Trespass Deterrent Demonstration Project Update

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Trespass Deterrent Demonstration Project Update

• Marco daSilva
• General Engineer
• U.S. Dept. of Transportation
• Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

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Overview

• Background
• Railroad Infrastructure Security Research
• Pittsford Trespass Deterrent System
• Emerging Technologies and Approaches
• Latest Research
• Questions

• Sponsor
• Federal Railroad Administration
• Office of Safety
• Office of Research and Development

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U.S. Department of TransportationFiscal Year
2008 Budget In Brief
Starting in FY 2008, the measure was redefined
to include accidents/incidents resulting from
trespassers onto railroad property. Previous
years data have not been adjusted, which results
in a higher FY 2008 target.
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The Problem
U.S. Trespass and Crossing Fatalities by Year
Trespass fatalities surpass crossing fatalities
in 1996
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Trespass Detection and Deterrent Systems Research
in Pittsford, NY
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Railroad Infrastructure Security
ResearchPittsford Trespass Deterrent System
Purpose Demonstrate a stand-alone commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS) video-based trespass
monitoring and deterrent technology system for
railroad infrastructure applications

• Expected Outcomes
• Detects trespass events within a finite distance
  of the approach to a bridge
• Technology system interacts with a Security
  Company attendant
• 24/7 attendant determines the nature of a
  trespass alarm
• Attendant invokes steps necessary to reduce the
  likelihood of an incident
• Reduce trespass events through the use of a
  reliable monitoring system

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Pittsford Trespass System
June 27, 2001 Broadcast - WHEC TV 10, Rochester,
New York Four years ago this month two
teenagers, 14-year-old Melissa Klotz and
16-year-old Jason Pollack, were killed on the CSX
Railroad trestle in Pittsford, NY. Despite that
tragedy, people who use the nearby canal path say
kids still play on the trestle. The Federal
Railroad Administration and U.S. Department of
Transportation have come up with a deterrent to
keep people off the bridge.
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Pittsford Trespass System
Project Site Bridge trestle is 800 ft. east
of Monroe Ave. grade crossing (CSX Milepost 353.4)

• Project Inception Summer 99

• System online Aug. 01

• 3-year evaluation (through Sep. 04)

• 1-year post evaluation operation

• System handed over to CSX (Oct. 05)

• Final Report - August 06

http//www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/Research/ord0603.
pdf
Performance Guidelines White Paper (under FRA
review)
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Pittsford Trespass System Features

• Closed-Circuit Television surveillance (CCTV)
• Video transmission via telephone line
• Pre and Post alarm digital recording
• 24/7 video monitoring by security company
• Infrared illumination invisible to the human eye
• Dual-technology sensors to detect trespassers
• Magnetometers to screen out trains
• Amplified speakerphone to warn trespassers
• Mounting height designed to eliminate vandalism
• Schematic on next slide

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Pittsford Trespass System Concept of Operations
1. Trespasser approaches bridge, trips motion
sensors 2. System dials Doyle Security (if not
already connected) 3. Alarm sounds and Doyle
observes video screen 4. Doyle determines if a
trespasser is present 5. Doyle speed-dials the
bridge loudspeakers and says, WARNING. YOU ARE
TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ARE IN DANGER
OF BEING STRUCK BY A TRAIN. LEAVE THE AREA
IMMEDIATELY. 6. If trespasser leaves, the
incident is merely documented in Doyles record
keeping system otherwise the local Sheriff and
CSX police are notified, and the trespasser is
warned again 7. Doyle sends weekly event logs to
the Volpe Center
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Pittsford Trespass System Results

• A total of 335 trespass events over the 3 year
  evaluation period
• 52 trespass events involved traversing the bridge
• Police were notified and responded to 5 events
• 2 close call trespass events involving 4 people
  warned off the track just before train arrival
  (one by speaker phone, one by police officer)
• Overall trespass rate reduction of 50 from 1st
  year to 3rd year
• Reduction of 68 in false alarm rate from 1st
  year to 3rd year

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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
October 20, 2001
Security Log
1340 TWO TEENS ON TRACKS, WARNED THEM AND ONE
MINUTE LATER A TRAIN WENT BY NO SIGN OF THE
TEENS AFTER THE TRAIN WENT BY
Two trespassers leaving CSX rail bridge about a
minute before train arrival.
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Pittsford Trespass System Operation
June 20, 2002
Security Log
2111 SIGNAL RECEIVED CALLED MONROE CITY SHERIFF
DIALED 911 AUTHORITIES DISPATCHED ADVISED CSX
THAT THERE WAS 1 MALE AND 1 FEMALE ON
BRIDGE 2124 PD RESPONDED TO THE
CALL 2128 PEOPLE REMOVED FROM THE
BRIDGE 2133 TRAIN PRESENT
Two trespassers removed from CSX rail
bridge about four minutes before train arrival.
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Pittsford Trespass System Technology Transfer
FRA/Volpe Railroad Infrastructure Security System
Transfer to CSX Railroad (October 28, 2005)
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Pittsford Trespass System Performance Guidelines
Objective
Develop a white paper delineating
functional-based performance guidelines for
railroad right-of-way trespass detection and
deterrent systems based on the prototype
installed and evaluated at Pittsford, NY

• Drawn from Lessons Learned during the
  Pittsford Trespass Detection and Deterrent System
  Project
• Set of recommendations referring to basic
  functionality and operation of trespass detection
  and deterrent systems
• Not aimed at specific devices or technologies
• Main purpose is to assist local authorities
  considering the use of similar stand-alone
  systems to minimize trespassing

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Pittsford Trespass System Performance Guidelines
Function-based performance Guidelines (under FRA
review)

• Atmospheric conditions
• Lighting
• Communications
• Sensor and other components
• Functions
• Performance
• Placement
• Housing
• Operation
• Maintenance

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Emerging Technology Research

• Many prototypes and operational systems exist
  worldwide (not just in the railroad environment)
• Underlying technologies same but new systems
  design approaches have surfaced
• Concerns

• Reliability and Redundancy of system components
  (sensors)
• Self-diagnostic routines
• Failsafe design (relaying failure information
  to train, wayside warning system, control center)
• Clear operation/maintenance plans and protocols

• Final Report published in February 2007
  (http//www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/Research/ord0706
  .pdf)

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Emerging Technology Research
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Questions/Comments?
Marco P. daSilva Office of Surface
Transportation Programs Advanced Safety
Technology Division U.S. DOT/Volpe Center,
RTV-3F 55 Broadway Cambridge, MA
02142 dasilvam_at_volpe.dot.gov 617-494-2246