BASYLIS

"moBile, Autonomous and affordable SYstem to increase safety in Large unpredIctable environmentS"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Civil installations such as power plants are often located in wide and remote areas. In the coming years, the number of small distributed facilities will increase as a direct result of new European environmental policies aimed at increasing societies’ resilience to local manifestations of climate change. Yet the protection of fragmented assets will be difficult to achieve and will require portable security systems that are affordable to those in charge of their management. The BASYLIS project aims to address these issues by developing a low-cost smart sensing platform that can automatically and effectively detect a range of security threats in complex environments. The principal obstacles to early threat detection in wide areas are of two types: functional (e.g. false-alarm rate) and ethical (e.g. privacy). Both problems are amplified when installations are dynamic or located in changing environments. Potential solutions are unaffordable to most of the potential users. The BASYLIS system will consist of a transportable security platform capable of detecting a wide range of pre-determined security threats. The prototype design will include four highly sensitive sensors exploiting different parts of the spectrum: radio, magnetic, seismic, acoustic and optical waves, as well as images via intelligent video. The information gathered by these sensors is then brought together into an information layer composed of three levels: multi-sensor integration (MSI), image processing and risk assessment. The BASYLIS system will be characterized by high performance and high usability index. The engagement of end users in the specification and validation of the design has been considered from the start of the project, ensuring that the design of the final system meets the needs of the users. BASYLIS consortium has decided to focus on “refugees-camps” a “hot-spot” environment where European and UN aids are injured, killed or kidnapped every year.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Remote installations are difficult to secure. An EU-funded project is making security simpler, developing new sensors and autonomous analysis systems that help identify threats.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Vital European assets such as power stations are often located in remote areas, and the number of those facilities will increase in response to legislation. Securing the installations will be difficult, and require a new type of surveillance system: affordable, portable and semi-automated.

Developing such systems was the goal of the EU-funded 'Mobile, autonomous and affordable system to increase safety in large unpredictable environments' (BASYLIS) project. The 10-member consortium set out to develop a suitable sensing platform for automatic detection of security threats in complex environments. Nine components were planned, including a variety of sensors and a board for integration, bracelets and panic buttons, and video and behaviour analysis systems. All would also be tested and demonstrated. The group ran from May 2011 to May 2013, and met its objectives.

The project developed separate types of sensors for perimeter security. The long-distance detectors involved radar and lasers, both of which identify moving objects. The project's innovation for the laser system was a vertical angle control that overcomes line-of-sight limitations.

Short-range devices included an acoustic vector sensor that tracks multiple sound sources simultaneously. In addition, a metal weapons detection system can be placed underground and will pinpoint any metallic weapons in range. A seismic unattended ground sensor system uses buried seismic sensors for perimeter protection by detecting vibrations.

The BASYLIS system included a portable bracelet device that a wearer can use to signal an alarm. The bracelet is a Global Positioning System receiver, enabling the bearer to be located and tracked if necessary.

A commercial off-the-shelf system was configured to integrate all the sensors, and included a wireless communication interface and network. The project developed several different software sub-systems for control and analysis, including alarm verification and behaviour analysis.

Field testing of the complete system, conducted during the project's final months, showed satisfactory results. The system was also demonstrated at a Counter-Terror expo.

The BASYLIS project yielded a system offering semi-autonomous remote security surveillance of remote sites, employing various long- and short-range sensors. That means reduced danger and risk; in addition, the project outcomes offer commercial potential for European business.