Aug 26, 2015

Recent events aboard public transit have brought to light the need for more resilient and reliable video surveillance networks. France 24 reported that the security of Europe’s railways came under scrutiny following the August 21 terrorism attempt aboard a Thalys express train in Brussels, Belgium. The would-be assailant got on the train armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Luger automatic pistol, nine cartridge clips and a box cutter – demonstrating a severe need for better security systems, at the very least.

It may not be so easy to increase security across the board for these European railways. Officials claimed that augmenting safety precautions on high-profile routes was the immediate concern, but beefing up the protections in other parts of the transportation process – like at the actual station – presents an expensive problem to surmount. Enhancing security systems to the level of airports would be “astronomically costly,” and for now the transit authority would merely be increasing baggage checks and patrols at international railway stations.

This event garnered attention from international news outlets that latched onto the story of the American servicemen and other passengers who foiled the terrorist’s plan. However, transit authorities can’t count on there always being a troupe of soldiers on board, and the expensive nature of a complete overhaul of the security system could set them back. Therefore, they need to invest in the next best thing: Resilient video surveillance networks can provide authorities with the information necessary to help strengthen emergency response strategies or avoid these kinds of situations altogether.

What can video surveillance accomplish?
Real-time video monitoring of assets can bring important benefits to the proverbial table. First, the mesh networks like the ones deployed by Firetide are more resilient, which proves invaluable in situations like the one experienced by the European rail company. When networks are less likely to experience outage due to increased bandwidth or physical distress, they provide more reliable information to the proper authorities, who can respond accordingly when emergencies occur.

Transportation companies around the world are already taking advantage of video surveillance on trains. Amtrak, for instance, announced in May that it would be installing inward-facing video cameras by the end of 2015.

“Inward-facing video cameras will help improve safety and serve as a valuable investigative tool,” said Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman. “We have tested these cameras and will begin installation as an additional measure to enhance safety.”

Network security
Building a secure network is especially important when it comes to keeping passengers and operators safe in transit. Mesh technology offers a way to augment the strength of these systems. In addition, surveillance systems like the ones provided by Firetide are extremely mobile and resilient, allowing the successful transmission of large quantities of voice and video data without worrying about quality or too much network traffic.

Get in touch with Firetide today to see how our Mobility solution can help make public transit more secure.