Gulf Shores Plans Major Expansion of Beach Surveillance Camera Network
Gulf Shores is planning to replace its aging beach camera system with 25 new high-definition cameras, including two with pan-and-zoom capability, in a $49,420.20 upgrade aimed at boosting public safety along the shoreline.
Gulf Shores is preparing to nearly double the number of cameras watching over its public beach as city officials look to modernize a surveillance system that has been in place for roughly six years.
City leaders are moving to remove the 13 cameras currently mounted around the public beach and replace them with 25 new high-definition units at a cost of $49,420.20.
“We like to be the flagship of technology for the State of Alabama. So keeping current and changing with the times. Technology changes every day and if you don’t stay one step ahead of it, you’re two steps behind,” said Mike Hawley, information technology officer for the city of Gulf Shores.
New Cameras Bring Pan-and-Zoom Capability
Among the new equipment, two of the replacement cameras will be equipped with pan-and-zoom capability, a feature the current camera system lacks entirely. City officials say the added flexibility should make it easier for personnel to track activity in real time and respond more quickly to incidents on the beach.
“The HD cameras that we’re looking to get will have that option, which I think will enhance public safety and everything that goes on at the beach,” Hawley said.
Older Cameras Finding New Homes
Rather than scrapping the older cameras, the city plans to relocate them to other public areas that currently have no camera coverage at all, such as the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. Officials say the approach stretches the value of equipment that still works, while extending monitoring capability to more of the city’s public spaces.
“Utilizing the cameras that are in place at Gulf Place now, taking them down and using them in other areas I think will be a really good resource and money savings as well for us,” Hawley said.
“The police department is doing all they can do, but there are only so many of them. So the cameras, I think, would definitely help,” said Gulf Shores resident Kim Kollek.
City officials have not announced a specific installation timeline for the new cameras.
Gulf Place, where the current cameras are mounted, is the city’s main public beach, located at the southern end of State Route 59 where it meets Beach Boulevard.
