NCJ Number
31434
Date Published
1973
Length
65 pages
Annotation
AS PART OF A RAILROAD VANDALISH PREVENTION EFFORT, THIS RESEARCH PROJECT PROVIDES A PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION INTO PROCEDURES, APPLICATIONS, AND EFFECTS OF HELICOPTER SURVEILLANCE OF COMMUTER AND FREIGHT RAILROAD FACILITIES.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED IN THE PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1972 FOR THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE PENN CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY AND THE READING RAILROAD. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DOCUMENT EFFECTS OF THE HELICOPTER PATROL AND TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE REQUIREMENTS OF A MORE EXHAUSTIVE PROGRAM TO ATTAIN STATISTICAL VALIDATION OF OBSERVED IMPACT OF HELICOPTER USE. THE QUANTITATIVE DATA GATHERED DURING THIS STUDY SUPPORTED THE QUALITATIVE IMPRESSION THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS EFFECTIVE IN VANDALISM SUPPRESSION. METHODOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS, HOWEVER, PREVENTED THE RESULTS OF THIS PILOT EFFORT FROM ACHIEVING STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)