IT01.34 Warfighter Assessment

COALITION WARRIOR INTEROPERABILITY DEMONSTRATION 2006 FINAL REPORT

IT01.34

Mobile/Static Real-Time Radiological Surveillance Network
(MobRadNet)

warfighter/Operator RESULTS

IT01.34 ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS
WARFIGHTER | TECHNICAL INTEROPERABILITY | INFORMATION ASSURANCE | SEIWG
(If a text entry is not linked, there is no assessment in that category for this trial)

PERFORMANCE

Mobile/Static Real-Time Radiological Surveillance Network (MobRadNet), IT01.34, is a radiological monitoring system which is a combination of mobile and static radiological detectors that scan for radiological readings and report in real time to a central monitoring system. The central monitoring system is accessible by a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that allows the operator to monitor the sensors in real time as well as view reports for previous time periods. All warfighters reported the system stable, very responsive, and very effective. All agreed MobRadNet worked well during CWID execution and successfully met planned CWID Objectives for Coalition Command and Control (C2).

Assessment Level

Five warfighters evaluated MobRadNet through JDCAT questionnaires and observation forms at the following sites: USNORTHCOM (2 warfighters), Shirley’s Bay CA (2 warfighters), and SPAWAR US (1 warfighter). All warfighters used MobRadNet extensively for two weeks, had backgrounds in radiological monitoring and were well qualified to evaluate the system.

Technical Support/Training

All warfighters received on-site training and found it very beneficial. The time allocated and the training provided was sufficient to complete all of tasks for the CWID event. Although the system is quite easy to use, all the warfighters found the training documentation provided very helpful. The warfighters also reported that on-site technical support outstanding. Some suggestions were provided to the MobRadNet developers during CWID execution and those suggestions were quickly implemented overnight and available to the warfighters.

CAPABILITIES/FINDINGS

PROVIDE REAL TIME ACQUISITION AND TRANSMISSION OF RADIOLOGICAL DATA TO A CENTRAL SERVER MobRadNet obtains second by second gamma ray sensor measurements, geospatial and time data and transmits this information to a central server in real time. During CWID execution data was provided by data simulators and by live fixed and mobile sensors in operational locations. The warfighters reported they received the data in real-time and that data was immediately visible on their monitoring stations. The warfighters easily monitored and tracked mobile sensors and reported that the plotted path superimposed over the map made it very easy to visualize where the sensors were, where they had recently been, and where they were heading, as well as allowing them to easily pinpoint any areas of concern. This capability was successfully demonstrated.

DEMONSTRATE TRANSFORMATION OF DATA INTO RADIOLOGICAL INFORMATION FOR RADIOLOGICAL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS (SA) MobRadNet permits users to obtain real-time gamma ray radiation images. All of the warfighters reported being able to: see second by second sensor reporting; create summary radiation data images, video output images and sensor data overlays onto maps or aerial images; as well as view statistical distributions and graphs of the sensor measurements. The warfighters reported that MobRadNet was very effective in allowing them to easily create radiation images via screen capture or QuickTime videos. They noted that it was very easy to see exactly where the incident occurred and where the sensors are located with the sensor data superimposed over the map or aerial image. They also reported that the system was very effective in creating the statistical distributions and sensor measurement graphs. Moreover, MobRadNet provided the ability to automatically recognize and track anomalous radiation events, differentiate those readings from normal background radiation and allow the warfighter to reply to the evolution of the radiation events. The warfighters reported that it was very easy to identify radiological incidents and that it was easy to determine whether the area of concern was changing in size or location. They also found that MobRadNet was very effective at allowing them to respond to the radiological events. MobRadNet successfully demonstrated transforming data into radiological information for radiological SA.

PROVIDE REAL-TIME AVAILABILITY OF A COMMON VIEW OF RADIOLOGICAL SA MobRadNet allowed users to acquire multiple tactical views, provided access to data in real time and provided the ability to send relevant data and graphic images as email attachments. All of the warfighters reported being able to easily acquire multiple tactical views and monitor sensors in real time from multiple locations. The warfighters found that it was very easy to share radiological events with others and make them understand exactly what they were viewing without difficulty. MobRadNet also provided Automated Targeted Spectroscopy (ATS) isotope identification. The warfighters reported that the system made it very easy to differentiate between incidents related to medical patients vice. incidents indicating potential concern. Real-time radiological situational awareness was successfully demonstrated.

PROVIDE RADIOLOGICAL SITUATIONAL SUMMARIZATION Radiological situational summarization allows users to replay incidents with graphical data and create a meaningful summary from the incident to present time. The warfighters found that it was easy to record and play back current and historical event videos. These recorded videos were also viewed by other warfighters who did not have the MobRadNet software installed. MobRadNet successfully demonstrated the ability to provide radiological situational summarization.

WARFIGHTER/Operator PERSPECTIVE

Warfighters unanimously agreed that MobRadNet was very easy to use and extremely effective in providing increased radiological event situational awareness. Some comments that the users made during execution regarding usability were noted by the vendor representative and were very professionally addressed. Several of these comments resulted in system enhancements that were implemented overnight and readily available to the warfighters for the next day’s MSEL event execution. This proactive approach by the vendor successfully demonstrated the adaptability and flexibility of MobRadNet. The warfighters all agreed that MobRadNet fulfills a current capability gap for monitoring radiological incidents remotely in a common operational picture. Warfighters also commented that MobRadNet was operational in its current configuration and supported fielding.

WARFIGHTER/Operator COMMENTS

“MobRadNet is very user friendly. The information is clear-cut and it is easy to interpret. All the information that you need to have in order to access a radiological threat is available in the program. There is no need to access a separate database.”

“This is the first system that I have seen that allows data to be extracted and re-run. I have used stand alone systems but they did not have the functionality of this system”

“I was able to detect the threat immediately. I was able to monitor the exposure of my mobile team or my emergency response team which is very effective in controlling the area and being able to monitor the situation and plan routes and services.”

“Allowed me to accurately and rapidly discount anomalous events”

“It provided lots of useful information that can be used to plan, prepare, and respond to a radiological threat. There is a real need for a system with MobRadNet capabilities to be used today.”

CONCLUSIONS

MobRadNet successfully demonstrated a network-based radiological surveillance system that streamlined decision making for GWOT contingencies and enhanced the commander’s coalition command and control capability by providing real-time access to radiological measurement data and awareness through a mapping interface. The warfighters unanimously stated that the system was easy to use, highly functional, and ready to be deployed in its current form. They stated that there is a definite capability gap and that MobRadNet addresses this gap. The warfighters were also extremely impressed with the technical support they received which made a very functional system even easier to work with.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Provide the ability to input map data such as perimeters and labels for units and to superimpose them on the map.
Provide a functionality to connect a camera to the sensors that would be activated when the sensor alarms.
Investigate adding Meteorological data, e.g. wind direction, on the map to enhance evacuation/exclusion area planning.
Incorporate the Alarm Window where double clicking on an alarm would take you to the detailed information on that alarm or to the ATS histogram.

IT01.34 ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS
WARFIGHTER | TECHNICAL INTEROPERABILITY | INFORMATION ASSURANCE | SEIWG
(If a text entry is not linked, there is no assessment in that category for this trial)

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COALITION WARRIOR INTEROPERABILITY DEMONSTRATION 2006 FINAL REPORT