: PORT SECURITY
Intelligent port security By Dr. Giovanni Milione, Optical Networking and Sensing Department NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
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hysically securing ports against threats is not easy. Ports can comprise cargo that is worth billions of dollars, thousands of acres of land, populations in the thousands, and numerous access points that see thousands of entries and exits per day and at all times of the day. Physical threats could be anything, including theft, vandalism, active shooters, and domestic or international terrorism. As such, physical security requires situational awareness for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. While physical security budgets can be tens of millions of dollars annually, they largely fund boots on the ground, i.e., guns, guards, and gates. These resources must be predominantly focused on access points, where most port activity is, leaving perimeters vulnerable. While
40 — PACIFIC PORTS — September 2021
While perimeters can be secured via physical barriers, barriers do not provide the required situational awareness. perimeters can be secured via physical barriers, barriers do not provide the required situational awareness. The cost of increasing boots on the ground to secure the entirety of perimeters can be prohibitive. A perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) comprises a combination of sensors and cameras that sense and enable visual verification of physical intrusions along a perimeter. A PIDS can provide the situational awareness required to secure a port perimeter. Many types of sensors and cameras can be used in a PIDS. Canonical
sensors include radar, microwave, lidar, accelerometers, geophones, visible, and thermal. While each sensor has its advantages and disadvantages, canonical sensors are archaic. They are unintelligent and tethered to the physical environment, i.e., they require electrical power, wired or wireless communication, and line of sight. The greatest challenge to such sensors is the physical environment. PIDS are greatly affected by salty air, changing visibility due to precipitation, dust, fog, and daily and seasonal lighting conditions. Furthermore, inclement weather
