DHS develops 'block boxes' for mass transit buses.

• Position: SECURITYBEAT

The Homeland Security Department's Science and Technology Directorate is Developing cameras that could serve as "black boxes" for mass transit.

The forensic cameras will include memory chips strong enough to withstand bombings, fires or floods, said Stephan Dennis, the directorate's deputy director for innovation. Two companies--Videology Inc. of Grenville, R.I.( and Visual Defence-USA Inc. of Alexandria, Va.--have delivered prototypes for testing.

Last year, the cameras held up well during a bombing exercise at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Researchers mounted 16 cameras on the walls of a retired public transit bus rigged with explosives. Tie bombs destroyed the bus but not the cameras, all of which survived despite being thrown in all directions. Fourteen of the camera's memory chips made it through the blasts.

Preloaded videos in the cameras allowed...