For the first piece of network infrastructure, I noticed a large white box on the roof of my apartment building early in the week. After checking Ingrid Burrington’s guide, I learned it could have been a microwave antenna, due to its cylindrical shape, which would be providing internet service to the building. The antenna likely connects to another antenna and provides for the tenants of the building below.
The next device is an NYPD security camera, which was located on an intersection in downtown Manhattan. The device had two cameras and a medium sized antenna attached at the top. The device most likely transmits a live feed of whatever the cameras are recording using the antenna. As for the internals, the device probably has components for transmission as well as storage for backup recordings. It exists this way in order to record and watch the streets.
The third and final device is a red light camera I observed in Queens after a few cars ran the light and its camera started to flash. This device detects when a car has crossed the intersection during a red light and then takes a picture of the car in order to identify its license plate. It exists in this form because it needs to be higher up in order to have a vantage point of the intersection, the car, and its license plate. The box is most likely wired through the pole to an external device.
