The City of Pittsburgh moved one step closer last week in their plans to implement video surveillance technology throughout the Port of Pittsburgh and the rest of the city. On Friday, the city released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Phase I of their Port Security Project. This project is utilizing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Port Security Grant Program as a stepping stone in securing the United State's second largest inland port.

The project, to be implemented in three phases, will include installation and relocation of video cameras, integration of video systems on an open architecture system, and a wireless communications platform for River Rescue support. The city has applied for and been awarded a DHS Infrastructure Protection Program Grant to install an enhanced port wide video data platform and extend video camera coverage to major bridges, arteries, and waterways around the Port. This project will also include gunshot detection technology as well as plate recognition technology.

INPUT estimates this will be a multi-million dollar project as the city has already invested a large amount of money into this initiative. Since this project has multiple phases, INPUT estimates that there will be a wide variety of opportunities for small business vendors to take part in this one-of-a-kind initiative.