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What’s the frak is at NYC’s Union Square subway stop?

January 21st, 2010
By Dave Mosher

device in Union Square subway station with NYC DEP logo on sideEvery day — make that twice a day — a vexing questions pops into my head as I stroll through Union Square’s subway stop en route to work:

What the heck is this thing/device/contraption?

Obviously a big “New York City Department of Environmental Protection” is slapped across the side. But Google University doesn’t seem to help… the best that comes up is a noise detector (i.e. for loud noises that may harm riders).

It can’t be that lame… or could it?

My neighbor Patrick suspects that it’s an anti-terrorism device.* A bomb sniffer, perhaps? A biological weapons detector? A vacuum to suck up only terrorists as they walk by, ala Ghost Busters?

The puzzling part is the cup on the top, not to mention that all of the goodies are locked up in steel boxes.

Other guesses include a mosquito catcher, an air quality monitor, a data relay (for information collection on tracks?), or a make-people-who-use-the-subway-go-insane-because-they-can’t-figure-out-what-this-ha-ha-ha device.

If you have a guess, or better yet know what this is, please put ‘er in the comments section.

* Let’s hope I haven’t broken any law by writing this…

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Posted Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 10:36 pm. Filed under Government, Technology. Follow responses to this post through the feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

  • Kelly

    I think it’s an air quality monitor. Although, it somewhat reminds me of some sort of hot dog vending machine.

  • http://davemosher.com Dave Mosher

    That makes sense, I think — especially in light of new evidence! On Friday I heard air pump-like hissing sounds emanating from it.

    Still waiting to hear back from the NYC DEP, but I may just suck it up and ask the police precinct right in front of the damn thing.

  • Kaylen

    Ditto that: it is indeed an air quality monitor. I help process the data they generate.

    But like you, I too would like to know more about how these things work…

  • http://davemosher.com Dave Mosher

    Thanks Kaylen — really, really appreciate it.

    That said, do you know who I could contact about this project? E-mail me at dave@davemosher.com if you can

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