doi:10.3850/978-981-08-6396-8_P036

ABSTRACT

Within Australia, a number of state rail authorities are developing requirements to better protect underground rail network tunnel portals and have been investigating innovative applications of detecting technologies to best achieve rail security objectives. The objective is to provide reliable detection of breaches by a person who has either deliberately or accidentally entered the tunnel, from either the outside or from the end of an underground station platform, but without having nuisance alarms generated by a passing train. Aurecon assisted with the creation and independent administration of simulation scenarios to five different detection technologies installed in three underground tunnel portals. The detection technologies (which included layered active infrared beams, passive infrared detectors with induction loop, video motion detection with thermal camera, laser measuring system and an intelligent video motion detection system) were installed in the tunnel portals. A series of intrusion scenarios were devised and administered simultaneously when track possessions were permitted. Tests included person only, train only, train and person combinations and various sub tests (such as moving person, moving train). As each test was administered, the detectors response was recorded in real time, indicating whether each technology functioned accurately. A total of 120 tests were administered to each technology to ensure a sufficient sample size. After the onsite testing was complete, the data was analysed in terms of Probability of Detection, Nuisance Alarm Rate and Vulnerability to Defeat, and compared against each technology using a weighted score. Aurecon’s tests showed that video motion detection with thermal camera system and the laser measuring system both returned superior results with weighted scores of 91.67 and 95 out of 100, respectively. It was also apparent that the systems need to be coupled with CCTV for verification of alarms and to make decisions about an appropriate response.

Keywords: Rail, Tunnel, Security, Detection.

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