Bringing Things Closer into "Sight" is the First Step in Dealing with Potential Threats The changing international scene has brought a new emphasis on the growing need for early intruder detection capability. Being able to quickly identify a potential threat is paramount in dealing with it before it becomes a “real threat”.

Do Not Let Your Eyes Deceive You

Let's face it. If you can’t see it with your naked eye... that doesn’t mean
that it doesn’t exist, it just means that you can’t see it. And if you can’t see
it at all, you can’t deal with it. If you don’t deal with it, a potential threat can
become a sad reality.
The big part of the current task is to identify the threats at hand - and to deal
with them - before they become “an event”. Threats can appear in various
forms and sizes. The sooner that you spot it, the sooner you can nip any security
threat in the bud. The changing international scene has brought a new
emphasis on the growing need for early intruder detection capability. Being
able to quickly identify a potential threat is paramount in dealing with it before
it becomes a “real threat”. Sometimes, it can become “too late”, if the
proper means are not intact.

New Innovative Solution for Airborne, Maritime, and Ground Surveillance

This ever-present reality has brought the CEDAR (Compact Electro-Optical
Intruder Detection System) to center stage as it attracts strong international

Picture 1. Innovative Airborne, Maritime and Ground Surveillance in the War against Terrorism

attention for ground security. Controp, the manufacturer for CEDAR, is being recognized as new innovator for airborne, maritime and ground surveillance with their first-hand experience in the "war against terrorism". "Turning vision into reality" is a motto behind each and every one of its products, which are designed to reduce the barriers of distance by day and by night. Bringing things closer into sight is the first step in dealing with potential threats. The realities of the recent years have brought the vulnerability of each and every institution, in each and every country, to unsurpassed heights. It has become clear to all, that large-scale disruption and heartache can be brought to masses of people in one single event of terrorist activity. Mega-terror has taken on new dimensions as the capability of small groups of terrorists has found limitless capabilities that are beyond the imagination of the moral conscience. This can often be avoided and such events deterred, when innovative systems and revolutionary technologies come together (Picture1).

The CEDAR is a highly sophisticated electro-optical day/night automatic panoramic intruder detection system, which detects intruders in a wide panoramic view in real time. Its operation is completely passive. This panoramic automatic intruder detection system uses a sophisticated algorithm, which enables detection of intruders, by day and by night, by use of electro optical devices. It can utilize various electro optical devices, such as a Thermal Imaging Camera (FLIR), daylight CCTV (black and white or color), and many other observation means.

Picture 2. Turning Vision into Reality in Identifying Threats at Hand

It shows a panoramic wide scan and a panoramic scene display. The very
friendly Man/Machine Interface (MMI) provides a panoramic wide scan of
the observed section, displayed on a large monitor, enabling viewing of the
scanned area and all detected items that are in the current “area of interest”
and are defined as the current “targets” (Picture 2).
The CEDAR system is operated and controlled by a Control and Display
Unit (CDU), based on an improved Personal Computer (PC), integrated with
a frame grabber. The computer assembly utilizes a high standard PC with
special cards and proprietary software. A standard Microsoft joystick unit,
which contains all the commands for controlling the sensor and the line of
sight, is used to control the system. The wide azimuth and elevation dynamic
range is provided by an accurate motorized pan and tilt unit controlled by
the CDU.

Facing many of the threats that the world is seeing today is not only a job for the military but also an exercise in civil infrastructure readiness. Protection of sensitive facilities has become the task for many institutions in the civil world. Ensuring the security of fuel storage depots, power plants, water reservoirs and oil refineries, as well as many other sensitive sites has taken on new priorities. One of the specialties of the system is that it has a low level of “false alarms” which makes it practical for even the most sensitive application.

Figure 1. Other Options Meeting Various Applications

For most important installations and facilities, a reliable intruder detection
system is imperative to ensure the safety and security of operations.
One of the most sensitive and vulnerable facilities, which require special
and sophisticated protection, is an airport. This reality has taken on a
new emphasis. The CEDAR system can be employed to protect even the
most active environment and can warn against previously unrecognized
threats. In the case of an airport, these threats might be on the airfield,
near the terminal or even in the surrounding perimeter area. It can detect,
in advance, any activity which might be considered as a potential threat,
such as the set up of short range surface-to-air missiles, penetration into
unauthorized areas for hostile activities, set up of terrorist ambush, etc.
Furthermore, the perimeter security of important buildings and facilities
in the civilian world is a local issue to be dealt with on an individual
basis. Only when a reliable automatic detection system in use, can
changes in the scenario be tracked on an ongoing basis and potential
threats be recognized in a timely manner.

Mode of Operation In Action

The CEDAR has two modes of operation. The panoramic scan mode is
for automatic intruder detection. The scan sector can be selected in both
azimuth and elevation axes, using the accurate motorized pan and tilt
unit. The panoramic scan mode incorporates sophisticated real-time intruder
detection algorithms. An unlimited number of multiple intruders
are detected, scanned and tracked simultaneously. During this time, investigation
of the suspected intrusion is viewed in a separate window.
While still in scan mode and viewing the target, one can compare the
current situation to previous scenes, and determine if there is truly a
threat. It is crucial to investigate a designated target in order to determine
if that target is indeed a threat, and then to refer to its predictable
characteristics, all this without stopping the scanning of the system, in
order to minimize the unattended area which occurs when scanning is
stopped. If a threat is detected, observation mode can be enabled in
order to identify, recognize and view the intruder. Intruder recognition
uses zoom-in or Narrow-Field-Of-View (NFOV) observation. The observation
mode reduces the false alarm rate, saves time and waste of law
enforcement deployment. The system is integrated with an Automatic
Video Tracker (AVT)(Figure 1).

The CEDAR system has a wide variety of applications for maritime and
ground surveillance. Some maritime applications include, but are not
limited to, coastal surveillance and detection of small boats and even
swimmers. The sophisticated CEDAR system has been successful in the
detection of small boats and swimmers in the water, and can warn against
onshore intrusion. This application can be applied for protection against
intruders, smugglers (drug, merchandise), illegal immigration and more.
Some of the ground applications found to be most popular by international
customers include the surveillance of airports, power plants, fuel storage
depots, oil refineries, water reservoirs, etc. However, other ground
applications for the CEDAR are numerous, including border control facilities
for the protection against smugglers and illegal immigrants. Military
applications include the protection of armed force bases and ground
troops security. The system has been found to be one of the most sophisticated
and advanced security systems available today.
The FLIR camera can be supplied by the company, or as an alternative,
the customer’s camera may be integrated. Furthermore, a variety of
thermal cameras are also available, including but not limited to 2nd generation
8-12 micron cameras and 3rd generation 3-5 micron cameras with
zoom lenses or cooled and uncooled 3rd generation 8-12 micron cameras.

Other options include an optional Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder (ESLRF)
may be incorporated for accurate target ranging and positioning. A daylight
TV camera may be opted by the customer. In addition, acquisition
of target coordinates can be supplied according to customer needs. Another
option often favored by the customer is external PC interface
RS232 for target data communication. Digital recording, another
CEDAR option, aids in the preservation of information for future debriefing.