove their vehicles. Failure to comply led to banning of those vehicles for a certain number of days, again utilising the I-Cube enabled LPR solution. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: The problem faced by the neighbourhood watch was not that of limited resources or money, but of how to prevent known criminals from entering the area patrolled by the neighbourhood watch. The exiting dome cameras were linked to the I-Cube LPR solution, plus a mobile LPR solution was provided. All vehicles and people entering the neighbourhood watch area were recorded and match against the known criminals. If matched, these people were approached and asked to explain where they were going and what they were doing. Car theft was reduced substantially while contact crimes no longer occur. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT: The department had a recovery rate of fewer than 30% of all fines issued. I-Cube introduced a road block LPR solution which allowed the traffic department to generate an alarm when a vehicle with an outstanding fine or warrant was detected. These vehicles were then automatically pulled over to a parking area where the drivers were informed of any fines or warrants were issued. The drivers had the option to pay any amounts outstanding via credit card, check or cash via the I-Cube supplied mobile payment systems. The number of outstanding fines has improved substantially to more than 70%. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

TAXI ROUTE MONITORING & ENFORCEMENT: If taxi routes are not regulated commuters along non profitable routes are not serviced and violence between competing taxi associations often results. If the taxi routes are monitored with the I-Cube LPR solution illegal operators are immediately identified and prevented from operating. Where two of these monitoring points are linked, average speed determination can be determined and the number of trips per taxi per day can be calculated and communicated to the taxi owners. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

TRUCK OVERWEIGHT ENFORCEMENT: A number of kilometres before the truck reaches the off ramp to the official weighbridge where a fine would be issued, the license plate is captured using the I-Cube LPR solution and weight is determined using an in line weigh sensor. If the weight per axle or total weight exceeds that allowed, the license truck is sent a message via the variable message signs (VMS) that it is required to exit on the next off ramp and proceed to the weigh bridge. If the driver / vehicle proceed past the off ramp or do not go to the weigh bridge, an alarm is generated, allowing the truck to be chased / pulled over further ahead or logged for further action. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

A NUMBER OF OTHER EXAMPLES EXIST: Please contact I-Cube for more details.