Measure type: Sensors
Sensors could be used for detection, identification, localisation or tracking.
The following chart includes various Sensor solutions that can be implemented as event driven-measures to mediate the risk of a high-impact crime (such as a terrorist attack) at an event in a designated area. These are examples derived from the PRoTECT project.
Tech description | Threat type | Threat phase | Tech use | Tech criteria |
Weapon detector (DEXTER) | Fire arms attack | Pre-attack | Surveil / detect / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
Explosive detector (DEXTER) | PBIED | Pre-attack | Surveil / detect / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
Automatic vehicle behaviour and threat detection (SASSSISLAN) | Vehicle Attack | Pre-attack | Surveil / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
Automatic person behaviour and threat detection (SASSSISLAN) | Sharp object attack / PBIED | Pre-attack | Surveil / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
Automatic aggression detection | Sharp object attack | Pre-attack / execution | Surveil / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
Person re-identification to avoid next attack (DEXTER) | PBIED | Post-attack / Pre-attack (next) | Surveil / detect / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
Automatic crowd behaviour and threat detection (SASSSISLAN) | Sharp object attack | Pre-attack / execution | Surveil / protect | Performance (detection rate) |
mmw-portals (≈30-300 GHz) | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | anomaly detection, slow (person by person) |
mmw walk-through (≈30-300 GHz) | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | anomaly detection (several 100 persons/h) |
radar/microwave (≈3-30 GHz) | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | anomaly detection
large distance |
THz/IR cameras | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | anomaly detection
difficult image interpretation |
X-ray backscatter persons | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | forbidden for use in public in Europe – ionising radiation |
X-ray transmission persons | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | forbidden for use in public in Europe – ionising radiation |
X-ray transmission belt systems | Fire arms, sharp object, IED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | checkpoint necessary, slow (bag by bag), ATR possible for explosives, guns and knives |
X-ray backscatter for cars | Fire arms & VBIED attack | Execution | Detect | covert: needs close proximity to car (drive by), image difficult to interpret, Mobile Portal solution possible, checkpoint situation, driver has to leave the car |
Explosive vapour Detection – High Volume Sampling (HVS) | IED, PBIED & VBIED attack (potentially chemical attack) | Execution | Detect | not all explosives can be detected, detection rate depends on circumstances (eg temperature), needs time (1-30 minutes), sampling device is portable, detection device is large and expensive, detector usually mass spectrometer based technology |
Explosive vapour Detection – Direct Sampling | IED, PBIED & VBIED attack (potentially chemical attack) | Execution | Detect | Less sensitive than HVS, lower DR, handheld, limited use, many technology sub categories |
Explosive Trace Particle detection – contact | IED, PBIED & VBIED attack (potentially chemical attack) | Execution | Detect | contact with object necessary (swab), very sensitive equipment mostly Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) based, but also other technologies success depends on skill operator |
Explosive Trace Particle detection – non-contact | IED, PBIED & VBIED attack (potentially chemical attack) | Execution | Detect | Mostly Raman-effect based technology, use of laser, eye-safety is an issue when use in public. Proximity measurements (<2 cm) are mature, longer distance (up to several meters) less mature, also bulk detection possible up to 40 m for some explosives (low TRL), line of sight necessary |
Walk Through Metal Detection | Fire arms, sharp object & vehicle attack | Execution | Detect | checkpoint necessary, only works if threat contains metal |
Hand held Metal Detector | Fire arms, sharp object & vehicle attack | Execution | Detect | depends on skill operator, only works if threat contains metal |
Explosive Detection Dogs | IED, PBIED & VBIED attack (potentially chemical attack) | Execution | Detect | versatile use, performance varies from dog to dog and in time, expensive |
Pat down | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | often used as alarm resolution, invasive, time consuming, depends on skill of the screener and cooperation of the subject |
Visual inspection of bags, cars, etc. | Fire arms, sharp object, PBIED, chemical, biological & radiological attack | Execution | Detect | often used as alarm resolution, invasive, time consuming, depends on skill of the screener and cooperation of the subject |
Detection of deviant behaviour offline (for example, security questioning, distinguishing psychiatric patient from terrorist (Rapid Observation of Psychological Disorders (ROPD) tool)) | all | Execution | Surveil | Performance (detection rate) |
Use of animals as sensor (for example, emotions, stress level, use of substances, presence of explosives, and establishing identity) | all | Execution | Surveil / respond / detect / restrict
|
Readiness / Performance |
Risk assessment of individuals on the spot (i.e., stress assessment) | all | Execution | Respond / detect
|
Performance (accuracy) |
Vulnerability assessment of individuals before the fact (for example, Multi-Agency Vulnerability Assessment Support Tool (MAVAST)) | all | Initial target identification | Surveil | Performance (accuracy, at face value as data are largely absent) |
Automatic sprinkler system | IED, PBIED, UAVIED & VBIED attack | Execution | Respond / protect / overcome | Performance |
Drones with sensor | all | Initial target identification / execution / post-attack/escape | Surveil / respond / detect | Performance (detection rate, accuracy) |
In the first column, under 'Tech description', technological solutions are listed.
The next column indicates which 'Threat types' can be mitigated with these technological solutions:
- Fire arms attack - small calibre pistol or semi/full-automatic rifle;
- Sharp object attack - knifes, machete, other sharp and blunt objects;
- Vehicle attack - use of vehicle as a weapon by ramming large crowds;
- IED (explosives) - left/concealed in objects or goods (based on home-made or commercial explosives);
- PBIED (explosives) - explosives concealed on a person (suicide or carrier);
- UAVIED (explosives) - explosives delivered by a remote-controlled airborne device;
- VBIED (explosives) - explosives concealed inside a vehicle (or its cargo);
- Chemical attack - threat object concealed in goods or carried items (e.g. canister or UAV dispensed);
- Biological attack - threat object concealed in goods or carried items (e.g. canister or UAV dispensed);
- Radiological attack - threat object concealed in goods or carried items (e.g. canister or UAV dispensed).
The 'Threat phase' column states in which phase of the attack the technological solution has the most effect:
- Initial Target Identification (before the attack);
- Operational Planning (before the attack);
- Pre-Attack Preparation (before the attack);
- Execution (during the attack);
- Post-Attack/Escape (after the attack).
Finally, the 'Tech use' column states the appertaining security function of the technological solution:
- Alert - used for alerting public (e.g. sirens, texting service);
- Surveil - used for situational awareness (e.g. cameras, social media tools);
- Respond - used for responding to an attack (e.g. security personnel, non-lethal weapons);
- Protect - used to protect assets (people, buildings, infrastructure);
- Detect - used for detecting a weapon or weapon use (e.g. entry scanning equipment);
- Overcome - used for overcoming a sudden vulnerability (e.g. extra concertina wire);
- Improvise - created on the spot from available means (e.g. use police vehicle as a road block);
- Restrict - used for restricting public access (e.g. safety barriers);
- Adapt - used for changing circumstances (e.g. moving assets to a safer location);
- Other.
Other measure types are: