'In my neighborhood (Seattle area), the I-90 tunnel is non-compliant, but
schedule to be remediated in time. Big tunnels have lotsa control systems -
not just lights and signals, but ventilation, fire suppression, even reversible
lane controls ... malfunction effects range from traffic stoppage to lethal
effects. Another local tunnel had automated control systems malfunction when
first opened, routing buses out onto I-5 against the flow of traffic.
A couple years back, one of our draw bridge control systems failed during a
routine test sequence - should have gone through all the control panel
displays, but not actually lowered the gates and raised the bridge. This
failure (not Y2K-related) did not flash the alarms or lower the gates, but
*did* raise the span, with lethal results.
Oh, yes, control systems (massively digital, surprisingly complex) on two of
our Puget Sound car ferries - a major component of the local highway system -
are noncompliant. One goes out of service for major maintenance (and
remediation) real soon now, the other is conveniently scheduled for overhaul
January 2000. Glad our DOT is on the ball.
--
RonKenyon
____
'From:
ronkenyon@aol.com (RonKenyon)
di 7:53
Subject:
Re: You are all crazy
tj1234567@aol.com (TJ1234567) wrote:
>Joshua,
>
>As a student of computer science, can you tell me more about your research
>into
>these non-compliant bridges and tunnels that may be paralyzed? The bridges I
>drive over seem relatively date-insensitive, but then again, I am not a
>computer science student. |
