Transit Technology and Security
Eva Lerner-Lam
President
Palisades Consulting Group, Inc.
Presentation to
The New York Public Transit Association
2003 Public Transit Fall Conference & Expo
November 20, 2003
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Overview of Presentation
Transit Security Challenges and Threats
“Prepare, Prevent, Protect, Respond,
Recover”
Examples of Transit Technology That Can
Enhance Transit Security
Deployment Obstacles
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Transit Security Challenges
“Open” nature of
transit makes it an
attractive target
Multi-jurisdictional
environments require
aggressive
coordination and
cooperation
Multi-modal
interactions can
increase vulnerability
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Types of Transit Security Threats
Armed Assault
Hostage Taking
Chemical Release
On Board
Explosive on Board
Chemical Outside
Explosive/Sabotage
Outside
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Security Breaches on Public
Transportation in the U.S.
August 6, 1927
Two bombs in two NYC Subway stations
December 7, 1993
Colin Ferguson kills 6, injures 17 on LIRR at rush hour
December 15 and 21, 1994
Edward Leary explodes two bombs on the NYC subway system, injuring 53
people
October 9, 1995
"Sons of the Gestapo" kills 1, injures 65 on sabotaged Amtrak Sunset
Limited in Arizona desert
November 27, 1998
Deranged passenger on a Seattle Metro bus kills bus operator, one
passenger and injures 32 others.
May 2, 2001
Bus hijacker in LA crashes into a minivan, killing the minivan driver and
injuring seven others.
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Good Security is Good Security
Non-terrorist
Terrorist
[Opposite is also true…]
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Key Strategies
Prepare and Prevent
Terrorist
Threats
Non-Terrorist
Threats
Deter & Mitigate
Protect
TRANSIT
Deter & Mitigate
Respond
and
Recover
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Role of Transit Technology?
“While there will continue to be a need for
security personnel in the long term, a national
search is underway for technologies that can
provide increased security with less manpower.
Thus, the application of technologies for
homeland security is just starting, and their
development will require monitoring over a long
period of time.”
--Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management
July 2002
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Security is a New User Service in
the National ITS Architecture
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How Transit Technologies Can Help
Examples of Transit Technologies that can
enhance Security:




Video Surveillance Systems
Chemical Detection Systems
Automated Vehicle Location Systems
Automated Customer Information
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Transit Technology
Security Applications
Transit
Technology
Prepare
Video
Surveillance
Prevent
Protect
Respond
Recover
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chemical
Detection
Automated
Vehicle
Location
Automated
Traveler
Information
X
X
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Video Surveillance Systems
Act as deterrents as
well as tools for
response
Surveillance of
Reconnaissance
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Chemical Detection Systems
Chemical sniffers,
computers and TV
cameras provide first
responders and law
enforcement authorities
with timely and accurate
information about
airborne chemical attacks
in large public interior
spaces
Drills show systems cut
response times from 35
to 5 minutes
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Automated Vehicle Location
Systems
Fleet vehicle location
and dispatch for
emergency and
evacuation services
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Automated Customer Information
Evacuation and
Emergency Trip
Planning
PC’s, laptops,
handheld devices,
cellphones, pagers
National 511, 911
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Deployment Challenges
Coordination with other agencies
Funding
“Systems Engineering Approach”
(leveraging resources, avoiding standalone systems, evaluating alternatives)
Data and Data Interfaces
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It’s the Data…
Data, Data, Data…Interfaces, Interfaces,
Interfaces


Not just the data itself (avoiding “Garbage
In/Garbage Out”)
It’s also the Data Interfaces (“good data here,
good data there, but never the twain shall
meet”)
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Interoperability: Critical for Transit
Technologies and Security
Types of interoperability:




Hardware
Software
Radio/Wireless Communications
Data
Systems Engineering approach
Federal Policy on National ITS
Architecture
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National ITS Architecture
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National ITS Architecture
Provides a common framework for
planning, defining, and integrating
technology systems for transportation
Mature product that reflects the
contributions of a broad cross-section of
the transportation community
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New York State Regional ITS
Architecture
Existing and future inventory of
stakeholder technology elements are
identified
Generic services are defined
All information exchange requirements
are defined at the architecture flow level
for each user entity in the region
http://www.consystec.com/newyork/default
.htm
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In Summary
The Threat is Real and Constant
Good Security is Good Security
Transit Technologies can help to enhance
security
The National ITS Architecture provides a
strong foundation for integration of
technology for transit security
Not just Hardware and Software; Data and
Interfaces are just as important
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For more information…
“Security Applications of Intelligent Transportation
Systems--Reflections on September 11 and Implications
for New York State,” A Report to the Legislature by the
NYU Wagner Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and
Management, July 2002
“Homeland Security and ITS—Using Intelligent
Transportation Systems to Improve and Support
Homeland Security,” Supplement to the National ITS
Program Plan: A Ten-Year Vision, Sept. 2002
www.palisadesgroup.com
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