The city’s new artificial intelligence-powered Downtown Command Center is designed to detect incidents and expedite emergency response by using video analytics and citywide surveillance to expand coordination across agencies.
First conceptualized in November, Memphis officially opened the center on April 24, just months after breaking ground. The city brought the Downtown Command Center to life rapidly with a coordinated effort by Mayor Paul Young, Chief Information Officer Eric Keane, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC). Other partners include Innovate Memphis, the University of Memphis, and local tech startups.
The new public safety facility houses members of MPD and DMC, including people from the latter’s safety and hospitality team, the Blue Suede Brigade, who have received the Criminal Justice Information System certification. This certification, Keane says, ensures compliance with information security and data privacy standards set by the FBI and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Memphis encompasses nearly 300 square miles and Keane emphasized the facility’s importance to helping target resources. Its intel has enabled officials to improve camera placements, and enhanced the staff’s ability to monitor and analyze local patterns and trends more effectively. Their strategy is powered in part by the city’s network of advanced video sensors.
“Cameras deployed at major intersections throughout the city are highly advanced electronic devices that act as video sensors,” Keane said. “Each camera is a ‘5-in-1’ system featuring four stationary lenses covering the north, east, south, and west field of view, along with a fifth mobile lens that can pivot, tilt and zoom.”
Equipped with auto-focus and automatic event detection, the rotating lens lets the cameras convert live video streams into actionable data — identifying and alerting officials to wrong-way drivers, erratic vehicle behavior or collisions. This data is then relayed to public safety officials in the Memphis Fire Department, enabling them to assess the scene, prepare necessary equipment and coordinate their response while en route.
Technologically, the center is a “game-changer,” Keane said, particularly because of its AI-driven alerts and potential for integration with the city's broader data systems.
“I believe we are only beginning to unlock the full potential of this type of technology, with numerous identified use cases that can enhance public health, safety and overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” he said.
The city is now planning a Phase 2 expansion of the command center to include traffic monitoring, blight detection and possibly a public-facing safety dashboard. His team, the CIO said, is also tapping into the city’s enterprise data warehouse to dig deeper into alert data that can help shape long-term plans for the city.
“By combining camera data with insights from our city IT systems and maps, we have a unique opportunity to uncover root causes of key issues and develop data-driven solutions that create lasting improvements for our community,” Keane said.
