HighLight Heading
June 2002
New systems to help safety and security
Nikos Papanikolopoulos
Dean Deeter of Mn/DOT gave an overview of Minnesota's deployment of traveler information systems via the 511 telephone information number. The system currently under development for Minnesota would be able to deliver route-specific information to travelers throughout the state and would serve as a "one-stop shop" for drivers seeking traffic, weather, and other related information while on the road.
He outlined the features and benefits of a route-specific system - including improved safety as well as travel time savings - and highlighted some potential barriers to implementation on a statewide basis. Minnesota is currently cooperating with seven other states in building a system based on pooled resources to provide flexibility and meet emergency demands for information.
Deeter emphasized that a universally available traveler information system would be a service not only to travelers but also to the public agencies charged with the security of the transportation system, because 511 would provide a way for these agencies to manage unusual traffic during emergencies.
Professor Nikos Papanikolopoulos of the University of Minnesota's Department of Computer Science and Engineering then took the podium to present his current work on monitoring public spaces. The ITS Institute researcher's work is especially noteworthy in the wake of 9-11 because it is intended to warn of potentially dangerous activities without infringing on the individual's right to privacy.
The system under development by Papanikolopoulos and a team of roughly 20 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers is based on the ability of specialized computer programs to monitor live video from cameras in public areas such as airports and urban pedestrian zones.
Unlike face-recognition or other "biometric" software, the researchers' system does not attempt to identify any specific individuals for matching against a list of known "targets." Instead, the new system analyzes patterns of movement—for example, an individual running the wrong way through a gate, or someone placing a parcel and then leaving the area.
In addition to potential invasion-of-privacy issues, Papanikolopoulos said, face-recognition technologies are also limited by their need for a clear, unobstructed view of the relatively small area of a human face. Sunglasses, a hat, or facial hair can easily defeat even the most advanced face-recognition programs, even with a clear line of sight. By contrast, the system under development tracks the entire individual or group as they move, making it much more flexible in deployment.
Although the application of motion-tracking software to public safety is relatively new, Papanikolopoulos pointed out that much previous research on movement analysis had been carried out in the field of sports training and medicine. Olympic swimmers and professional golfers have seen their body movements deconstructed and analyzed by researchers and trainers trying to optimize athletic technique.
But when it comes to making public-safety decisions, Papanikolopoulos stressed that the human mind is the most important component of any security system. The tools and techniques being developed in the current research are designed only to support the work of trained operators and security professionals.
Major Kevin Kitteridge, director of special operations for the Minnesota State Patrol, provided a law-enforcement perspective on transportation system security and managing emergency recovery. Planning for when—not if—catastrophic events occur is key to emergency preparedness, Kitteridge said.
Among the lessons learned after September 11, Kitteridge highlighted the need to direct activities better in an emergency situation. The bombings in New York and Washington, he said, elicited a massive but largely uncoordinated response from federal, state, and local agencies. In the future, agencies like the State Patrol should be more ready to implement emergency response plans in a coordinated manner.
Perhaps most important, he said, is the sharing of information between agencies and jurisdictions. Emergency-response agencies now recognize the critical need to manage information better, both internally and by maintaining clear lines of communication between organizations. As the transportation system grows more complex, accurate, timely information will be the backbone of public safety and good transportation management.