Since it began operating over one year ago, a public camera system which is independently operated by a volunteer group, entitled ‘Develop Da Nang’, has proved effective. 

A member of the group presenting plans for installing new cameras across the city

To date, a total of 12 public surveillance cameras have been installed along the streets of Quang Trung and Ho Nghinh, and on Pham Van Dong Beach, the Han River and Rong (Dragon) bridges, and the Hue T-Junction overpass. 

Locals and visitors can visit the group’s website at http://camera.0511.vn, and click ‘Camera’ to choose which camera-installed places they want to observe.  Thanks to the images from the cameras, viewers can find out where there is current traffic congestion or projects under construction and thereby avoiding passing there.  If any traffic accidents are seen on the cameras, relevant local agencies can handle them in a prompt and effective manner. 

In addition to allowing Internet users the opportunity to effectively observe traffic movements at any given time, the camera system also helps in the fight against social evils and crime.  For example, a camera has been installed at 130 Quang Trung where, in the past, many helmets were being stolen from unattended motorcycles parked along the pavement.  There was also a hiding place for drug-addicts in a small alley near this camera site.  Since this camera was put into use, no thefts of helmets have been reported and the ‘hotspot’ of drug-addicts has also disappeared. 

Public cameras also help local agencies to detect traffic violations because images of traffic violators, the violation times and venues, and the registration plates of the violating vehicles are captured and recorded during both daytime and night-time hours within a radius of 40m.

The website also features a hotline and an online chat system for users to directly contact the group’s members, thereby allowing them to report anything abnormal relating to traffic or security that they have detected on the cameras. 

Interestingly, thanks to a camera installed on the Dragon Bridge, there has been an increasing number of viewers who like to watch images of the Dragon’s head breathing fire and squirting water on Saturday and Sunday evenings. 

Ms Tran Thi Hoang Giang’s hometown is in Da Nang but she now lives in Ho Chi Minh City.  The young woman remarked that by regularly watching images of the beloved Han River Bridge on the camera system helps her to overcome her homesickness.

The group’s leader, Mr Tran Huu Duc Nhat, said that his group now consists of 20 volunteer members who are in charge of managing the website, maintaining the operation of the cameras, and doing other related tasks.

At a recent meeting between municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho and local citizens, the group’s members made a proposal to appeal for more public donations to install more cameras at other public sites.  Chairman Tho pledged that 50 million VND from the city’s budget would be granted to the group to help implement this project.  He also asked the municipal Department of Information and Communications to connect the group-developed camera system with the city’s server system to ensure better State management of local issues.

The group is targeting to install an additional 100 cameras across the city by the end of this year.  In particular, the camera system will include an integrated database about local temperatures, humidity and air pollution levels. 

Mr Nhat said that his group now wants to attract more volunteers to expand their project, especially students from the faculties of Technology and IT at local universities and colleges.  The focus will be on choosing suitable sites for the installation of more cameras and adding new features to the website.