Keeping trouble out of tunnels

Technology is being developed to protect tunnels from the dangers of unsuitable vehicles, such as ones over the height limit or overheating ones that could catch fire in the tunnel. A hotspot detector has been developed to sense overheating vehicles using thermal imaging cameras and laser measurement sensors that will alert control centers to the situation. The system has been successfully tested by an Austrian toll road operator. In Australia, the Sydney Harbour Tunnel has introduced a water curtain that displays a laser-generated stop sign that appears at the entrance to the tunnel. This deters drivers of unsuitable vehicles because the sign looks as though it is a solid object. A pre-warning system in the United Kingdom has cut down on the disruptions caused by overheight vehicles attempting to enter the Blackwall Tunnel in London.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/detection-monitoring-machine-vision/features/keeping-over-height-and-overheating-vehicles-out-of-tunnels/
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/35183091
• Authors:
  • Crawford, David
• Publication Date: 2013-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 54-55
• Serial:
  • ITS International
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Route One Publishing Limited
  • ISSN: 1463-6344
  • Serial URL: http://www.itsinternational.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detectors; Fire prevention; Heat; Height; Highway safety; Sensors; Stop signs; Thermal imagery; Tunnels; Warning systems
• Identifier Terms: Blackwall Tunnel (London, England)
• Geographic Terms: Austria; London (England); Sydney (Australia)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I25: Design of Tunnels; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01500514
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 3 2013 9:27AM