Port of Charleston Expands Deployment of PureTech’s Video Surveillance Solution
The Port of Charleston (S.C.) has expanded the deployment of PureTech Systems’ PureActiv geospatial video management system to protect the perimeter and critical assets at two additional terminal locations. The installation was performed by I-Sys Corp. and targets both water and land intrusion and utilizes both the PureActiv map-based VMS and its geospatial video analytics. “Two key aspects of the installation are PureActiv’s geospatial video analytic capabilities and its advanced camera auto tracking feature,” says Kevin Campbell, PureTech’s vice president of Sales. Geo-referencing, which enables geospatial video analytics, involves the mapping of live video to the physical environment, meaning actual latitude, longitude and elevation. This capability means that intrusion events can be made based on very specific attributes including real target size, real target speed and actual location of the target in real space. The installation includes over 150 fixed and pan-tilt-zoom day/night cameras. The deployment marks the completion of the second phase of the port’s security expansion. The first phase utilizes more than 170 CCTV cameras.
Israeli scientists Report on Boosting the Sensitivity of Explosives Trace Detection
Scientists report in the Journal of Physical Chemistry C that explosives trace detection systems can be made more sensitive by improving the swab used by an operator to obtain a trace sample. The scientists report that swab fabrics could be improved to collect smaller amounts of explosives by peppering them with hydroxyl, phenyl and amine functional groups, believing that such additions could enhance the binding between the swab and irregularly shaped explosive particles. The authors of the report received funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
IAI Unveils Fast Patrol Boat for Homeland Security Missions
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has introduced its Mini Dvora, a multi-mission fast patrol boat for homeland security and exclusive economic zone security missions. IAI says the boat’s structure allows it to perform missions in shallow waters near the coast as well as in deep waters. The Mini Dvora has a modular construction to allow for installation of combat and other systems based on customer requirements. A customer can also choose between articulating surface drive or water jet. The light fast patrol boat is a member of IAI’s Super Dvora fast boat family.
Argon Electronics Launches New CBRN/HazMat Simulation System
Britain’s Argon Electronics recently introduced its PlumeSIM training tool that allows for the virtual dispersal of plumes and hot spots to be set up quickly to enable multiple scenario options including the type of threat, the point of release or delivery mechanism from single or multiple sources, and a full range of constant or challenging environmental conditions. Persistency, deposition, time of release or detonation can also be controlled by the instructor. PlumeSIM has been developed for use by military and first responder organizations as well as industrial organizations such as nuclear power plants. The new tool allows a single instructor to configure simulated chemical and radiological releases across a wide area, and then to monitor and manage multiple trainees in real-time from a central location. The company has completed recent sales of the new software to the Swedish armed forces and United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.