A Physical Protection Systems Test Bed for International Counter-Trafficking System Development

摘要

Physical protection systems have a widespread impact across the nuclear industry in securing facilities and making security systems more effective and robust. They play an integral role in nuclear safeguards, arms control, and trafficking of illicit goods (e.g., nuclear materials) across international borders. As an example, many challenges must be overcome in design and deployment of foreign border security systems such as lack of infrastructure, extreme environmental conditions, limited knowledge of terrain, insider threats, cultural resistance, distance/time for response, lack of equipment training, and ingenuity in adversary response/bypass. Successful security systems rely on an integrated system composed of multiple subsystems. A physical protection systems test bed has been constructed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory whose mission is to test systems in varied non-ideal terrain and environmental conditions for prolonged periods of time for specific deployment scenarios. This includes a complete assessment of a system's vulnerability of defeat. This test bed is composed of many unique sensors and subsystems, including wireless unattended ground sensors, a buried fiber-optic acoustic sensor, a lossy coaxial distributed sensor, wireless links, pan-tilt-zoom cameras, mobile power generation systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and fiber-optic-fence intrusion detection systems. A Common Operating Picture software architecture is utilized to integrate a number of these subsystems. We are currently performance testing each system for border security and perimeter security applications by examining metrics such as probability of sense and a sensor's vulnerability of defeat. The testing process includes analyzing varied soil conditions for buried sensors (e.g., dry, wet, and frozen) and an array of different tests including walking, running, stealth detection, and vehicle detection. Also, long-term sustainability of systems is tested including performance differences due to seasonal variations (e.g. summer versus winter, while raining, in foggy conditions). The capabilities of the test bed are discussed. Performance testing results, both at the individual component level and integrated into a larger system for a specific deployment (in situ), help illustrate the usefulness and need for integrated testing facilities to carry out this mission. The test bed provides access to grassy fields, wooded areas, a large waterway, paved roadways, gravel roadways, and a perimeter intrusion detection and assessment system (PIDAS) fence line. The infrastructure supporting deployment of systems at the test bed includes grid power, renewable power systems, climate controlled enclosures, high bandwidth wireless links, and a fiber optic communications backbone. With over 10 acres of dedicated area and direct waterway access, the test bed is well suited for long-term test and evaluation of physical protection and security systems targeting a wide range of applications.