Information management systems help increase port security

Going With the Flow

Improving port and waterway transportation security are essential strategies for continuing homeland security. Providing port and waterway security entails regulating the flow of traffic from ports and harbors and across the nation’s waterways so dangerous and unwanted goods and people are detected and denied entry. This requires a sophisticated information management system that balances the need for securing the waterways with facilitating an essential free flow of legitimate commerce, citizens and authorized visitors.

Every waterway information system, no matter how simple or advanced, consist of several key parts. These key components include sensors, data storage and analysis, and visualization of the system.

Waterway Information System
This figure shows a typical waterway information system that receives information from several types of sensors, stores and analyses that information, and then provides the users a view of the waterway operations through dynamic Web pages and more advanced command and control displays.

Sensoring the Waterway Environment
Remote sensors provide the “eyes” of any waterway information system. A small river port might consist of a few surveillance cameras, and on a large, deep-water port, sensors might include radar, sonar, infrared cameras and environmental sensors. Wireless technology allows us to remotely place sensors to monitor vessel transit, marine mammal habitat and other coastal areas of environmental, commercial, recreational and, of course, security interests. The broadband nature of high-bandwidth networks on the water allows incorporation of bandwidth-hogging video/voice applications, along with arrays of environmental sensors, which are essentially low-data rate.

Combining sensor and telemetry modules with inexpensive housing yields wireless sensor system nodes capable of being scaled into networks. Depending on the sensitivity of the waterway being monitored, the sensor network might include acoustic doppler current profilers; turbidity; underwater cameras for bottom topography/habitat monitoring; hydrophone bio classification monitors; acoustic imagers for biomass monitoring; water quality sensor stack; or nutrient sensors.

About the Author

Timothy D. Ringgold, Colonel, Army (Ret.), is the CEO of Defense Solutions LLC, based in Washington, D.C. He can be reached at (610) 833-6000.

Featured

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.