Great Article On Video

1. NORTH AMERICAN EDITION Vol 6 • Issue 1
Mar/Apr 2011
BEST FOOT FORWARD
thinkinghighways.com
Phil Tarno on why tra c
engineers shouldn’t disregard
the needs of pedestrians
THE WIRELESS WORLD
The ITS JPO’s Walt Fehr on
V2V and V2I test beds
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Bern Grush on paying for road
use by measuring road use
The INTELLIGENT choice
Advanced transportation management • policy • strategy • technology • finance
innovation • implementation • integration • interoperability

2. REAL-TIME MONITORING
An overwhelming
sense of security
Can impediments to the territorial security problem be resolved
through sensor networking and data fusion? Lee J Nelson focuses on
leading-edge efforts to surmount real-time challenges
W
hen persons or goods Tactical Information Control & Their modular architecture sustains a
transit a border or Surveillance System, TACTICS, was to rich repertoire of data sources, tailored to
perimeter, “territorial combine multi-modality event-monitoring assess a given environment.
security” deals with with rapid threat evaluation for triggering To provide desired transportability,
their detection, mass notification alerts; applicable from through their collaboration with GE
an apposite response and potential small, streamlined schemes to large, Intelligent Platforms (Charlottesville,
interdiction in the event of unauthorized ultra-secure facilities. Apparently, the Virginia, US), Larus Technologies is
activity. Protecting strategically important concept was before its time as Telephonics able to equip stationary and relocatable
areas, such as international crossings, Corporation was unable to obtain funding platforms with payloads that collect audio,
transportation and critical resources, to further TACTICS. visual, radar and GPS (Global Positioning
presents significant, substantial hurdles. Today’s perimeter-security systems System) coordinates. Bandwidth-
Preventing, detecting and responding demonstrate the effectiveness of fixed, intensive acoustic and video data must
to illicit cargo and/or people, crossing a wired sensors. A network of nodes, be compressed prior to transmission.
boundary, is a concern of domestic as well positioned along a boundary, captures GE Intelligent Platforms’ video CODEC
as global proportion. The state-of-the-art disparate and diverse types of data. (compressor/decompressor) enables
in perimeter-security relies on physical Take, for example, color and infrared wireless transmission even as Larus
barriers, sensors (audio, infrared, motion, video cameras that detect and recognize Technologies’ feature extraction works on
vibration, video) and personnel (camera
operators, entry guards, random patrols).
Those can be effective in a limited scenario
where few entrance points are constrained
“The combination of data mining and
by well-delineated physical margins. fusion forms a decision-support system
and helps delimit inflow to a manageable
Territorial security, however, deals with
larger tactical threats to border crossings,
public services (energy, water and sewer,
emergency response), road networks and level while alleviating strain”
transportation systems (airports, bridges,
rail yards, tunnels, public transit). Due to intruders; acoustic sensors react to digging real-time visual data.
the scale and scope, safeguarding those activities while sonar and radar locate Larus Technologies’ Nexus for
linked resources proves difficult and marine- or air-based targets. Territorial Security performs motion,
expensive. Operators frequently suffer Due to dimensional concerns, territorial intrusion and fire/smoke detection plus
from fatigue, stress, inattention and security must be more adaptable from a localization, tracking, recognition and
overload, due to the influx of data. And, deployment standpoint than traditional classification. The system not only traces
knowledge-sharing among authorized perimeter systems. Sensors, themselves, movement, Nexus notes stopped as well
users requires an unprecedented degree of have to be transportable and, in fact, as abandoned objects. Moreover, the
cooperation. may reside on mobile platforms like capability is unimpeded by compression
autonomous ground or aerial vehicles. artifacts, suboptimal focus or certain
TRADING TACTICS Sensor-node mobility affords the requisite environmental variables (ambient light,
Design engineers at Telephonics flexibility for wide-area coverage. moderate wind, rain).
Corporation (Farmingdale, New York, Larus Technologies Corporation To recognize incursions along a lengthy
US) began to investigate a real-time (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) proposes a perimeter, the tide of incoming data must
integrated approach for outdoor areas, novel, real-time decision-support system be interpreted rapidly and continuously.
public buildings and transit hubs in 2004. intended to extend overall territorial That information is not restricted to sensor
The company’s Advanced Communication security to areas of strategic importance. readings and may include databases,
56 thinkinghighways.com Vol 6 No 1 North America

3. Market Analysis
A then novel concept (from 2004) for the
Advanced Communication Tactical
Information Control & Surveillance System.
