E-SMART® TECHNOLOGY

In early 2002, E-SMART® TA technology was used as a sensor network to demonstrate defense against Unconventional Nuclear Warfare devices, also known as “dirty bombs”. Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico was selected as one of four demonstration sites. The requirements were to provide real-world installation of protection technologies at operational gates at the base, and to provide an additional system for further testing and development within Kirtland AFB.The demonstration involved a fast track schedule and was completed with existing senor technology in approximately 90 days. Three operational gates at the base were selected for implementation, Two of the gates screen personally operated vehicles, and the remaining gate screens all of the commercial and delivery trucks that enter the base. The total flow of base traffic is approximately 70,000 vehicles per day. The force protection technologies included commercially available and national laboratory radiation detectors, commercial intrusion detection technologies, and video camera controls. E-SMART® TA equipment is located at each operational gate, interfacing to the radiation detectors and provides indication, alarm horns and pagers to alert the security forces to the presence of radioactive materials attempting to enter the installation. Alarms are also transmitted across a wide area E-SMART® network to a central command and control facility for supervisory attention. All activities, including guard responses, are logged to an industry standard database. Special features included design of custom screens to mimic existing alarm systems installed at the base, thus allowing the new system to be operational with almost no training time required. The E-SMART® TA system is easily customized to site specific requirements, thus allowing the customer to participate in system design. The system was installed and operational within the required schedule, demonstrating General Atomics rapid deployment capability. The system continues to perform exceptionally in this operational environment, and General Atomics has since been contracted to provide ongoing Operation and Maintenance support for all the equipment for this deployment, including equipment provided by other organizations and national laboratories. Our commitment to customer support and timely response, coupled with an attitude of “whatever it takes” was the basis for General Atomics being selected for this ongoing work. The Kirtland E-SMART® TA system demonstrates our capability to integrate diverse technologies, including R&D technologies supplied by the national laboratories, in a rapid manner with very high performance. E-SMART® TA integrates any desired detection and actuator devices, allowing the customer to pick the technologies best suited to their particular installation, and still enjoy the benefits of an integrated system.

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