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Abstract
UXO/Countermine/Range Forum 2006
Mission Area: Improvised Explosive Devices Defeat
Technology Topic: Protection (Personnel and Platforms)
Title:
Rapid Response Deployment of a Multi-Sensor Electronic Surveillance System
Author: Michael Lanier
Affiliation: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Biography
Mr. Lanier is a visionary and goal oriented technologist who is highly experienced in the management and transformation of advanced technology. Currently he is a Project Manager with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Previously, he was Manager of Application Development for an e-business professional services firm. He has also worked for IBM, FAA & the Chief of Naval Research. Mr. Lanier holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and has completed extensive graduate work in Computer Engineering.
Abstract
The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Coalition Munitions
Clearance Program has the mission of destroying captured enemy ammunition in Iraq. Surveillance technology needed to be rapidly deployed to assist the security teams. The system provides
force protection of UXO clearance teams while preventing the theft of raw material. It is mission imperative that we successfully destroy the supply of munitions and explosives that
insurgents pilfer to build IEDs.
Once the need was identified, a field survey was performed to provide an
operational perspective. The results identified the need to deploy a multi-sensor system comprised of ground based radars and long range day/night surveillance cameras mounted on elevated
towers with computer systems that provide a network of sensors into a common architecture to provide an integrated battle space picture while being mobile and easily integrated and
upgraded with other systems. A fixed site deployment would utilize multiple systems to provide permanent surveillance. A mobile deployment would provide surveillance coverage at remote
sites within minutes of arrival. Operators will see them coming before they can ever establish an attack. Quick response forces will be able to intercept them to maximize force protection
and perimeter security.
Once funding was received during the summer of 2005, the delivery team was
able to leverage government furnished equipment and existing contracts to meet the fall 2005 delivery for the first system. Integration and calibration of the radar, camera and command
and control system was the major challenge. Dynamic regression testing was used to overcome the continual impact of integration challenges.
The successful deployment was a direct result of the teaming efforts of the
Corps of Engineers, PM Night Vision, Joint IED Defeat Task Force, US Army Rapid Equipping Force, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Army Test & Evaluation Command, PM Robotic &
Unmanned Sensors, Redstone Arsenal and numerous contractors. The final fabrication of all the system components into an operational platform, functional verification tests, and
operational tests were performed at Redstone Arsenal. The system is currently deployed in Iraq and provides invaluable surveillance capabilities. This system was a wise investment of
resources—it counters the insurgent threat, is easily deployed and can be easily upgraded and integrated with other sensors.
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