Central Artery/Tunnel Security Project

In light of the threat presented by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority had to come up with a way to monitor its new $15 billion underground highway. Mass. Electric Construction Co. (MEC) was selected to be the installer for the security system, which would allow the Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) system to be monitored from one central location.

The Interim Integrated Project Control System (I-IPCS) head-end is comprised of six 40″ LCD screens that each show up to sixteen live video feeds continuously at the operator’s consoles. A total of ninety-six cameras monitor less than 2.5 miles of Interstate 93 Southbound. The Operations Control Center consoles allow the operator to view up to sixteen pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) cameras on any one of the LCD screens. Each camera can be controlled manually from the operator’s desk, and digitally records (for playback purposes) up to 6.9 days of video at it’s the highest resolution. Many cameras are also integrated with motion sensors. When a motion sensor is triggered, the camera adjusts to its pre-set position and that view is brought to the operator’s attention at the Operation Control Center.