HP announced that the city of Auckland, New Zealand, has selected HP Software to deliver a visionary Big Data project designed to provide a safer community and more efficient roadways for its citizens.

Auckland Transport, Auckland’s government agency responsible for all of its transportation infrastructure and services, will deploy video analytics powered by HP IDOL on servers and storage from HP Enterprise Group and with support from HP Software Professional Services.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens is always our top priority and the Future Cities initiative is a big step in the right direction,” said Roger Jones, CIO Auckland Transport. “Only HP could comprehensively deliver the custom solution, expertise and ecosystem at this scale to transform our vision into reality.”

Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) will use HP’s integrated big data platform, HAVEn, to analyze, understand and act on vast quantities of data of virtually any type including text, images, audio, and real-time video.

The system will leverage data from a variety of sources, including thousands of security and traffic management cameras, a vast network of road and environmental sensors as well as real-time social media and news feeds.

In the first phase of the project, Auckland Transport will focus on improving public safety.

Auckland Transport will use HP Intelligent Scene Analysis System and license plate recognition for accurate identification and scene analysis for dangerous activities and analyzing safety threats from over 2,000 cameras deployed within Auckland.

Going forward this information will be linked with rich insight from social media news sources to provide a comprehensive solution that can proactively identify breaking trends and respond to critical safety incidents for cyclists and transport users.

HP Enterprise Group will supply the hardware infrastructure for Auckland Transport, a combination of powerful servers and storage systems.

HP Proliant Gen8 BladeSystem, HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage, HP StoreAll Archive, and HP FlexFabric will give Auckland Transport the most advanced hardware, providing superior capabilities for the safe city initiative.

HP Software Professional Services will also be instrumental in the process, lending support and expertise to ensure a swift and smooth implementation.

HP partner VidSys (@VidSys), a global leader in physical security information management systems, will provide a platform that unifies the control and monitoring functions of physical security, building and traffic management, and computer aided dispatch systems.

Auckland Transport’s investment in big data technologies from HP is part of a larger trend around the emergence of “Smart Cities.”

Enlightened city planners are looking at how to leverage big data, sensor data, and data from people and their devices to create improved products and services for citizens.

According to market research firm IHS, investment in Smart City projects and technologies will rise from $1 Billion in 2013 to $12 Billion in 2025.

“We are proud to work with such an innovative and forward-thinking government agency like Auckland Transport,” said Colin Mahony, SVP & General Manager, Big Data Group, HP Software. “This comprehensive HP HAVEn big data solution will enhance the life of their citizens and will become a model of transport systems for cities around the globe.”