Funding limitations prevented it from
becoming a reality
and data synthesis are fundamental
to Department of Homeland Security
(Washington, DC, US) and MAJIIC
(Multi-sensor Aerospace-ground
Joint Intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance Interoperability Coalition)
initiatives. MAJIIC-participating nations
include Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the
United Kingdom and the United States. All
authorized users and collaborative systems
have secure access to each sensor’s data
stream, current and historical information
and fusion capabilities. NC3A (the NATO
Consultation, Command and Control
Agency, Brussels, Belgium) provides
technical oversight of MAJIIC.
MARKING TERRITORY
Applied to territorial security, the Larus
Intelligent Sensor and Actuator (LISA)
and the LISA Network (LISANet) enhance
collection with in-situ sensors, enabling
communication among peripherals,
controllers, motors, relays and custom
devices. Through the company’s
proprietary Nexus fusion engine, LISANet
upholds actionable intelligence for client
decision-support and C4I (command,
control, communications, computers and
Image © Telephonics Corporation
intelligence) systems. Still image- and
motion video-based visual analytics,
pooled with user-generated inputs, also
serve to inform course-of-action decisions
and allow first-responders to communicate
among themselves as incidents progress in
real-time.
Larus Technologies hopes to direct
individual reports and complementary display local and global views, aggregating the nascent technology to solve related
source materials. Nexus marries all in real- relevant events and warnings and problems: preventing unauthorized
time, issuing alerts whenever anomalous bestowing great flexibility for planning persons from entering secure, well-
behavior is suspected. Furthermore, appropriate countermeasures. contained buildings or structures. The
raw data can be screened with an Nexus employs well-developed likes of a virtual fence can be required
autologous set of knowledge patterns. The approaches, like XML (Extensible Markup in a variety of military and civilian
combination of data mining and fusion Language) and OWL2 (Web Ontology settings, now handled by “tripwire-based”
forms a decision-support system and Language), to encourage cross-pollination techniques. The replacement technology
helps delimit inflow to a manageable level with existing technologies and to facilitate would employ passive infrared.
while alleviating strain. Users’ consoles future extensions. Information sharing Such electronic tripwires could >>>
North America Vol 6 No 1 thinkinghighways.com 57

4. Image © IAVO Research & Scientific
REAL-TIME MONITORING
Visual Integrated Knowledge Interface, combining multi-modality, real-time data streams with geospatially-referenced landscape features
be interconnected to form a Sensor and tertiary trends, resulting from an initial and its presentation should be intuitive.
Actuator Network (SANet); once again, event. The ability to collect, integrate and Records will be indexed according
fusing data streams in real-time and, disseminate all that knowledge would to ontological tags and formatted, as
as with Nexus, issuing alerts whenever permit a more thorough understanding needed, for the applicable interface(s).
intrusions occur. Each with a horizontal of each situation. It is fundamental to The interface(s) through which each user
detection angle of 110 degrees and a achieving a complete picture of any interacts will depend on his/her role and
10m (32.8ft) range, five passive infrared Homeland Security incident and can serve functional platform.
sensors, for example, would grant as a “precision environment” for engaging The VIKI pre-processor will access
360-degree coverage with 38 degrees a multi-disciplinary reaction. dynamic sources and also retrieve static
of overlap between adjacent detection IAVO Research & Scientific (Durham, audio, imagery and textual data, a great
zones. (Localization resolution equals 38 North Carolina, US) is honing innovative deal of which are resident in state and
degrees.) Acoustic, imaging and magnetic methodologies to update and visualize federal archives. And, to profit from de
sensors could assist; helping to recognize
and/or classify objects of interest and
reducing false positive errors.
“What’s needed is a system that can
SEEK AND DEPLOY
understand and respond to simple
Methods to search, navigate, extract and questions, make predictions, find
visualize information, relevant to problems
of Homeland Security, continue to evolve interrelationships among disparate data
on the research front. Currently, however,
there are few options that adequately sets and formulate answers”
address real-time requirements and
none that offer broad resources. What’s data for first-responders. To that end, facto industry-standards, VIKI will ingest
needed is a system that can understand VIKI, the Visual Integrated Knowledge map, road and traffic data (Google Inc.,
and respond to simple questions, make Interface combines real-time data streams, Mountain View, California, US) as well
predictions, find interrelationships among detailing events as they unfold, with as orthogonal imagery and perpendicular
disparate data sets and formulate answers. geospatially referenced landscape features; three-dimensional scenes, where available.
