Securing transport hubs

July 2010 Integrated Solutions, Transport (Industry)

Standard, integrated, dynamic responses vital to lives, assets, reputation.

In transportation, be it air, rail or road, there are a number of high value items to secure, not least the lives of passengers. Unfortunately, as the recent spate of international attacks show, transportation hubs provide relatively easy, high profile targets for activists. Vigilance is key, but so is having a security policy and plan of action in place that ensures an effective, best practice response to identify potential threats.

“A fast, best practice response to threats, like bomb scares or medical alerts, needs to be in place if those responsible for safety at transportation hubs are to have any hope of effectively securing lives, vehicles, cargo and other assets,” says Neil Cameron GM, Johnson Controls Systems & Service Africa. “Cost and the capability of security solutions are two hampering factors, however.”

Neil Cameron
Neil Cameron

Airports, train stations, ports, even bus terminals and long haul transportation hubs are vulnerable. Transport companies must secure a number of locations, some of them hugely crowded and some quite remote. Responses in these locations need to be tailored to deliver the fastest possible response rates.

Take, for instance, a bomb scare. Without knowing the exact location of the device, it is going to be difficult to find. It may be in transit, it may be strapped to a live person; it may be at the terminal or stowed in a baggage compartment. No locations can be ignored, and every potentially dangerous situation needs to be factored into the response. High priority alerts need to go out to every hub and every vehicle, and there needs to be a standard response to: evacuating vehicles and terminals safely, ensuring the right emergency staff are alerted, securing assets, finding ways to avert secondary, potentially dangerous, impacts of the evacuation and transportation disruption, etc.

“Pre-incident planning as well as a practised and co-ordinated execution of a response is critical,” says Cameron. “However, any number of scenarios could occur, all calling for some subtle – or not so subtle – change of plan. Leaving it up to the best effort of staff to make these decisions is akin to running blind. For an integrated and coordinated response, you want to be sure that you have the best information to base decisions on, and that everyone concerned knows what those decisions are.”

Best-of-breed solutions

Linking CCTV, fire and intrusion alarms and access control will allow security personnel to monitor the situation and assist to coordinate actions and responses. For example, the authenticity of a fire alert can be checked using CCTV, then monitored. Simultaneously, the fire brigade and other emergency services will be alerted and evacuation processes can begin. Using standard software will allow identified best practice alert responses to be replicated across all transport hub locations. And once implemented, these can be refined and enhanced. However, cost constraints often lead to the selection of standalone security solutions with limited functionality, user interfaces that may not be easy to grasp, and settings that may be difficult to configure.

“The benefits or advantages intrinsic to best of breed solutions are that that they are built to enable compliance with global security regulations and requirements. This can be leveraged to the advantage of transport organisations. These solutions also make use of open systems, which enables easy integration into the wide range of niche, often proprietary, systems found in the transportation sector.”

Johnson Controls’ P2000 access control solution, for example, is based on an open architecture, and provides a user friendly, intuitive graphical interface. System operators can access real-time, dynamic maps containing interactive icons from which security systems and functions can be managed with a simple click. Additional options include Guard Tour, CCTV and Video Imaging capabilities. A feature of the application is Threat Level Support, which allow operators to adjust the entire country’s or facility’s security functions based on previously configured threat level parameters. All at the click of a button.

Cameron concludes: “It is important to take security seriously in the transport sector as the potential for harm, in terms of lives, financial costs and reputation can be high. Planning is vital. If budgets are a constraint, make use of a modular solution then scale up and scale out as needed or as funds allow – and one that enables you to lean on global best practices and makes an integrated, dynamic response possible.”

For more information contact Johnson Controls, +27 (0)11 921 7141, Neil.Cameron@jci.com, www.johnsoncontrols.com





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Advanced Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems
XtraVision OPTEX Technews Publishing Modular Communications Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection Integrated Solutions Products & Solutions
Making full use of fibre installations around the perimeter by adding Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems means you can easily add another layer of security to existing surveillance and fencing systems.

Read more...
A critical component of perimeter security
Nemtek Electric Fencing Products Gallagher Technews Publishing Stafix Editor's Choice Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection Integrated Solutions
Electric fences are standard in South Africa, but today, they also need to be able to integrate with other technologies and become part of a broader perimeter security solution.

Read more...
Unlocking new efficiencies in private security
Security Services & Risk Management Transport (Industry) Smart Home Automation Logistics (Industry)
Justin Manson, Sales Director at Webfleet, discusses how the urgent need to protect life, and to do so more efficiently, is driving continuous innovation in holistic home and residential security services in South Africa.

Read more...
SMART Estate Security returns to KZN
Nemtek Electric Fencing Products Technews Publishing Axis Communications SA OneSpace Editor's Choice News & Events Integrated Solutions IoT & Automation
The second SMART Estate Security Conference of 2024 was held in May in KwaZulu-Natal at the Mount Edgecombe Estate Conference Centre, which is located on the Estate’s pristine golf course.

Read more...
Dynamic Dashboard enhances security and operational efficiency
Suprema neaMetrics Products & Solutions Integrated Solutions Residential Estate (Industry)
In today’s data-driven world, security systems are overwhelmed by an unprecedented volume of data, from video surveillance and access control logs to intrusion alerts and a variety of IoT sensor data.

Read more...
HELLO visitor access management
Products & Solutions Access Control & Identity Management Integrated Solutions Residential Estate (Industry)
HELLO is an on-premises visitor and contractor access management solution designed to be fully integrated and complementary with smart, on-trend technologies, securing estates and businesses alike.

Read more...
Using KPIs to measure smart city progress
Axis Communications SA Residential Estate (Industry) Integrated Solutions Security Services & Risk Management
United 4 Smart Sustainable Cities is a United Nations Initiative that encourages the use of information and communication technology (including security technology) to support a smooth transition to smart cities.

Read more...
Enhancing estate security, the five-layer approach
Fang Fences & Guards Residential Estate (Industry) Integrated Solutions Security Services & Risk Management
Residential estates are designed to provide a serene and secure living environment enclosed within gated communities, offering residents peace of mind and an elevated standard of living.

Read more...
Creating employment through entrepreneurship
Technews Publishing Marathon Consulting Editor's Choice Integrated Solutions Residential Estate (Industry)
Eduardo Takacs’s journey is a testament to bona fide entrepreneurial resilience, making him stand out in a country desperate for resilient businesses in the small and medium enterprise space that can create employment opportunities.

Read more...
MySecurityApp for SME security firms
Surveillance Integrated Solutions
Solution House Software has introduced MySecurityApp, a platform that expedites security operations management for startup and growing security companies by delivering a comprehensive and user-friendly mobile app designed to simplify setting up and growing security companies’ operations.

Read more...