STONewsArchive: NATO scientists develop system to detect terrorists in crowded settings
Title:
NATO scientists develop system to detect terrorists in crowded settings
Start_Publishing:
07/06/2023
Panel_Page:
SET
Page_ID:
3908
Main_Body_Multi:
A NATO research team is nearing completion of a project that aims to identify carriers of firearms and explosives among large groups of moving pedestrians. Their work was carried as part of the Detection of Explosives and Firearms to Counter Terrorism (DEXTER) program, which was sponsored by the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme.
Over the course of four years, the SPS DEXTER team developed and integrated multiple technologies – including microwave imaging, ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy and 2D/3D cameras –into a centrally fused architecture. This architecture was designed to be upgradeable with future detection systems, thereby enabling a versatile and adaptable infrastructure for detecting firearms and explosives in real time, and without disrupting the flow of pedestrian traffic. The team’s work culminated in the Big City Field Trial (BCT), held in the Rome subway in May 2022. An STO Specialist Team, formed under the Sensors and Electronics Technologies (SET) Panel and in partnership with the SPS, carried out a scientific peer review of the BCT to assess whether the DEXTER program’s goals were met and identify future opportunities for technology development.
Watch the SET-276 video at https://youtu.be/Nj7YRGSqLOc
]
The DEXTER program was created to address public security concerns in high-density settings, such as mass transit stations and sporting events, where complex population flows and multiple entry points render traditional, airport-style screening unfeasible. This raises the risk for terrorist attacks, such as suicide bombing and mass shootings.
The BCT was carried out to demonstrate the DEXTER team’s technologies in a real-world environment, where they could test the potential to analyse thousands of commuters throughout the day. Members of the STO Specialist Team (SET-276) were invited to observe the trial at the Anagnina subway station on 19 May 2022, and spoke with representatives from three research teams: Microwave Imaging Curtain (MIC), Explosive Trace Detection Sensors (EXTRAS), and Integrated Systems for Threats Early Detection (INSTEAD).
DEXTER technologies incorporated into a fused architecture for real-time detection of firearms and explosives
Over the course of the day, the MIC technology was used to detect mock firearms through the clothing of personnel, and deep ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy was used to detect explosive material deposited onto various target substrates worn by participants. The target substrates were produced by a separate STO research team (SET-237) and deployed throughout the three-week trial. Data collected from the MIC and the ultraviolet Raman system were then fed into the integrated system architecture (INSTEAD) to produce an augmented reality image of the suspect commuter to enable additional screening by security personnel.
View of potential commuter threat from smart wear security glasses
In its review of the trial, the STO team concluded that the DEXTER team was successful in demonstrating that disparate technologies can be fused into a single architecture to detect concealed weapons and chemical hazard information in a relevant environment. The DEXTER team also marked a unique accomplishment in processing and packaging the collected data into a single output (e.g. the image of potential commuter threat) that delivers actionable information. The SET-276 team identified ways to enhance the DEXTER system to facilitate its future deployment, and noted that the cooperation and international collaboration achieved during the trial was exceptional.
The NATO SPS DEXTER teams are currently preparing the final report on the BCT, along with final technical reports that will be delivered to NATO this summer. Over this period, the SET-276 team will deliver a final scientific review of the BCT outputs, highlighting technical achievements from the trial and opportunities for further advancement.
Click
here
to learn more about the work of the SET Panel. For more information, please contact
SET@cso.nato.int
.
Page_Intro:
A NATO research team is nearing completion of a project that aims to identify carriers of firearms and explosives among large groups of moving pedestrians. Their work was carried as part of the Detection of Explosives and Firearms to Counter Terrorism (DEXTER) program, which was sponsored by the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme.
HomePageImage:
SET-276-home.png
HomePageBodyText:
A NATO research team is nearing completion of a project that aims to identify carriers of firearms and explosives among large groups of moving pedestrians. Their work was carried as part of the Detection of Explosives and Firearms to Counter Terrorism (DEXTER) program, which was sponsored by the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme.
Over the course of four years, the SPS DEXTER team developed and integrated multiple technologies – including microwave imaging, ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy and 2D/3D cameras –into a centrally fused architecture. This architecture was designed to be upgradeable with future detection systems, thereby enabling a versatile and adaptable infrastructure for detecting firearms and explosives in real time, and without disrupting the flow of pedestrian traffic. The team’s work culminated in the Big City Field Trial (BCT), held in the Rome subway in May 2022. An STO Specialist Team, formed under the Sensors and Electronics Technologies (SET) Panel and in partnership with the SPS, carried out a scientific peer review of the BCT to assess whether the DEXTER program’s goals were met and identify future opportunities for technology development.
The DEXTER program was created to address public security concerns in high-density settings, such as mass transit stations and sporting events, where complex population flows and multiple entry points render traditional, airport-style screening unfeasible. This raises the risk for terrorist attacks, such as suicide bombing and mass shootings.
The BCT was carried out to demonstrate the DEXTER team’s technologies in a real-world environment, where they could test the potential to analyse thousands of commuters throughout the day. Members of the STO Specialist Team (SET-276) were invited to observe the trial at the Anagnina subway station on 19 May 2022, and spoke with representatives from three research teams: Microwave Imaging Curtain (MIC), Explosive Trace Detection Sensors (EXTRAS), and Integrated Systems for Threats Early Detection (INSTEAD).
DEXTER technologies incorporated into a fused architecture for real-time detection of firearms and explosives
Over the course of the day, the MIC technology was used to detect mock firearms through the clothing of personnel, and deep ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy was used to detect explosive material deposited onto various target substrates worn by participants. The target substrates were produced by a separate STO research team (SET-237) and deployed throughout the three-week trial. Data collected from the MIC and the ultraviolet Raman system were then fed into the integrated system architecture (INSTEAD) to produce an augmented reality image of the suspect commuter to enable additional screening by security personnel.
View of potential commuter threat from smart wear security glasses
In its review of the trial, the STO team concluded that the DEXTER team was successful in demonstrating that disparate technologies can be fused into a single architecture to detect concealed weapons and chemical hazard information in a relevant environment. The DEXTER team also marked a unique accomplishment in processing and packaging the collected data into a single output (e.g. the image of potential commuter threat) that delivers actionable information. The SET-276 team identified ways to enhance the DEXTER system to facilitate its future deployment, and noted that the cooperation and international collaboration achieved during the trial was exceptional.
The NATO SPS DEXTER teams are currently preparing the final report on the BCT, along with final technical reports that will be delivered to NATO this summer. Over this period, the SET-276 team will deliver a final scientific review of the BCT outputs, highlighting technical achievements from the trial and opportunities for further advancement.
Watch this video to learn about the DEXTER project: https://youtu.be/Nj7YRGSqLOc
Click
here
to learn more about the work of the SET Panel. For more information, please contact
SET@cso.nato.int
.
Created at 07/06/2023 16:12 by ad.rodes
Last modified at 07/06/2023 16:30 by ad.rodes
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