Such a solution, packaged as portable, creating the capacity to share information A touch translator will permit operators
intuitive software allowing users to invoke across local, regional and national scales, to scroll and renew data while a multi-
artificial intelligence products in a timely without and within the emergency- windowing system will support several
manner has yet to be attained. Operators response community. users, simultaneously.
are encumbered when attempting to Interaction with VIKI will run the An alert monitor will handle intra- and
dispatch alerts, quickly, to the community gamut from hand-held portable electronic inter-level communications. The message
of first-responders or to find the most devices, through standard mouse/ router will decide who needs to be notified
pertinent information for a particular task keyboard inputs or touch-sensitive screens and will address alarms appropriately,
or unfolding scenario. Additionally, the to high-definition wall-sized displays. based on the explicit destination (if any)
accumulation of user-generated data must Catering to users, two design principals together with the issuer’s awareness
be analyzed for consistent secondary and are key: the information must be germane domain, geographic position and all >>>
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5. REAL-TIME MONITORING
Nexus for Territorial Security platform
consisting of an unmanned ground vehicle
with data fusion payload, an integrated and
deployable video CODEC and an acoustic data
capture system running intelligent analytics
software
Image © Larus Technologies Corporation
potential recipients. Methods for updating unfolding real-time events. Arguably, the time visual analytics. Unsurprisingly,
“community knowledge”, at this time, most apparent effect would be the ability the National Research and Development
do not sort and aggregate data with a to access and revise community-wide Agenda is tasked with innovating
sufficiently fine-grained filter. That leads knowledge, optimizing the way we collect information visualization for earlier
to information overflow in time-critical and share information. warning of terrorist activities, vulnerability
circumstances. IAVO Research & assessments and for enhancing
Scientific intends for VIKI to logically MISSION CRITICAL emergency-response analytical tools.
organize and present textual data, archival Understanding how security events Even with emergency plans and
records, geospatial features and other impact surroundings can help generate a procedures in place, several areas
media files at a multi-scale level; suited to “larger picture” of each incident, critical remain in which understanding and
singular responses or to situation rooms to the most advantageous deployment of sharing of information can augment
in which concurrent operations can be personnel and reserves. IAVO Research our ability to respond and reduce the
reviewed and tracked. & Scientific also is developing a resource probable impact of an attack. Real-time
VIKI will deliver up-to-date allocation tool to permit en route analytical monitoring can alert first-
information, sorted as per each unique alteration of pre-filed courses-of-action; as responders to unusual situations. Ready
responder’s profile (emergency medical new conditions arise and exact redirection software supports varying types of
technicians, fire, police, Special Weapons of assets. Overall, VIKI is expected to communication for different audiences
and Tactics teams, etc.) and content address the entire precision information as robust sensor networks and real-
preference. Messages will be relevant to spectrum with a broad audience and time data fusion are poised to improve
each user and his/her physical location. numerous potential applications: The leading-edge territorial security systems.
Operators will be able to add their own American Red Cross, the Federal Anticipated solutions proffer flexibility in
functionality, through programming Emergency Management Agency and the data acquisition and deployment while
points, to help drive VIKI’s logic engine. United States Agency for International promising to ease operator overload,
The flexibility afforded by its open Development all must keep track of ensure interoperability and promote
architecture will maximize return-on- on-going issues and changing conditions a unique data-sharing paradigm.
investment. during natural disasters or security
Given increasingly diverse markets
for visualization and multi-scale user-
episodes. The US Army, Navy, Air Force
and Marines need for a solution to buttress
fyi
generated software capabilities, IAVO multi-scale mission tracking and course- Lee J. Nelson is an independent analyst and
Research & Scientific perceives an of-action planning. President of H3B Media North America
immediate opening for VIKI in local, Since the 2004 establishment of the lnelson@rcn.com
state and federal law enforcement US Department of Energy’s National
+1-703-893-0744
plus international humanitarian Visualization and Analytics Center, on
efforts. A mobile-device that facilitates the premises of the Pacific Northwest http://www.garlic.com/biz
communication and updates among varied National Laboratory (Richland, Read Lee Nelson’s previous Market Analyses
users would have widespread application Washington, US), a member panel for Thinking Highways – enter “Nelson” into
and appeal. The VIKI solution could representing government, academia and the Search box on the thinkinghighways.com
offer a new methodology to join first- industry has been redefining directions home page
responders in a digital conversation about and priorities for future efforts in real-
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