Swedish authorities have implemented camera surveillance systems in almost all of their large tunnels, in order to protect these particularly hazardous environments.
Fires such as those in the Mont Blanc tunnel in 1999, and the Channel Tunnel in 2006 and 2008 highlighted the dangers of fires in enclosed environments, where for road users low lighting and confined reaction space makes accidents more likely.
Almost 500 cameras are to monitor Sweden’s Norra Lanken (Northern Link), a motorway in Stockholm, where tunnels run between Norrtull and Karlberg. The cameras will monitor the length of the road’s tunnels and surface road network.
Swedsh systems integrator ISG used a Sony FCB vision camera to monitor traffic flow and analyse the video for incidents such as breakdowns or accidents. The system automatically sends image sequences of an incident directly to Stockholm’s traffic management centre.
ISG is also upgrading functionality by adding additional technologies such as radar detectors.
According to Sony, ISG’s system is unique in that it can combine information frm different detection systems regardless of the technology and brand.
ISG will also supply vandal-resistant emergency telephones to be installed in first aid rooms, SOS cabins and at all slip roads.