ANALYSIS
24
A SENSE OF SECURITY
Urban transport systems are looking increasingly vulnerable to terrorist
attack. Laurie Wiegler investigates New York’s response
NEW YORK’S Metropolitan Transit Authority
(MTA) is boosting security across the city’s
transportation network through a state-of-the-art
electronic monitoring and control system to be
delivered by Lockheed Martin. Terms of the
$212m deal include outfitting the biggest
underground transportation system in the world
with sensors, CCTV cameras and other high-tech
terrorist deterrents.
The MTA oversees the New York City transit
system, Long Island Railroad, Metro North
Railroad, and the city’s toll bridges and tunnels.
Managers will not reveal when or where sensors
and cameras will be deployed, but the entire
electronic systems network – including bridges,
tunnels and train stations – will be part of the
upgrade.
As to what prompted the deal, MTA officials
confirm that they met with representatives in
London after the bombings on 7 July last year,
but the plan was in the works long before. “The
MTA has been working on addressing these
threats and vulnerabilities for over three years,”
says Mark Bonatucci, IECC/C3 programme
director at Lockheed Martin.
IEE Review | January 2006 | www.iee.org/review
Above: A public awareness campaign will be
backed up by high-tech security
Jack Cloonan, a consultant to broadcaster
ABC and a retired FBI agent formerly assigned
to hunting Osama bin Laden, points out that in
a post 9/11 world, popular opinion welcomes
the MTA’s move. “Prior to 9/11 people would
have looked at the messenger as perhaps a
little bit ‘looney tunes’. That doesn’t happen
anymore. People take this stuff pretty seriously.”
The MTA is taking it seriously enough to
invest $212m of its resources on a system that
may or may not work. According to Cloonan,
technology, police and bomb-sniffing dogs are
at best a deterrent – but nothing is foolproof.
He says the upgrade won’t necessarily keep
New Yorkers safe, but, in taking these measures,
the MTA is responding to the public’s need.
“They know systems have been attacked, so
MTA is acting prudently,” says Cloonan. “But
nobody should conclude that these devices and
the random searches will prevent a person who
is intent on committing suicide. It will help
prevent it but it’s not going to prevent it 100%.”
Those prevention efforts will include a variety
of technologies. Bonatucci says, “We’re dealing
with what’s called video analytics or smart CCTV.

This can be analogue or digital technology. The
difference over conventional [technology] is that
there’s a layer of software built into systems that
analyses things like pixel patterns.”
Bonatucci adds that there is a plethora of
options out there. “We’re analysing which
algorithms and which approaches we will work
into the system for, initially, half of the cameras.”
He says Lockheed is taking products from
various companies, passing them by the MTA
for approval, and doing some prototyping.
The Lockheed system will be the core that
the MTA will “build upon and integrate addition-
al security electronics at additional monitor
locations,” says Bonatucci. “There are six monitor
locations and then there are security operations
centres for the police department and each of
the MTA operating agencies which that all ties
into. And at some of the larger locations there
are local security operations involved as well.”
One part of the programme will see the roll-
out of access control devices such as card
readers and biometric readers. Bonatucci says
with access control, an individual will “have a
badge with a credential, which in some cases is
ANALYSIS
25
biometric and in some cases is merely the But again, all of this may or may not work.
badge itself depending on where [one] wants to ABC’s Cloonan says, “The concern is if someone
go.” When that MTA employee or other was to cut loose in the New York City subway
authorised badge-holder goes into an area, system – not a suicide bomber because that’s
sensors are disabled. The system, he says, is localised – but the doomsday scenario where
focused on allowing the MTA employees to go four infected people get on a train and ride
where they need to go. around for a while and just infect everybody.”
Bonatucci says, “There’s a wide array of In this scenario, the attackers would still be
sensors – the system has motion detection. It committing suicide. “Let’s say they have an
has video. It has access control, intrusion incubation period of seven to ten days, then get
detection, video detection and in certain key on the subway system and ride around for a
locations it has some very loud horns and lights week. They infect everybody or there’s some
to deter people after they’re detected or at least sort of chemical or biological agent let loose in
gain their detention, to stop them from going the subways. The subway system and the
places they shouldn’t be.” tunnels would then act as a plunger so a train
Ashok Patel, programme manager and travelling through would essentially disperse the
mechanical engineer with MTA Capital agent throughout the system.”
Construction, denies that New York is following When asked how MTA would respond to
London’s example by analysing CCTV images to such a threat, Patel says that’s the purview of
monitor unusual behaviour on the station the state, local and federal authorities. “In the
platform. “We don’t believe it is mature city it’s the responsibility of the police and fire
[technology] right now, and certainly our prime departments and the Department of Health. So
contract does not address those kinds of depending on the scenario, those agencies
features,” he says. “We are looking for the more would be responding. MTA does not have a
standard features that are available in CCTV responsibility for first response.”
applications – such as artificial intelligence Perhaps the most frustrating part of this is
delivered to unattended packages, motion not the bogeyman but the problem. Outfitting a
detection and stalled vehicles on highways.” subway system is problematic for its very
Veronique Hakim, VP and general counsel, mobility, miles and miles of track and jam-
MTA Capital Construction, confirms that MTA is packed subway stops.
already using CCTV cameras and/or sensors, When Cloonan was asked if the MTA could,
but refuses to elaborate. “We have piloted and then, install airport-style metal detectors, he said
continue to pilot new technology as it becomes no – with one caveat. “God forbid, if there is an
available to see if there’s an application in the event in New York I am sure that’s what would
transportation network,” she says. be put in place on a short-term basis.”
THE IESS/C3 PROGRAMME
The Lockheed Martin IESS/C3 (integrated electronic security system/command,
communications and control) is intended to enhance MTA’s ability to manage and
recover from incidents. A network of over 1000 cameras and 3000 sensors will
contribute to monitoring, surveillance, access control, intruder detection and response
capabilities at key locations and assets.
Devices integrated with the electronic system will include motion sensors, perimeter
sensors, intelligent video, conventional closed circuit television and other unspecified
threat detection technologies.
The IESS design is modular and designed to be expandable to further locations and
to incorporate new sensor technologies as they evolve.
Command, communication and control (C3) centres will be part of an integrated
incident response and recovery management system. They will link to a new police
mobile command centre. C3 software will provide decision support aids and analytical
tools to operators and dispatch personnel.
IEE Review | January 2006 | www.iee.org/review