New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is getting set to announce their subway security plan. And from the details reported in today’s Times, the MTA appears to be basing their $200 million effort on the smart surveillance systems we’ve profiled in places like Chicago and the port of Corpus Christi.
Lockheed Martin will lead a team of contractors in creating an “integrated electronic security system” that will include closed-circuit television cameras, motion detectors and “intelligent video” software that can automatically determine if a package has been left on a train or if a person is in a restricted area.
The MTA could have gone the London route, stringing tons of cameras throughout the subway, and only paying careful attention to the footage once something bad went down. Instead, by using software to detect suspicious behavior, New York transit officials seem to want their thousand new cameras and three thousand electronic sensors to serve as deterrents, tipping cops off to potential bad guys before they act.
The system is a long, long time in coming. Back in 2002, the MTA was given $591 million to shore up New York’s mass transit security. As of last month, it had spent just $30 million of that. Finally, the London tube bombings shamed the MTA into making a move.
THERE’S MORE: Bruce Schneier thinks the subway cams are a waste, dealing with the “‘movie plot threat‘” of the moment… The terrorists bombed a subway in London, so we need to defend our subways.”
New York City officials are [also] erring on the side of caution. If nothing happens, then it was only money. But if something does happen, they won’t keep their jobs unless they can show they did everything possible. And technological solutions just make everyone feel better.
Bruce Schneier is correct that this is a kneejerk policy designed to look as though it will do something useful rather than actually being useful.
However he is a security professional well versed in evaluating security measures for effectiveness.
We the general public are not. All we can do is look at how CCTV has performed so far and ask if we want that.
So the London CCTV has allowed us to see the faces of those who killed 50+ people a few days after they did and for the police to cover up a wrongful shooting.
Who finds that useful ?
The MTA must provide a not-for-profit transit
system, and any expenses for security equipment
can not be passed onto the rider.
The MTA should cut expenses, streamline
operations, and use the $591 million dollars
to lower the fare. To improve security on
the subway system, add more auxiliary Transit
police.
MTA Security slogan: If you see something,
say something. Well, people saw something.
The fare is too high, and now the people
are saying something, lower the fare today.
Remember: A low fare Transportation System
will help stimulate the New York
City’s economy.
We have so many persons without work let them watch the streets city safety they can also write tickets thus the police can do priority work!634
The MTA delays in implementing a security system may prove to be advantageous because of the tremendous advances in Video Threat Detection hardware and software used to automate the monitoring process. This technology allows focus on the most immediate threats in real time, not unlike the missile targeting systems in jet fighters.
As for the cost of such a system, whatever it turns out to be, It will far less than the losses incurred by a massive and prolonged subway disrution!
Of course the security of the mass transit system in New York is very important,but as I understand it the whole system is in disrepair and needs serous money spent on upgrades and many improvements,just so that it can operate at all.