In response to the Moscow bombings, Yahoo News writer Suzi Parker has put together a list of five steps that will supposedly make public transit safer. They run the gamut from various emerging technologies to good old fashioned emergency preparedness. Here’s a sum up of the list:
1. Gaming technology, [which] uses an array of hardware, software, and fast processor speeds. It records a scene in real time using 360-degree photography and immersive video – allowing for recording of every direction at the same time. It also often includes global positioning systems (GPS) and inertial guidance systems (IGS) for tracking and positioning information.[SButtonZ button="digg"]
If the computer picks up on a possible situation – say, a passenger has a dirty bomb or a bioweapon…the train’s driver will be notified, the entrance and exits doors may electronically be opened or closed depending on the situation.
2. PROTECT, which stands for Program for Response Operations and Technology Enhancements for Chemical/Biological Terrorism…[and] consists of hardware and software that can provide automated detection of a terrorist attack. [S]ecurity experts say it contains biological and chemical sensor technology, video, wireless communications, and computer software to simulate the spread of potential contaminants.
3. Germ Warfare: The Houston Metro system has successfully tested the Breathe Safe System, which uses Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation to kill up to 99 percent of certain types of bacteria. The primarily goal is hygienic: preventing the spread of viruses such H1N1, bacteria, or mold.
But the technology is also evolving to prevent against a biological attack on a mass transit system.
4. Blankets: New York City recently received some new tools in its battle against a possible attack: shields, vests, and blankets made from Demron, a state-of-the-art fabric blend that blocks chemical, biological, and nuclear agents…[The] blankets would be thrown over radiation victims to keep them from irradiating others.
5. Emergency preparedness The old tried-and-true security drill is still the best, security experts say.
Certainly the use of any new technologies, particularly ones like PROTECT that can easily be repurposed for mass transit, is something worth looking into. But there’s still an elephant in the room when it comes to adapting sophisticated technologies on a large scale: cost. Who’s gonna pay for a gaming system played daily in the New York City subway? The logistics, and costs, would be substantial. There’s also the higher costs of training and employing security officials who can work with software like PROTECT to tell whether or not, say, Times Square should be evacuated pronto, or if it could be a computer glitch. Would systems like this be the responsibility of the federal government? ‘Cause, given the current state of the MTA’s finances (the lack of which are already resulting in less security), we’re not holding our breath for any major investments in anti-terror hardware.
Image: National Geographic
Tags: Mass Transit, Security
Misleading headline. Public Transport is already ten times safer than an automobile.
The New York City subway still hasn’t upgraded its ventilation system, years after the London attack, whose relatively limited death toll was due to state of the art ventilation. At the time, security officials said that the same attack in New York would kill several times as many people.
As far as bombers on subways goes, the best defense would seem to be the low number of bombers willing to sacrifice their lives to kill others. The second best defence appears to be that the same bomb, if smuggled onto an airplane, can kill 10x more people. Not so great is that subways naturally have lower security than airports.
Or, instead of endless worrying about security, we could stop bombing, invading, torturing, and generally acting like the world is ours to control. Less pissed off people equals less people crazy enough to try and kill civilians. It might even save enough money that would could invest in HSR without breaking the bank.
Crazy idea, I know.
Great, an emergency lead blankey at the subway station. That makes me feel (un)safe.
There’s no security, only the illusion of security. Not an excuse to do nothing, though–as for the ventilation improvements it would be nice if NYC subways had fresher air anyways. Literal pipe dreams to think it will be funded this decade.
I agree our priorities are so messed up, but what’s the point? The direction of the debate is still heading toward Total Recall scanners at all transportation sites to nuke our pancreases and livers.
I like Suggestion #5 the most. Ole fashioned boy scout preparedness is the best remedy, and extra evacuation routes.
[...] – Making mass transit safe [...]
The Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) approach of using a more robust distributed network of smaller cars going “direct to destination” would reduce the temptation that large gathering of people create for terrorists.
The old idea of forcing all riders to gather and ride together is what causes terrorists to consider public transportation a good target. It doesn’t have to be that way. The smaller, automated, distributed rail network would also help riders get closer to their destination, and allow rail lines to reach further into our cities using less real-estate.
Because it’s automated, PRT systems can even reroute travelers as soon as a threat is identified, and can help people get out of a dangerous area quickly.
Jpods also has a quick deployment version for providing safe movement in disaster situations.
Check out Jpods examples of large scale networks using smaller cars. http://www.jpods.com/HomePBHuntsville.html
They aren’t the only people offering PRT technology, check out this list http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/
[...] Can New Technology Make Mass Transit Safe? » INFRASTRUCTURIST [...]
All of this is useless against a suicide bomber that looks like a homeless person with a shopping cart, or a morbidly obese (wearing fatsuit). If you profile those types of people, prepare for a hurricane of civil rights lawsuits and public outrage.
Even if you get rid of public transit, and everyone rides in their cozy cars. 1 semi trailer truck filled with explosives……
Only a prison or police state will prevent terrorism. With genocide, if theres no opposition alive, how can the opposition do a terrorist bombing?
People themselves can be prepared. If anyone looks suspicious or drops bag that looks full of something, assume the worse and contact a personnel (if you can find one) or dispose of it yourself.
Technology wise, sensors detecting bomb chemicals, surveilannce camers with good color imagery and audio, and other bits strategically placed throughout the system would help.
[...] Can New Technology Make Mass Transit Safe? » INFRASTRUCTURIST [...]
“Or, instead of endless worrying about security, we could stop bombing, invading, torturing, and generally acting like the world is ours to control. Less pissed off people equals less people crazy enough to try and kill civilians. It might even save enough money that would could invest in HSR without breaking the bank.
Crazy idea, I know.”
I have to give kudos for Cyrus for having the courage and foresight to submit these comments during this day and age of economic insecurity, corporate criminality and government complicity in either instigating or enabling global elites in continuous wars of aggression and crimes against working-class and poor peoples of the world. I’m also grateful towards Suzi Parker for sharing her ideas on how we can make our mass transit systems safer against terrorist activities. However, no amount of high technology implementation will be 100% foolproof against a determined saboteur whose intent is to maim, kill and destroy as many civilians and structures as possible, and like Bill said earlier “I like Suggestion #5 the most. Ole fashioned boy scout preparedness is the best remedy, and extra evacuation routes.” I couldn’t agree with you both more.
A must see technology that can change the future of the mass transportation as we know now.
see the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsSG5JTDm_c