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FeedsHome: December / January 2012 › Safer city transport
Safer city transport
05/01/2012 | Channel: Security
Security is a growing concern in everyday life and security in public transport in particular is increasingly challenging. THOMAS KRITZER discusses a European demonstration initiative
SECUR-ED, a European-funded project under the seventh framework programme (FP7), answering the European Demonstration Programme ‘SEC-2010.2.1-1 Security of mass transportation’, launched on the 1st of April 2011 and lasting for 42 months, constitutes a major, ambitious step towards improved mass transportation security. It is the biggest FP7 Security European project to date, with a budget of €40 million, of which €25 million is provided by the European Commission.
39 partners, from 13 countries, guarantee a highly representative consortium of the variety of the stakeholders: Public transport operators, representing a very diverse environment of mass transportation across Europe, as well as many of the main industries of the sector, from rolling stock providers to integrators and also several SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) supplying security solutions. Major European research centres working on security also joined the consortium as the main stakeholder organisations: UITP representing the Public Transport Operators while UNIFE representing the railways industries.
The project´s first objective is to give transport operators of large and medium cities in Europe the means to enhance their level of security. The second main objective is to enlarge the mass transport security market for the European industry.
Security risks in multimodal urban environments are various. They depend on, among other factors, the size of the cities, the modes of transport and the surrounding environment. Severity varies from daily and minor issues like anti-social behaviour or fraud to more serious problems such as crime, vandalism or even terrorist threats or attacks. Public transport operators often do not act alone but collaborate with a variety of stakeholders in preventive and reactive measures, using heterogeneous procedures and different information and communication systems.
During a security incident, it is crucial that the various involved parties act in a co-ordinated way in critical situations. To address this objective, SECUR-ED will define a consistent and interoperable mix of technologies and processes as core results:
A toolkit of operational procedures aimed at identifying and managing risks, planning operations, and ensuring fast restoration of activities. These will also include recommendations like conducting risk assessments for operators.
A series of improved technical security solutions:
In four major urban European cities – Madrid, Paris, Milan and Berlin – security enhancing technologies and systems will be put into practice and demonstrated till mid 2013:
In the region of Madrid, the Public Transport Authority (CRTM) co-ordinates the different public transport modes and is developing a collective Public Transport Management Centre. The Madrid demonstration will integrate the
SECUR-ED toolkit in this global supervision system, with minimal impact on the existing urban transport system (service performances, freedom of movement, privacy). A multi-modal incident management tool will demonstrate efficient cooperation between the different control centres.
The demonstration in Paris will take place in two big multi-modal Paris stations: La Défense, and Bibliothèque François Mitterrand. Several scenarios will address terrorist attacks and consider the protection of an interchange node against attacks using explosive, toxic or radioactive materials. A specific scenario will address the protection of network and IT systems against cyber attacks.
The Milan demonstration will be implemented in Cadorna Station, which is a multi-operator, multi-modal interconnection node of suburban trains, metro lines, trams and buses. Some scenarios will address the threats coming from individuals entering the system through the station, or by tampered vehicles, and will implement smart video, infrared visual systems, voice detection, biometric identification systems. Other scenarios will address operational procedures: defining the adequate reaction in case of crisis, on the basis of a risk based event evaluation, and find the most appropriate coordination between the various stakeholders.
The Berlin demonstration will be presented in high-risk transport interchanges in the city. These train stations are characterised by a large volume of passengers, and are integrated with at least one other type of transport system – U-Bahn (metro) system, buses or main line rails. One of the scenarios is dealing with procedures and security plans. The rest of the demonstration will assess the relevance of a complete set of security awareness training programmes.
To ensure the applicability of project results and solutions, ‘satellite’ demonstrations are planned in Brussels, Istanbul, Lisbon, Bucharest and two other medium-size European cities yet to be determined, demonstrating the applicability of the SECUR-ED toolkit to any mass transport environment.
An extensive structure of ‘Advisory Groups’ has been set up to accompany the project throughout its lifetime. One is for public transport operators and authorities, another for the manufacture and supply industry, a further one for law enforcement and first responders and a final group looking at ethical issues. These groups will closely follow the project, making sure that the positions of the relevant stakeholders are taken into account and that the results are relevant for all. They will help to steer the project in the right direction.
In stimulating the interaction and co-operation between operators and providers of civil security solutions, SECUR-ED will enable a widespread input of operators and their needs and also improve the competitiveness of the European security industry in delivering more suitable solutions to reduce the security gaps in the mass transit nodes, to make Europe safer and more secure for all.
