Surveillance of the Maastunnel (Rotterdam)

The Maastunnel consists of four tubes: two tubes for cars, one tube for pedestrians and one for cyclists. In the car tubes, a camera system already exists. In 2002, Public Works Department Rotterdam decided that the bicycle tunnel and pedestrian tunnel should also be monitored with cameras. With this, supervision is extended from only monitoring road safety to also monitoring social security. The number of cameras increases because of this and also the number of monitors is considerably extended. This is a good reason to upgrade the observation room and the operating system for the different installations (such as the installation of traffic control, the ventilation installation and the communication installation).

vhp ergonomics wrote a Functional Set of Requirements for the layout of the observation room, ergonomic furniture and the control panel with which all installations are monitored and operated. Supervision takes place 24 hours a day by two security guards. During day shifts also a foreman is present. The security guards monitor several cameras which are placed in the tunnel and react to aberrant events in the tunnel. The camera images are observed from a display wall consisting of monitors. To be able to keep overview, this display wall is placed some distance away from the workplace. In the design of the desk two areas are distinguished: the back of the desk is intended for communication equipment, the front of the desk contains the control panel with which several installations can be operated by remote control. On the control panel a plan of the tunnel on which all installations are presented is displayed. This makes the geographical position of the installation to be operated clear for the security guards. Much attention has been given on feedback for the employee during the operating process, so for the employee it is clear where he is and what he has done in each step of the process. The workplace of the foreman has been placed on some distance from the other desks so he can guide in general and more or less automatic. At the workplace of the foreman a counter has been introduced where people can check in at entry.

Meanwhile, the project has been realised in cooperation with a furniture maker. The employees have started their work enthusiastically.