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Technology Challenges - Harbor Small Boat Tracking

Panel 7Steve Childress

November 17, 2010San Diego, CA

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Speaker:Steve Childress - steve.childress@saic.com

Chief System Engineer/Wireless. SAIC, San Diego+ Support contractor to Navy/SPAWAR System Center, on Communications for Maritime Container and Cargo Security

Small Vessel Tracking/Monitoring (panel 7)

Relevant National/Local Initiatives (Partial)

• National/DHS and Local Small Vessel Strategy Working SessionsNext: Feb 8-9, Miami

• Multi-agency, J-HOC, Seahawk, et al

• NOAA VMS/LEADS

• Potential Port of Long Beach/DHS Pilot Project

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Control… Gov’t/LEA Commissions/Registers Devices, Unlike AIS

Vessel Owner/lessee Owns Device - Dual-use, e.g., - Abated-rate Insurance - Panic Button Call-for-aid - Fewer Boardings, Preferential Routes - Affordable – Encourage Voluntary Participation - $0 Recurring Wireless Service Cost – No Public Carrier - Gov’t Annual Registration Fee

Small Vessel Tracking/Monitoring (panel 7)

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Ideally, A System..

Small Vessel Tracking/Monitoring (panel 7)

Vessels’ ID Location, Movements

CorrelationGeo-fencing

Thresholds

Owner/Operator/Vessel Tracker Gov’t Registry

Tip-offs/BOLOs

”Almost-Free" Small-vessel Device,

Gov’t Controlled. Infrastructure: Gov’t Owned.

Exceptions-only!

Radar Tracks Video Analytics ReusableCOTS-GOTS

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Small Vessel Tracking/Monitoring (panel 7)

KEY TECHNOLOGIES; Drivers:Cost, Registry-Assurance

GOV’T (LEA) COMMISSIONED? COMMENT

1. Consumer Device NO No Authentication; Cellular costs

2. AIS-B NO Costly Transponder; No Authentication MMSI # Not Controlled For Anti-rogues

3. Marine VHF/GPS NO No Authentication; Channel clutter

4. Active Radar Beacon w/ID(e.g., low cost periodic RACON)

TBD Immature Technology ; Uncertain CostUSCG Radar- Avoid Certification Impact

5. “Choke-point” Low Power RF(Harbor Entrance)

YES, but No ID/Track Within Harbor – key issue1,000-2,000 Ft. Not Viable w/ISO-RFID, But …Has been shown viable w/IEEE 802.15.4 w/RF Obstructed By Alongside VesselEstim. Qty. Cost: $25

6. Harbor-wide/offshore w/GPS YES VHF MURS w/SOTDMA; No FCC license Self-deactivate if de-installed; black-boxEstim. Qty. Cost: $100 Gov’t owned Infrastructure – trivial cost

#4 If R&D Proves Viable: High-payoff – But Must Be Non-proprietary, Standards-Based#5 Is Lowest Cost; Lacks Crucial In-harbor Movement Info. (Where’s it now?)#6 Higher but Viable Cost; Likely Best, Long Term

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Small Vessel Tracking/Monitoring (panel 7)

#4 “Choke-point” Validation Tests w/IEEE 802.15.4 Devices + High-gain Ashore Antennas (2)

2,000 ft. Width

w/Alongside small/large vessels - Good, but not fool-proof

#6, Harbor-wide/offshore; VHF/MURS + MURS

Typ. IEEE 802.15.4 Tag Bi-directional, encrypted

Miles of Range

Coverage Harbor-wide + Offshore To anchorage, Few Low cost RF Modems w/VHF Gain Antennas

Data to/from Ops center via existing Port Authority networks

Validation From Prior Projects Using MURS At Similar RF power. Simple to Confirm

Typ. VHF/MURSBi-directional, encrypted

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Small Vessel Tracking/Monitoring (panel 7)

TAKE-AWAY’s

•Encrypted Over the Air Commissioning By LEA/agent• Silent Alarm if Unauthorized De-installed (attempt to move to another vessel)

• Choke Point Scenario: Using Active Tags (IEEE 802.15.4) Technically Viable, but…

• Guidance On Harbor-wide vs. Choke-point-only: Is Choke-point Inadequate?

• Harbor-wide VHF GPS Device - Gov’t Owned Infrastructure (low cost) – • Most Prudent?• Standardize for Use CONUS and Cooperating territories, and At-scale cost benefit

• Suggested: Initiative Yielding Non-proprietary & Secure Low Cost RACON (#4)

• Assumption OK? Registration Fee Subsidizes Cost Of Adequate On-Boat Device

• Standardize/Nationalize Locale-Collaborative Registry w/Revocation and Watch Lists