Our surveillance cameras have built in titling that show up as characters at the top of the picture. These titles change depending on which way we choose to have the camera pointing. You may recognize these titles from your morning news. Many local TV stations receive video from us and include it in their morning traffic reports. Most cameras will be pointed in one direction in the AM rush hours, and in another direction in the PM rush hours. Any time there is a traffic incident within range of our cameras, we may point the camera in that direction.
The convention used in our titling is very simple. Most cameras are located at the intersection of two roads. Both road names generally will be in the title, with the road actually in view as the first name. For example: "I-495 - River S" is a title you typically see on the camera at River Rd. and the Beltway (I-495). Since the camera view is looking at I-495, that name shows up first, and the nearest cross street to the camera location (in this case River Rd.) shows up second. The "S" at the end of the title indicates the direction the camera is actually pointing. This is a general compass direction, you will only see N, S, E or W.
We currently offer language translations on our site primarily through Google Translate. This helps visitors find and use information in the languages they speak, but the tool is not perfect. Automated translation may be inaccurate or errors may display on translated pages.
Web-based cameras are a traffic management tool that provide real-time traffic information to traffic operators, the media, and the traveling public. Cameras are designed to increase the safety and efficiency of roadways and to inform drivers of adverse conditions such as accidents or congestion. Motorists can visit the My Commute website or the all King County traffic cameras webpage and view real-time video images of traffic conditions in unincorporated King County.
Pre-trip Internet traveler information assists travelers in making mode choices, travel time estimates, and route decisions prior to trip departure. The Traffic Control Center staff monitor the real-time traffic conditions and can intervene quickly to deal with emerging problems. They adjust traffic signal timings, dispatch enforcement personnel and advise motorists. Upon detection of an incident or other disruption to the flow of traffic, the operators in the Traffic Control Center can notify the appropriate authorities to clear the incident. The cameras are a public safety tool and are not intended to identify speeders or enforce traffic laws.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) collect, store, process and distribute information to people for the movement of people and goods. Examples include traveler information, traffic management, emergency management, public transportation management and many others. Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) is the deployment of advanced traffic sensors and surveillance systems along with real time traffic management and control to increase the movement of traffic along arterials.
The camera is set in the home position. This is the position used most frequently by the staff in the traffic control center. We have a typical morning scheme and afternoon scheme which automatically sends all cameras to pre-set directions. Generally speaking, these automatic settings keep the cameras pointed so that the heaviest traffic flow is oncoming or heading toward the camera. When there is no incident to monitor, the cameras are usually zoomed out and pointing in peak flow traffic direction. The cameras can be rotated 360 degrees as well as zoomed, panned and tilted.
The cameras are connected by a Category 5 cable to the remote server located out in the field. The remote server transmits the images from the camera to an image server by means of an ISDN or DSL phone line using standard Internet Protocol. The image server then transmits the images to the web server. The end user is then able to view the images by logging on to the website.
Camera images should update automatically. Variable refresh rates depend on end-user's connection speed and connection out in the field. If your browser does not support the refresh function, you can manually update the image by selecting one of the refresh rate buttons below the image.
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