Transit
The need for adequate security in and around transit facilities was punctuated by the terror attacks in 2001. Intruder and suspicious activity detection is paramount to the safety of all travelers.
Lighting plays an enormous role in monitoring movement at every subway and bus station, in every airport and train depot, and in every tunnel any vehicle passes through. Sufficient lighting is required for surveillance as well as apprehension of threatening persons. When used in conjunction with motion detectors, intruder alarms and foot patrols, lighting is an essential ingredient in the safety and security of every transit location.
Transit lighting
Transit lighting should provide a balance of contrast and shadow, making it easier for visual and video identification of suspicious individuals or activity. All controls, switches and panels should be protected against unauthorized access or tampering. Wiring should be either underground or installed at a height that minimizes potential damage or manipulation. Sufficient lighting must be available via emergency circuits to allow security personnel to identify persons of interest.
Perimeter lighting
Perimeter lighting should be directed down and away from the building at such an angle that the light will not be an excessive nuisance to the surrounding community. The spacing of the light fixtures should be such that the light distribution from one light overlaps the distribution of the next. This will alleviate dark areas where activity can go unnoticed.
Indoor lighting
Indoor lighting should be sufficient for video and visual surveillance. Glare is an issue because security personnel are unable to clearly see details. The depth of shadow is also important as too much shadow creates dark areas where movement and activity can be hidden. Security personnel have only seconds to view each person in a crowded depot or airport, so visual acuity is essential.
The Goal
Whether lighting a railroad tunnel or a rapid transit platform, it is important that all vehicle and pedestrian entrances and exits have adequate lighting for both visual and video surveillance and inspection. Access points, however, are not limited to public entrances and exits. Maintenance doors, emergency evacuation doors, circulation ducts and vents, water drains and the portals through which transit vehicles pass are other access points. All of these are lighted and monitored.
The goal in transit lighting is to provide enough light that illegal activity can be discovered, that the light and its components cannot be used for these activities, and that the passengers feel safe and secure.