September 11, 2000
CONTENTS:
- Pompeii security (Adalberto Biasiotti)
- Stop Extension Project Of Telpher Line In Mount Taishan
From: adalberto biasiotti securcomp@mclink.it
To: "Tom Cremers (Posta elettronica)" securma@xs4all.nl
Subject: Pompeii security
Date sent: Sat, 9 Sep 2000 07:34:02 +0200
your appreciated bulletin mentioned an article on Pompeii security, namely an arson in the archaeological area. I am security consultant to Pompeii and I would like to reassure the readers that no damage has been registered by the excavated area. We are working in a very difficult social environment and we are taking many steps to improve the area security. Please read the attached article, published may last year on a magazine dedicated to security professionals. I am available for fuhrer informations.
Adalberto Biasiotti
Pompeii security: an unique problem with many solutions
The archaeological site of Pompeii is one of the largest Italian open air Museums. The city remnants, after the 24th of August 79 A. C. Vesuvius eruption, have been left largely undisturbed for centuries. Only under Borboni rule started a systematic digging activity, that gradually exposed about 60% of the area within city walls. Now 2 million visitors per year walk trough the streets, enter the Roman villas and shops, relax in the stadium and the theater. The Jubilee year will bring the approximate number of visitors to 4 millions, with the heaviest concentration in spring and summer months.
To secure such a huge area is quite a challenge. The main problems are related to: - the fact that there are very many areas not yet excavated, so prone to pilfering, - the huge size of the site (approx. 70 hectares, within ancient city walls) - and the difficulties in transportation, in order to reach the differents parts of the site. It is worth remembering that at Roman times it was not allowed, for traffic and noise problems, to enter some inner city road (pedestrian areas) with long distance carriages. To block the entrance, large stones were put in the middle of main streets (see Via dell'Abbondanza), in such a way that only carriages with a predetermined wheelbase could pass trough (namely, Pompeii wheelbase). Today, emergency vehicles, ambulances and patrolling cars cannot move freeely and security officers can only reach many areas on foot, thanks to a ring road, that roughly follows the city walls. The perimeter is fenced with different types of barriers, some time in degraded conditions. From the iron fence facing south, we may encounter rusty nets in norther side. Some archaelogical artifacts deposits are within city walls, as well as restoration laboratories. Two main entrances are reserved to visitors, but many other entrances, normally coincident with former city gates, are manned at different times. A peculiar problem is posed by the Villa dei Misteri, outside city walls, that requires a specific and permanently manned post. The Villa is connected to the main archaeological site by a walkway. Visitors may encounter limits to free movement, because of ongoing diggings, lack of toilet facilities within city walls (Romans were used to very limited sewers facilities) and sheer people pressure, when thousand of visitors per day want to visit a Roman casa (home), made to accomodate only the owner family and some servants. To monitor and secure an area of approx. 2 sq. kilometers, some 170 security officers are on duty 24 hours a day, with variable lenght shifts, and 7 supervisors. Two guard posts have been many years ago arranged within the city, violating two Roman villas. Others are round the perimeter. Trade unions constraints often reduce the overall efficiency of the avaliable force.
About three years ago the then Minister of Culture, Mr. Veltroni, realized that existing rules and regulations and bureaucratics constraints were hampering a proper developement plan and put forward an innovative strategy, offering to the Pompeii archaeological superintendent, Prof. Pietro Giovanni Guzzo, the assistance of a so called city manager, i. e. an admistrative director, Prof. Giuseppe Gherpelli, in charge of all activities not directly related to archaeological activities. Such a team had the means and the powers to define a long term plan to improve Pompeii accessibility, visitors reception facilities, work force conditions and, most important, site security.
Such a long term plan is now reaching the first goalposts and more are coming.
The complete perimeter is now covered by a CCTV surveillance system, with very good lighting facilities. An electronic intrusion detection system is active, partly with motion detection circuits connected to the cameras images, partly with buried radiating cable detectors, for aesthetic reasons. A major undertaking was the laying of a very comprehensive fibre optics network, buried along ridge lines and under strict archaeological supervision. Junction boxes and distribution frames are scattered within city walls, in sites accurately selected in order to be unobtrusive. Video and detectors signals are transported thanks to such a network.
Volumetric detectors and localized CCTV systems cover deposits and restoration labs, as well as critical areas. All alarms and video signals are monitored from a central station, manned 24 hour a day and acting as main command post, in case of emergencies. Radio communications, on a dedicated frequency, are avalaible to guards on duty. Also, during the site fibre optic cabling, an upgraded mains network has been installed and mains is now avalaible almost anywhere, within city walls.
A plan has been devised, in order to offer assistance for minor emergencies, such as visitors accidents or minor vandalism, such as spray painting or graffiti. A major emergency plan has been outlined and will be implemented shortly. All interested parties never forget why Pompeii is now a dead city and Vesuvius rumblings and smoke clouds help to remember that no guarantee exists that such a tragedy will not repeat itself. Actually, the Minsitry of Interior, responsible for civil protection, is now working on a large scale emergency project for the entire area.
Security specialists will rejoice in knowing that as much effort will be put in the improvement of the physical and electronic defences, as in the training of all personnel involved. It is a sad fact that for too many years personnel training has been neglected, with very dire consequences on overall participation and skills on duty. Now all personnel will be enrolled in a continous training programme, touching at themes such as first aid, visitors assistance, security and safety hazards, handling of unruly behaviour, emergency procedures and so on. A budget of many thousand training hours per year is allocated, within a continuing improvement programme, that already has given proof of the basic security concept: good machines without good manning are unworthy!
