In today’s rapidly advancing world of new technologies the use of sensors, analytics systems, and location based services and other security elements are fast becoming ubiquitous within the critical infrastructures of the planet. The best of breed applications should be predicated on a solid base of added value, effectiveness, and supported by a conceptual framework to guide deployment and measurement of the application utility.
Invizeon believes that any world-class system application must offer tangible improvements over conventional methods, systems, and processes. One of our tenets is that information useful to maintain or boost security is useless unless it can be conveyed to the chain(s) of command responsible for incident management, response and recovery. As everyone knows, operating in a vacuum of little or poor information or information arriving too late or information not shared to everyone who needs to know, leads to a poor execution of mitigation, response, recovery and post-event assessment.
A Practical FrameworkCommercial infrastructure and Security technologies can be placed into four primary classes… sensing/detection technologies, analysis technologies, resolution technologies, and location/GIS technologies. Each of these technologies outputs useful, often actionable information. A finely tuned security suite will utilize the appropriate pieces of or all these technologies in concert to blaze a pathway of succinct, beneficial information useful to multiple layers up, down and across multiple or single chains of command. The critical, but sometimes overlooked component, which can marry these technologies into a coordinated single platform, is a software platform that can take the generated information and disseminate it intelligently to predefined and ad hoc groups and individuals who need to have this information to do their job or complete their mission in the best way possible. As we shall see Sphere>Points is that binding technology paltform. Sphere>Points takes information originating from any one of the four technology categories, then dependent on the threat level, determines who should get that information, and gets it there on any type of communication device on any network wherever the recipients’ devices will function anywhere on the planet.
Sensing and Detection Technologies
- Video surveillance
- Seismic & Tsunami sensors
- Pipeline Sensors
- CBNR sensors (Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological)
- Fire, thermal & smoke alarms
- Hazardous materials detectors
- Perimeter intrusion alarms
- Biometric entry devices
- Network intrusion
Let’s take a look at each of these technologies starting with sensing or detection technologies. As a class these types of applications monitor or survey specific sites, equipment, or structures. Generally these sensors are designed to spot anomalies and then send a warning that ranges from an alarm to emails to notices to a command center.
In the case of an audio alarm, only the individuals within range of the alarm may receive any warning. Some systems may send a signal to a central monitoring center. Certain intrusion systems may send an e-mail or text message to a user or even place an alarm to a command center. But for time sensitive or mission critical scenarios when the sensing technology has triggered, none of these communication vectors alone are adequate. To meet the challenge requires utilization of a single integrated platform that manages talk groups and can simultaneously send messaging to all types of phones regardless of carrier whether mobile, landline or satellite, VOIP, SIP, along with broadcasts to those with access to mobile radio on any frequency, ranging from UHF, VHF, or 450-900mgz as well as by email, text messaging, MMS, instant messaging (IM), even fax. The Sphere>Points platform is engineered to handle all of these modalities and vectors, as well as to manage talk groups, allow automation of response plan and scenario based communications, and handle the logistics of automated communications simultaneously to all vectors as warranted by the threat level.
Analysis Technologies- Video analytics
- Pattern analyzers
- Voice analyzers
- Data miners
- Image enhancement
- System optimizers
- Face recognition
- Biometric analyzers
- Secured entry systems
Generally analysis technologies can be defined as systems that can ingest data generated from applications based on the other three technology classes, which in turn is analyzed leading to a conclusion or generating useful information that needs to be communicated to decision makers, commanders and responders. Used alone or in combination, analysis technology is specifically designed to turn raw data into useful information. Most analysis systems do that very credibly, but have no mechanism to securely communicate that information to anyone with real-time speed and assurance of delivery and receipt even when faced with a large-scale crisis. Sphere>Points was specifically designed to capture that useful information and to quickly communicate it to the persons who need to know as defined by the customer on any device available to them wherever they may be, 24/7 with assurance of delivery and receipt. Sphere>Points completes the cycle of information flow from analysis systems. After all, analysis systems are deployed in the first place to be able to know when trouble or events that need attention are attended to with the best information available. Throughout this process Sphere>Points enables true real-time situational awareness.
Positioning / Spatial Technologies- Video analytics
- Radio frequency identification (RFID)
- Global positioning systems (GPS)
- Vehicle and asset tracking
- Mapping technologies
- Targeting systems
- Human asset tracking
- Friend vs. foe systems
Positioning and GIS spatial technologies offer event managers and the chain of command a way to easily visualize situations in graphical or real images that can zoom in or out for context. They supply information useful for field personnel about critical location based scenarios regarding resources, people, impacted areas, effective routing, and geographical scale of operations. In concert with human interpretation or expert systems, this technology can provide useful information in abundance, but like the others before it, this knowledge is only an advantage if the information can be efficiently and quickly disseminated to those who can create a benefit or mitigate a negative. Sphere>Points provides a way to automate that situation awareness communication including sending images or summaries of critical data.
Resolution Technologies- Command and control systems
- Group collaboration tools
- Strategy and resource planning
- Document Collaboration
- Resource deployment management
- Secure Portals
- Decision support systems
- Adaptive post-event examination systems
As a group, resolution technologies offer managers and commanders an effective set of tools for better response and prevention planning; implementation and deployment of plans, strategies and resources; and improved situation awareness and control of real-time events. They can offer improved objectivity in decision support, can allow a manager to deal with dozens of variables simultaneously, and can drive command decisions quickly and can utilize the limited intelligence or situation reports available for effective response or counter-response. Sphere>Points once again efficiently and effectively delivers those command orders, reports, or other useful information throughout the chain of command in a controlled manner to all devices available at the time and place.
Conclusion
Sphere>Points is the common thread allowing all of these four technologies to work together as never before, wherever and whenever time sensitive or mission critical activities occur, weather within a global enterprise or to help responders, military personnel, law enforcement and civilians make better, more informed decisions and actions from information they receive faster on the available devices wherever they may be. The information they need is organized for effective consumption, can be delivered in automated fashion or under the auspices of human controls, and can be retrieved multiple times for as long as the information remains relevant to the issue at hand. While these technologies are classified into these four groups, many of these systems have elements of more than one category. The one missing component is sophisticated communication management. Sphere>Points has now changed that landscape forever.
