THE FIRETIDE BLOG

Mass transit surveillance helps ensure rider safety

Dec 15, 2014

2014-12-15 Mass Transit Surveillance.jpgIn Seoul, South Korea, over 6 million people ride the city’s subway on any given day, according to Channel NewsAsia. Given the sheer number of people crowded into such small spaces, such a system can quickly become a place where crimes occur and go unpunished. From the swipe of a wallet to far more serious crimes like violence against women, a subway train can present an easy platform for a criminal to engage in illegal behavior unnoticed.

Considering the massive scale of the subway operation in Seoul, one might think the city’s trains are plagued with criminal infractions. But that hasn’t been the case, and Seoul’s subway system is even regarded as among the safest for female riders in the world. But the administrators who oversee the city’s subway system aren’t simply sitting back and resting on their laurels. Instead, they’re looking for new ways to guarantee the best security possible for Seoul’s subway riders. This includes embarking on an even more comprehensive real time surveillance network than the one currently in place.

Taking the most proactive steps to eliminate subway crime
It’s a situation that many people find themselves in on a regular basis: It’s late at night, the workday is over and they’re making the commute home alone. There’s an understandable sense of anxiety associated with this situation, particularly for women. After all, violence against women in subway systems is a problem around the world. But the administrators behind Seoul’s subway system are making sure no rider has to feel this anxiety.

For years, Seoul’s subway safety enforcers have been working to ensure that the city’s system remains among the safest in the world. While there may be 6 million riders a day using the city’s trains, there are also around 6,000 cameras monitoring what’s going on within the subway. Among these cameras are roughly 700 that deliver real time surveillance of what’s happening inside trains. These cameras have the potential to trigger immediate action on the part of authorities. Starting in 2011, Seoul rolled out a subway police force of 80 officers and within the next few years, the number of participating officers is set to rise. These officers are on hand to deal with any subway crimes. If an alarm is signaled or suspicious activity from the real time surveillance cameras in detected, these officers spring into action.

“There was once where a male passenger followed a lady into the train and touched her bottom,” said one of the officers, An Kyung-hee. “The lady asked for our aid so we helped her, and the police took over and dealt with the case.”

Tips to improve mass transit security
Seoul’s subway system provides a valuable example of a public transit program that’s devoting the necessary time and resources to ensuring rider safety. When it comes to holding other mass transit programs to the same standard, there’s certain steps that can be taken. Here are a few, as outlined by Government Video:

  • Wide-angle cameras: Cameras that have a broader viewing angle can play a more effective role in monitoring for suspicious activities and therefore keeping crimes at bay.
  • Thermal cameras: Having cameras equipped with heat-sensing technology can play a pivotal role in an emergency situation. Say, for instance, there is a train crash and riders need to be found and saved. A heat-sensing camera can detect the heat emitted by the human body and help find people.

Ultimately, though, the most important thing is to ensure that public transit activities are being monitored at all times to prevent criminal behavior. When it comes to real time surveillance, there’s no better partner than Firetide.


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Category: Transportation

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