Underwater marine domain awareness for first responders: a low cost approach

This paper describes research and field trials targeting underwater threats to homeland security and maritime infrastructure. The investigation emphasizes harbor/port facilities without the benefit of a large supporting military infrastructure and offers an affordable approach to this complex challenge. An analysis of the scope of maritime threats that highlights the threat of submerged improvised explosive devices (IEDs) deployed as sea mines was conducted. A new concept of operations for the detection and identification of such submerged IEDs is offered. The concept relies upon commercially available and relatively low-cost equipment along with currently deployed first responders in the maritime sectors. As such, it provides a logical potential solution to the current dilemma faced by the majority of accountable first responder organizations of needing expensive - and likely unaffordable ⁿderwater surveillance equipment in U.S. port and harbor facilities. The threat assessment and employment concept are a focus of this presentation. Field trials conducted during August 2004 are also discussed