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Title:

Monitoring Train Position to Improve Emergency Response
Cover of Monitoring Train Position to Improve Emergency Response

Accession Number:

01149286

Record Type:

Monograph

Abstract:

The train monitoring system developed in this Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project is intended for use by emergency response personnel to monitor the locations of freight and passenger trains in and around their towns and cities, enabling them to more effectively dispatch emergency vehicles. Knowing which rail crossings are currently blocked by trains and which will be blocked in the near future will inform routing decisions and, therefore, help reduce delays in responding to emergencies. This system, known as the Civil Overviews system, is an important tool for civil/municipal authorities who must deal with trains in the course of dispatching emergency vehicles. Web-based technologies—Google Maps, web-browsers and the internet—on which the Civil Overviews train monitoring system is based, offer a low cost means for emergency response facilities to access train location information. Users’ computers require only a browser (Microsoft Explorer for this version of Civil Overviews) and Google Maps. The availability of train location data will also strengthen the often strained relationships between civil/municipal authorities and the railroads. The security of this railroad data is maintained using SafeWord authentication, VPN (virtual private network) connections and firewalls.

Supplemental Notes:

Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Report/Paper Numbers:

Safety IDEA Project 10

Language:

English

Authors:

Boyle, Frank

Pagination:

22p

Publication Date:

2008-4

Serial:

Safety IDEA Program Project Final Report

Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Edition:

Final Report

Media Type:

Web

Features:

Appendices (1) ; Figures (2) ; Maps (4)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Web-based systems

Subject Areas:

Highways; Railroads; Security and Emergencies; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Jan 28 2010 3:59PM