Thomas Kritzer is chairman, SECUR-ED Advisory Group for Public Transport Operators & Authorities and deputy operations manager, Wiener Linien
39 partners, from 13 countries, guarantee a highly representative consortium of the variety of the stakeholders: Public transport operators, representing a very diverse environment of mass transportation across Europe, as well as many of the main industries of the sector, from rolling stock providers to integrators and also several SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) supplying security solutions. Major European research centres working on security also joined the consortium as the main stakeholder organisations: UITP representing the Public Transport Operators while UNIFE representing the railways industries.
The project´s first objective is to give transport operators of large and medium cities in Europe the means to enhance their level of security. The second main objective is to enlarge the mass transport security market for the European industry.
Security risks in multimodal urban environments are various. They depend on, among other factors, the size of the cities, the modes of transport and the surrounding environment. Severity varies from daily and minor issues like anti-social behaviour or fraud to more serious problems such as crime, vandalism or even terrorist threats or attacks. Public transport operators often do not act alone but collaborate with a variety of stakeholders in preventive and reactive measures, using heterogeneous procedures and different information and communication systems.
During a security incident, it is crucial that the various involved parties act in a co-ordinated way in critical situations. To address this objective, SECUR-ED will define a consistent and interoperable mix of technologies and processes as core results:
A toolkit of operational procedures aimed at identifying and managing risks, planning operations, and ensuring fast restoration of activities. These will also include recommendations like conducting risk assessments for operators.
A series of improved technical security solutions:
- Video analytics to analyse threats, monitor situations and anticipate dangerous events
- Protection, hardening and resilience of existing and new critical infrastructures
- CBRN-E sensor systems to be used prior, during and after a critical event
- Standardised information management and communication systems controlling exchange of information between the different public transport actors and the passengers
- Intelligent incident prevention and early warning systems using multiple sources correlation.
In four major urban European cities – Madrid, Paris, Milan and Berlin – security enhancing technologies and systems will be put into practice and demonstrated till mid 2013:
In the region of Madrid, the Public Transport Authority (CRTM) co-ordinates the different public transport modes and is developing a collective Public Transport Management Centre. The Madrid demonstration will integrate the
SECUR-ED toolkit in this global supervision system, with minimal impact on the existing urban transport system (service performances, freedom of movement, privacy). A multi-modal incident management tool will demonstrate efficient cooperation between the different control centres.
The demonstration in Paris will take place in two big multi-modal Paris stations: La Défense, and Bibliothèque François Mitterrand. Several scenarios will address terrorist attacks and consider the protection of an interchange node against attacks using explosive, toxic or radioactive materials. A specific scenario will address the protection of network and IT systems against cyber attacks.
The Milan demonstration will be implemented in Cadorna Station, which is a multi-operator, multi-modal interconnection node of suburban trains, metro lines, trams and buses. Some scenarios will address the threats coming from individuals entering the system through the station, or by tampered vehicles, and will implement smart video, infrared visual systems, voice detection, biometric identification systems. Other scenarios will address operational procedures: defining the adequate reaction in case of crisis, on the basis of a risk based event evaluation, and find the most appropriate coordination between the various stakeholders.
The Berlin demonstration will be presented in high-risk transport interchanges in the city. These train stations are characterised by a large volume of passengers, and are integrated with at least one other type of transport system – U-Bahn (metro) system, buses or main line rails. One of the scenarios is dealing with procedures and security plans. The rest of the demonstration will assess the relevance of a complete set of security awareness training programmes.
To ensure the applicability of project results and solutions, ‘satellite’ demonstrations are planned in Brussels, Istanbul, Lisbon, Bucharest and two other medium-size European cities yet to be determined, demonstrating the applicability of the SECUR-ED toolkit to any mass transport environment.
An extensive structure of ‘Advisory Groups’ has been set up to accompany the project throughout its lifetime. One is for public transport operators and authorities, another for the manufacture and supply industry, a further one for law enforcement and first responders and a final group looking at ethical issues. These groups will closely follow the project, making sure that the positions of the relevant stakeholders are taken into account and that the results are relevant for all. They will help to steer the project in the right direction.
In stimulating the interaction and co-operation between operators and providers of civil security solutions, SECUR-ED will enable a widespread input of operators and their needs and also improve the competitiveness of the European security industry in delivering more suitable solutions to reduce the security gaps in the mass transit nodes, to make Europe safer and more secure for all.
Thomas Kritzer is chairman, SECUR-ED Advisory Group for Public Transport Operators & Authorities and deputy operations manager, Wiener Linien
