Videologic Technology Increases Efficiency of British Transport Police
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8906200416 |
| Published date | 01 October 1989 |
| Date | 01 October 1989 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
(Contributed)
Videologic Technology Increases
Efficiency of British Transport
Police
Whilst newsof rail disastersis making the headlines with alarming
regularity, very littleis heard about theBritish TransportPolice (B.T.P.)
who are responsible for the co-ordination of the emergency services in
such a crisis.
Originally formedintheearlynineteenth century,theB.T.P.performs
the same dutiesas the regular
forces
- the protection of life andproperty
andthepreservation ofgoodorder- but withintheBritishRail andLondon
Underground network.
Muchoftheworkin theseareasisunpredictable andcallsforaccurate
and objective decision-making in order to makebest use of the services
andtimeavailable ina crisissituation. Theessentialrequirement toensure
the successof therescue services is the fast flowof accurate information
detailinghospitals, ambulance and fire stationsand access roads in the
vicinityof any incident.
To improvethis flow, an interactive geographic information system
wasintroduced last year to theB.T.P.'s headquarters at TavistockPlace,
London.
Designedandinstalledby
Action
Information (Management) Limited
(A.LM.), a Wiltshire -basedcompany, the system called Map Master,
usesinteractive video(LV.)- thecombination of a personalcomputerwith
avideodisc player allowingthe user to overlaycomputer graphicson to
video imagesof maps storedon a videodisc.
The colour monitor is linked to a sophisticated LV. work-station
runningVideoLogic's M.LC.SystemSoftware(MultiMediaInteractive
Control), LV.A.-30oo (interactive video adaptor) and four videodisc
players. This allows the controller, usually a sergeant or a constable,
accessto an electronic displayof over 200,000 visualimages(frames) of
Ordnance Survey(O.S.) maps whichare storedon videodiscs. Discs are
obtainedby photographing hardcopy O:S. mapsusingan opticalcamera
followed by tele-cine transferbefore finalpressing on to videodisc. On
screen, O.S. map images are overlaid with locations of police and
ambulance stationsand other information whichwould be needed in an
emergency.
"One of the main problems withincidents on a train is that they are
spreadover a widearea" saidAssistant ChiefConstable(Operations)Ian
Macgregor whois in chargeof all operations withinthe forcejurisdiction.
"If
you havea serious incidentsuch as a riot on a train and thattrain
continues to move,youcould havein a shorttime an incidentspreadover
50 or 60 miles that involves a number of divisions and services from
differentlocations."
348 October 1989
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