IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION of customer information and communications systems is offered by the RailCom Manager system now being installed in New York by Siemens Transportation Systems. A pilot project involving 10 stations in the Netherlands is also underway.
Following the terrorist attacks in September 2001, New York City Transit has started a programme to install up to 15000 CCTV cameras across the entire subway network, together with new public address equipment and passenger information screens. Siemens was selected for the first phase which will see 156 stations on 13 lines equipped by the end of 2006. The project includes the installation of 1300 ADA-compliant display screens and 34 emergency help points.
Based on open standards software with integrated GIS facilities, RailCom Manager provides a single integrated MMI for all information and communications applications, which can be easily expanded to accommodate additional subsystems or functions as required.
The NYCT communications network will be linked to a single travel information centre and a separate rail control centre handling the operational aspects of the network. RailCom Manager will interface directly with the Automatic Train Supervision system to obtain data on train location, timetable scheduling and real-time performance from which information and announcements can be triggered automatically.
Siemens has also developed an automated analysis function for the RailCom Manager CCTV surveillance system that can detect unattended packages on platforms and identify unusual movements, triggering a warning for human intervention. The 3D analysis algorithms are designed to be overlaid onto any existing CCTV installation and are independent of the picture quality.
Siemens, Germany
