Security of Critical Infrastructure Using Marine Radar Surveillance

Abstract The protection of the critical national infrastructure involving oil, gas, water and electricity is vital for the functioning of every country's societal and economic well-being. The selection of high performance and cost effective monitoring solutions for the safety and security of both the people working on offshore platforms as well as locations of national critical importance is crucial. Marine radar surveillance systems can provide early and rapid detection and notification of marine hazards or threats. Trends in various threats to critical infrastructure, such as from terrorist and criminal activities, have created a shift towards a stronger perimeter security model with a focus on countering irregular, asymmetrical threats within a nation's coastal security zone or a localized offshore platform security zone. This has necessitated a change towards smaller, integrated surveillance platforms with associated technologies that serve multiple operational profiles. Separating cooperative targets, using technologies such as AIS, from uncooperative or unidentified targets, has become a priority for many who operate in the maritime environment. Sensor systems that provide an enhanced 24 hour level of detection and tracking capability in littoral environments that also are cost effective and can be configured across a wide number and range of platforms and locations provide exceptional value in both performance and cost. Rutter Technologies has developed an enhanced radar processor system, the sigma S6, which provides a superior detection and tracking capability through the implementation of scan averaging and signal processing, making it ideally suited for small patrol vessels, other enforcement platforms, commercial shipping vessels, oil & gas platform operators, and coastal/port security applications.