March 5, 2007
Syosset closed-circuit camera system minds the gap
A new $1.3-million closed-circuit camera system has been installed at the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) station in Syosset New York. The setup is designed to allow conductors to monitor the track for problems such as riders who've fallen into the gap between the train and the platform. "Mind the Gap" is a common phrase of warning at subway stations, and it is especially apt in Syosset, where 9 gap-related injuries, including a death, have occurred since 2001. On one January day in 1996, three people fell into the gap. It has been reported that all told, there have been over 900 gap-related injuries at LIRR stations since 1995.
To help solve this problem, the LIRR has restructured track at 16 different stations, and is reworking platform edges for increased safety. The video camera system at the Syosset station is the first to be installed, and if it proves successful, it's possible that other stations could be outfitted with similar setups.
Here's how the camera system at the Syosset LRR station breaks down: 24 cameras (12 on each platform) provide track views that run the entire length of the station, including the platform's unusual curve. There are three flat-screen monitors on each side, with each monitor receiving 12 camera feeds. The monitors are situated so that at least one monitor is viewable to the train's head conductor. This gives the conductor a clear view of the length of the train, and will reveal any problems that have occurred on or around the tracks.
The $1.3-million closed-circuit camera system at the Syosset LRR station was purchased with a state grant that was secured by State Sen. Carl L. Marcellino (R-Syosset). It demonstrates an important use of CCTV that might go beyond common perceptions of video surveillance. The Syosset cameras were installed in an effort to reduce injuries and tragedies at a train platform that without proper surveillance has a higher potential for unfortunate accidents.
Posted by Dan on March 5, 2007 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
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