Cash handling is a major concern, in view of the daily amount collected. A time delayed cash repository and drawer is avalaible to cashiers, and an armoured car service has been contracted. Just to mention how security may be improved with indirect means, the cashier post security has been greatly improved by installing a split air conditioner, thus preventing cashiers to leave open the armoured booth door, to improve air circulation in the hot Pompei climate!
Another security and flow control improvement has been attained by installing and gradually activating automatic ticket issuing machines, thus reducing queue lenght and cash handling problems.
Stray dogs are quite a problem, and we regret to say that animal lovers among visitors often frustrate our effort to move dogs where they belong, outside Pompeii perimeter. An improvement in perimeter fence is on way and we are confident that a definitive solution is near. Such a fence posed a major problem, because security concerns had to marry with aesthetic requirements. Millions of postcards are scattered around the world, showing the typical Pompeii fence of yesterday and archaeologists were unwilling to modify the very structure of the fence. A difficult compromise is now being worked out, also thanks to british experience in hoolingans control. A rotary anti trespassing device, to be installed on fence top, is now under consideration.
To improve area control, the overall site has been divided in 8 "districts", quite similar to Roman police areas, and control posts will be concealed within the ruins, where possible, with first aid items, PA systems and other emergency and security supplies. Such posts will be manned 24 hours a day and from here guards move for regular patrolling activities. Automated wacht tours devices will greatly improve the accuracy of the inspections and supervisors will have an efficient method to monitor guards behaviour. The labels to be scanned by portable readers will be fastened to Roman walls with special care, in order to preserve surface integrity.
A further improvement in the security level of the site will be attained with a substantial modification of uniforms and the equipment that guards are carrying on duty. Formerly, a large and heavy keyring and portable radios (but not always) were the standard equipment. Now the uniform has been modified, in order to be more functional and more visible, to draw public attention. The basic equipment will be composed of a portable and powerful searchlight, handcuffs (quite useful to restrain unruly people) and a wireless two way communication device, that let the control room pinpoint the guard position. The system is quite advanced and works basically as follows: - a number of low power transmitters are scattered all over the archaeological site. The coded signal is continuously and automatically monitored by the portable communication device. Whenever the guard sends a message, the coded signal is attached to the vocal message, thus allowing the control room to visualize, on a topographic computer display, the guard position, at least within a reasonably sized dispersion circle. The portable device is also equipped with a silent alarm button, to let the guard call for support discreetly. Tha lock set, grown in the past in a quite uncontrolled manner, will be gradually modified according to a masterkeying lock plan; high security locks and restricted duplication keys will be installed all over the site, so the guard may move around with a reasonable small and lightweight keyring. However, such a plan cannot be extended to the entire lock set, because some locks are of historical value, dating back to XVII and XVIII century.
Another security item that is well worth its cost will be a IRMS software (incident report management system). Such a programme is basically a Microsoft based data base, where data may be loaded according to a well planned data introduction mask. All events, security related, are no more recorded on hand written log books, but are directly inputted in the IRMS data base. The increase in efficiency and accuracy of the reports are quite significative: all terminals, connected on line, may access the data base, in real time. All control post will be eventually able to monitor the activity in the site, irrespective of the physical position. The management and the shift supervisor will have a very useful monitorig tool, and the effectiveness of the programme will be confirmed, for example, in case of civil liability court cases, where the accurate recording of the events are essential to reconstruct what actually happened. Also, the avalaibility of statistically meaningful informations may support the planning of further security interventions: it is quite surprising how many useful informations may be extracted by such a comprehensive data base. Often the board of directors could be easily convinced of the effectiveness of an investment, if suitable statistical data are avalaible to support the proposal!
Another significant improvement may be obtained by flow control to most visited sites, such as the Casa dei Vettii or the brothel (casa del lupanare). The pressure from so many visitor has already, in the past, obliged to restrict the presence of visitors from 10 to 100 at time, but such flow control is not effective and often is quite irritating to visitors. Therefore it has been planned the introduction of a complex flow control system, whereas at the entrance groups may book visits and will be informed of the expected visit delay. Guides may steer around groups, waiting for the allocated schedule. A radio controlled device will prominently display the group number allowed to enter and the next in queue. Such a system will be preferred to alternate means, such as supplemental ticket for special sites. The monetary filter is undoubtely effective, but may be incorrectly perceived by general public as an exploitation, instead as a flow control measure.
The new approach to Pompeii management is quite dramatically called out by the attitude of the current management: all efforts must be pointed to protect the sites already excavated, and new digging work will be kept to a minimum. "We shall not proceeed with new excavations - said Prof. Guzzo - without first securing and improving accessibility to present sites" .
From: "wyxhsz" hsuzhong@public2.east.cn.net
Subject: Stop The Extension Project Of Telpher Line In Mount Taishan
Date sent: Sat, 9 Sep 2000 23:45:25 +0800
Culturalheritagewatch reports on 09-09-2000: Stop The Extension Project Of Telpher Line In Mount Taishan
Mount Taishan is one of the world heritage sites in China (N/C/1987). UNESCO says: 'The sacred Mount Taishan has been the object of an imperial pilgrimage for nearly two thousand years, and the artistic masterpieces contained within it are in perfect harmony with the natural landscape. It has always been a source of inspiration to Chinese artists and scholars and symbolises ancient Chinese civilizations and beliefs.'
However, the telpher line has damaged Mount Taishan seriously. From 1980, local government began to build the telpher line for tourism. One telpher station on the mountain covers 19 thousands square meters. One-thirds of the top of the mountain is levelled off, and the vegetation is damaged completely. According to the programme made in 1980, the telpher line should be dismantled in 2000 because of the deadline of the equipment. But now the local government not only wants to keep the telpher line but also plans to extend it. According to their plan, the transport capacity of the new telpher line shall be five times as large as the old one, and 11 new large supports will be built. CHW calls for support to stop this extension project.