Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS Wins Washburn Tunnel Incident Detection System Project in Houston, Texas

Award signifies Kapsch's first Incident Detection System deployment in the U.S.

MCLEAN, VA--Aug. 30, 2012:   Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS, Inc., a subsidiary of Kapsch TrafficCom AG has been selected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to execute and deliver an integrated Incident Detection System (IDS) for the Washburn Tunnel in Houston, Texas. The project scope for Kapsch encompasses the installation, commissioning, training and maintenance required to support 14 fixed roadway cameras for bidirectional traffic in the vehicular tunnel and up to 6 infrared detection cameras in the ventilation tunnel. Launched in March 2012, the award-winning Kapsch IDS 2.0 delivers a non-invasive turnkey solution for zone-less event detection for vehicle traffic and intrusion detection in ventilation tunnels, enabling Washburn tunnel operators to provide 24/7 surveillance while minimizing operational expenses otherwise necessary to continuously monitor traffic.

"Incident detection in tunnels and on the open road is critical to maintaining traffic flow and keeping drivers safe," said Chris Murray, President and CEO, Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS. "This award is significant for Kapsch as it enables us to gain entry to the IDS market in the U.S. and deliver the same high-performing IDS solutions found in 37 references worldwide. We look forward to working with TxDOT on this important project while continuing to expand our strong customer base in Texas."

"We look forward to working with Kapsch TrafficCom on the first tunnel IDS installation in the state of Texas and providing our drivers with an even safer and reliable passage under the Houston Ship Channel," said Craig Spivey, Special Projects Technician, Harris County Engineering.

Kapsch Incident Detection System (IDS) 2.0
The Kapsch IDS 2.0 delivers an innovation-driven solution for processing video stream from existing cameras which are relevant for automatic incident detection, traffic data gathering, and movement detection. The following event detections and functionality are included with the system and based on video analysis of the vehicular tunnel: automatic camera calibration, wrong direction detection, slow vehicle, stopped vehicle, traffic jam, lost cargo, pedestrian on road, smoke, movement in non-traffic area, speed measurement, classification (2 classes), vehicle counting, distance measurement and statistical data. For the ventilation tunnel, intrusion detection is offered and can identify all living persons and animals five pounds and greater.

Washburn Tunnel
Completed in 1950, the Washburn Tunnel is the South's largest and first toll-free vehicular tunnel connecting Galena Park and Pasadena, two suburbs of Harris County in Houston, Texas. The two-lane tunnel spans 3,791 ft. and travels north-south underneath the Houston Ship Channel. The Washburn Tunnel is the only underwater vehicle tunnel in operation in Texas. HCP2