Surveillance system exec. to speak at APTA Rail Conference

Vidient Systems' Vice President of Engineering Jon Cook will speak at the 2010 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Rail Conference. Cook's presentation will address innovative technologies and strategies for protecting rail infrastructure, the public and employees.

Cook will be joined by representatives from Amtrak, Los Angeles Metro, Bombardier, the Mineta Transportation Institute and the British Columbia Transit Police.

The presentation will describe a variety of technologies to detect track and tunnel intrusions, a particularly challenging task for automated detection systems because of the usual low light conditions, the blinding effect of the headlights on CCTV cameras and the vibration caused by the movement of the train. Cook will discuss and compare solutions such as those based on video analytics, pressure sensitive buried cable, fiber optics mats and laser beams.

Vidient's SmartCatch video analytics system monitors track and tunnel areas for human intrusions and issues real-time alarms to the security staff for immediate response actions while ignoring the presence or movement of trains.

The APTA Rail conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency and Fairmont Hotels in Vancouver, British Columbia, June 6-9.