Axis Communications, solutions integrator STS Tech Group, and Cape Town-based transport provider Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) have joined forces to secure the future of electric mobility at the Arrowgate depot. A newly released customer success story highlights how this collaborative undertaking successfully transformed the depot using integrated network surveillance, video management, and access control.
The case study details the journey of upgrading GABS’s infrastructure for the green mobility era. By combining STS Tech Group’s expert systems design and deployment with Axis’s industry-leading technology platform, the project delivers robust security and operational insights tailored to one of Africa’s largest electric bus charging sites.
Bradley Geduldt, Divisional Engineer at Golden Arrow Bus Services, says, “Embracing green mobility requires us to take a long, hard look at our infrastructure and the ways we protect people, vehicles and other assets. In doing so, we had the opportunity to reshape the role of security and surveillance. At the same time, we gained greater visibility across the depot and unlocked new insights that help us refine our operations.”
Building and protecting a cleaner transportation system
A wholly owned subsidiary of Frontier Transport Holdings, GABS has provided road-based public transport to Cape Town communities for more than 160 years. The service transports approximately 230,000 travellers per day and operates more than 1,100 buses across 1,300 routes, covering nearly 60 million kilometres.
The demand for reliable and sustainable public transport has led GABS to invest in electric-powered vehicles and extensive charging infrastructure at its Arrowgate depot, supported by solar energy and featuring one of the largest electric bus charging sites on the continent.
The result is a highly complex and active operating environment that presents significant challenges in terms of safety and efficiency.
To deliver an integrated system that addresses these challenges, GABS partnered with Axis Communications and STS Tech Group to engineer a holistic security and operational framework.
Mike Pritchard, Business Development Manager at STS Tech Group, says, “A project such as this demands a strong technology foundation. To meet the security needs of operators like GABS, we take a holistic view of their operations and identify how each system component can address a particular function or minimise a specific risk. Axis is a go-to manufacturer for said components, as they help guarantee not only quality and durability but also a high level of interoperability and scalability. Security systems need to grow and evolve as the organisation does, and that’s what guided us throughout the entire project cycle.”
Achieving enhanced security resilience through collaboration
With Axis platforms and products serving as the foundation, STS Tech Group designed and implemented a comprehensive, high-impact system. High-resolution dome and bullet cameras provide coverage across the property and are connected to Axis Camera Station, enabling security teams to maintain visibility of the perimeter, entry and exit points, and electric bus charging infrastructure.
Meanwhile, access control devices at personnel entry points are integrated into the platform, allowing teams to visually verify employees and manage authorised access. Together, these integrations allow security staff to immediately investigate and respond to security incidents, as well as improve the management of depot traffic and charging operations.
Lee-Ross Duimpies, Key Account Manager at Axis Communications, says, “Across the continent, public transport is evolving through the adoption of new technologies and investments in renewable energy-driven solutions. A critical component of that evolution is ensuring that those investments, and the infrastructure that moves communities, cities and entire nations, are protected. We are proud to work alongside expert partners like STS Tech Group to help providers like GABS strengthen their operations through intelligent, end-to-end surveillance solutions.”
“The objective is simple, but the results are comprehensive,” Duimpies adds. “By using this integrated platform, GABS can ultimately uphold the security resilience of the depot and learn more about its operations, leading to gains in site performance and efficiency. It helps set a new standard in sustainable public transport, with security technologies making active contributions to industry-wide goals.”
Through the combined power of Axis technology, STS Tech Group’s engineering expertise, and GABS’s vision, the Arrowgate depot’s electric buses and charging infrastructure are kept safe, successfully contributing to the worldwide transition toward cleaner transportation.
Read the full Axis, STS Tech Group, and Golden Arrow customer success story here or view other stories by visiting www.axis.com/customer-story.
