OREANDA-NEWS. NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has won an order from Toshima Ward, Tokyo for a Comprehensive Disaster Control System construction project, which will incorporate one of the world's first  crowd behavior analysis technologies that utilizes security camera footage to understand the behavior of crowds and to detect abnormalities. This system is scheduled to come into service in May 2015.

NEC's proprietary crowd behavior analysis technology analyzes changes in crowd behavior without identifying any individuals. Moreover, it estimates the degree of crowd congestion and detects abnormal crowding as well as flow abnormalities in groups of people using images captured with security cameras.

The Toshima Ward of Tokyo is characterized by concentrations of people in particular areas, especially surrounding Ikebukuro Station, which is used by approximately 2.5 million passengers a day. In such a busy environment, it is important to take immediate action in the event of a disaster and, even in ordinary conditions, to swiftly detect a situation that is likely to result in an accident.

NEC's system will detect abnormalities in real-time based on images of major railway stations and roadways captured with newly installed security cameras throughout the ward. In the event of any abnormality, the system automatically gives an alert in order to quickly identify where an unexpected event is occurring. This will help in providing assistance and distributing information faster and in preventing accidents in crowded areas. It will also reduce the workload of personnel monitoring crowd conditions.

"Amid its focus on the "Social Solutions Business," NEC pushes ahead with the development of safety solutions as a pillar of its global growth strategy. We have established a system of solutions called Safer Cities based on our track record of delivering more than 500 systems in 40 countries around the world. This new system in Tokyo's Toshima Ward is an important part of NEC's ongoing contributions to the realization of safe and secure cities," said Kunio Kondo, senior vice president, NEC Corporation.

NEC's crowd behavior analysis technology supports the company's view towards building a safe and secure society and its vision for urban development leading up to and beyond 2020, including busy terminal stations, airports, theme parks, stadiums and event venues.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.