Project puts rivers under surveillance: ; Information caught on cameras goes directly to law enforcement agencies

A federally funded project to make local waterways safer via 24-hour video surveillance is now officially under way.

Implementation of "Eyes on the River II" has been a fairly speedyprocess, said Bob Cochran, sales promotion representative forConnectLink. The project uses surveillance cameras throughout theHuntington port area that can detect problems and help in theresponse to emergencies.

The project is targeted for completion in about five years. Butin the first year, the project is relying on cameras that alreadyexist on privately owned tow boats and on infrastructure on thebanks of the Ohio River. Cameras also are being installed on morevessels and certain water intakes, he said.

The idea, initially hatched by the Department of HomelandSecurity in Ohio, has taken less than a year to come to fruition, hesaid.

Cochran said the main objective of the project is safety.

"The cameras will protect the normal person from terroristattacks on the waterways," Cochran said. "They can also assist inemergencies, because there isn't any help currently, and basicallykeep us safe on the water supply."

Information captured by the cameras is integrated into a videonetwork transmitted back to all relevant county emergency operationscenters and law enforcement agencies, according to Cochran.

The Huntington port area includes the Ohio, Kanawha, LittleKanawha, Big Sandy, Muskingum and Elk rivers.

ConnectLink is an Internet service provider that worked inconjunction with several other parties to make the project areality.

"ConnectLink is supplying the cameras and doing the investmentadjustment and writing the grants," Cochran said. "We are involvedin constructing a wireless network."

Cochran said petty offenses would not be sought out on the videoplayback, but only the more serious crimes and behaviors.

ConnectLink, along with Ohio Department of Safety, OhioDepartment of Natural Resources and other local, state and privatesectors have partnered together to make this project a reality, hesaid. Funding has come by way of the Port Security Grant,administered by Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He said the project is a necessary measure to ensure the securityof the local waterways, which are an integral part to the economicsuccess of the region.

"Before this there was no system in place for the surveillance ofthe river pools, bridges, industry or the locks and dams," Cochransaid. "This project will represent the best in a regional, publicand private approach to security."

The initial investment is providing surveillance to tow andfleeting boats servicing the most heavily traveled and populatedareas of the Huntington port, he said.

"Next year, the focus will go toward bridges and so on," he said.