Integrated Security for Base Protection

Safeguard personnel from all types of hazards

Securing Canadian military installations is essential to fighting terrorism. ­However, base commanders understand that their force protection security ­system must also safeguard military personnel, their families, and civilian contractors from all types of hazards. To accomplish this, security planning must anticipate intelligent, adaptive adversaries and large-scale emergencies that ­create terror and confusion, and complicate response by causing multiple, simultaneous incidents. In those circumstances, the sheer volume of inputs from alarms, sensors, closed-circuit televisions (CCTV), and situational reports can overwhelm a security team and provide a confusing picture of the unfolding situation. That’s why security systems must do more than provide raw information – they must provide automation, intelligence, and interoperability to streamline work processes and maximize the protection of ­people and properties.

Integration Technology for a Common Operating Picture
With successful implementations underway at CFB Valcartier-St. Jean and CFB Edmonton, Intergraph’s Force Protection solution is gaining attention from Canadian base commanders, police chiefs, and fire chiefs. Based on Intergraph’s proven and widely-deployed public safety-based computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, the company’s Force Protection solution pulls together data from a base’s physical security systems into ‘one screen’ operations, helping make sense of chaotic situations caused by asymmetrical or conventional threats. The system acts as a force multiplier, enabling decision support that focuses limited resources where they’re needed most. Through the one ­common operational picture, security teams and first responders can easily and efficiently achieve situational awareness and supports disposition of forces to manage security and public safety incidents to their resolution.

Interoperability is Essential
Intelligence sharing and system interoperability require open enterprise solutions. Whether it’s spanning multiple, geographically dispersed sites or crossing jurisdictions, the ability to seamlessly share information is increasingly critical.

Intergraph’s dedication to interoperability is a key reason for their solution’s effectiveness in managing base security. The solution is able to integrate a wide range of third-party intrusion detection systems – such as radar, sensors, alarms, access systems, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) video – through Intergraph’s geo­spatial intelligence products and COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) command-and-control software. The system also supports interoperability among local, provincial, and national systems, and has been used successfully for over 35 years throughout the civilian public safety and security ­communities.

As a premier systems integrator, Intergraph works with intrusion detection vendors to provide standards-based adapters, which shortens implementation costs and time frames. Long-standing partnerships with technology leaders such as Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, SAIC, and Oracle; academic and non-profit organizations such as the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC®); and the Canadian Department of National Defence ensure Intergraph’s standards are based on best practices and are proven in simulated and real-world environments.

Fast-Track, Scalable and Flexible Implementation
Few out-of-the-box solutions support the complex requirements of enabling complete domain awareness. At the same time, built-on-demand solutions are expensive to develop and maintain. They are often proprietary and require considerable investment to make system changes over time.

Intergraph’s configurable, flexible, and expandable COTS force protection solution helps mitigate these challenges. The starting installation contains the basic functionality, standard interfaces, and tools for rapid customization that provide a shortcut to system development and a fast track to implementation. System updates are typically made during routine product maintenance, which reduces costs over the long run.

With the ability to start as small as a base needs, with unlimited expansion possibility, the Integraph solution incorporates the flexibility needed to support the changing environment of a Canadian military base. The company’s scalable COTS framework reduces the time to implement an easy-to-understand, common operating picture. The agile architecture can be adjusted according to user requirements, such as user security or level of detail. This flexibility allows rapid and efficient builds of adapters to any intrusion devices, accommodating evolving technology and supporting the insertion of tomorrow’s innovations as base infrastructure is upgraded.

Deciding on an Integrated Security Solution
When choosing a vendor to provide an integrated security solution for your base operations or federal organization, look for a suite of solutions that gives you the maximum expandability, interoperability, and flexibility for customization.

Intergraph’s Force Protection solution maximizes the value of the security ‘pieces’ you already have (databases, intrusion devices, alarms, access sensors, and personnel resources) and layers connectivity on top to give you a common operational picture. Strengths of the Intergraph suite include:

• Incident detection software that assists in assessing threats via interface with existing or new access control, intrusion detection, radar and video analysis systems
• An industry-proven computer-aided dispatch core, enhanced with interactive, real-time map displays, as well as web-based and mobile availability
• Powerful communication interfaces between Intergraph’s CAD and your existing or new radio and phone systems
• Consequence management components that allow the further development, integration and execution of existing or new response plans
• Mobile dispatch integration
• Complete interoperability with existing or new pagers, alerting systems, and external databases
• Planning and simulation tools for flawless incident management
• Integration of existing or Intergraph-based video management tools to provide seamless threat assessment and response management

Strong relationships with key asset ­management partners
To learn more about integrated security and how your base or enforcement group can benefit, visit www.intergraph.ca/FLS for a special information package or contact sales@intergraph.ca

Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. More than 1800 agencies in 27 countries that provide police, fire, emergency medical, force protection, national security, and related services choose Intergraph solutions.

___
Shane Loates is Intergraph’s geospatial defence integration expert in Canada. shane.loates@intergraph.com
© FrontLine Security 2010