Further analysis and evaluation of the results of the NATO Common Shield - DAT#7 experiment – Defence Against Terrorism

Abstract

The experiment “Common Shield“ was part of a perennial investigation series leaded by the “Center for Transformation of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr)”. In 2008 the protection of soldiers and facilities was experimentally investigated under the aspect of a networked operational leadership. In this context as well a harbour protection trial was carried out in August/September 2008 at the naval base Eckernfoerde in Germany. This trial was part of the NATO CNADs program of work for “Defence Against Terrorism (DAT)” starting in 2003, and Germany is the lead nation for item 7 on ”Technology for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Target Acquisition of Terrorists (ISRTA)“. The contactless control of persons and the remote surveillance of sensitive infrastructures are important tasks in order to provide the required security measures to protect the human population against the threads of international terrorism. Passive microwave imaging allows a daytime independent observation and examination of objects and persons under nearly all adverse ambient conditions without artificial exposure, hence fully avoiding health risks. The penetration capability of microwaves provides the detection of objects through atmospheric obstacles like bad weather, fog or dust, vapour and smoke, as well as through thin non-metallic materials and clothing. For the latter the detection of hidden objects like weapons, explosives, and contraband is possible by monitoring dielectric anomalies. One main activity in the Eckernfoerde trial was the simulation of a military entrance control facility in a tent including various imaging and a chemical sensor suite in order to provide security for a military camp. Besides commercial optical and infrared cameras various passive millimeter-wave imagers have been used from different German research institutions. DLR provided an imaging radiometer scanner operating at W band. A multitude of situations have been simulated and many persons carrying hidden objects under their clothing have been scanned. Earlier presented exemplary results from the trial have been further analyzed. The ongoing evaluation of the radiometer measurements are shown and discussed in the paper.