Maritime Security Sensor Network Based on Ultra-Wideband Electromagnetic Waves Forward Scattering phenomena

A maritime security forward scattering sensor network is a novel and cost-effective system to protect national offshore assets and interests. Maritime security and related national economical and political interests are strategically important priorities for the UK Government and the world community in general. The most recent example can be found in the Persian Gulf, a region which sees billions of pounds of merchant traffic annually and where a lack of maritime security has created opportunities for piracy. Another example is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (the result of technical problems) which demonstrated the cost of this kind of maritime catastrophe which might make it a potentially attractive target for a terrorist attack. It also highlighted the problem of the detection and dynamic tracking of oil spills.
A number of systems are currently employed for the remote monitoring of the sea surface. Each system has its own capabilities and limitations. It seems unlikely, therefore, that any one system could be developed to solve all the problems of sea monitoring with a resolution sufficient to permit the detection and automatic identification of small objects. The solution lies in a combination of systems. For this reason, the introduction of new tools and specifically tools capable of filling the gaps in the existing security systems is very much welcomed.
This project aims to develop a brand-new, cost-effective security sensor network for maritime application. The proposed system would be maintained on a chain of light anchored buoys spread over a range of several miles equipped with ultra-wideband (UWB) forward scatter (FS) sensors enabling earlier automatic detection and identification of non-cooperative intruders in all-weather conditions. The network targets the detection of low-visible, small, and potentially low-speed maritime targets such as boats (which might be used for suicide missions or for smuggling people, drugs or weapons); semi-submerged objects (lost containers or icebergs dangerous for maritime traffic and offshore installations); environmental control (oil spill detection); etc. The system could be used where more traditional monitoring tools are unable to operate and would replace or complement them. It would be effective for emerging maritime situations, e.g. to protect offshore wind energy farms and EEZ boundary, to track the routes of pirates and so forth. The engineering outputs from the project will include a demonstration and testing of the system fragment in real marine conditions leading to a detailed production specification of the system developed with industrial partners and end users. Eventually a brand new product would be developed and manufactured for the world market and it would bring economic benefits to the UK and strengthen its position in the high-tech market.

The proposed maritime security sensor network could operate independently or complement existing systems The research and introduction of this new maritime surveillance system will initially have an impact on the defence and security sectors. Subsequent impact can be expanded to other possible areas including the environmental protection of waterways and coastal waters. The project includes components of fundamental and generic study which will be of use to the wider scientific community. We are expecting that a study in FS UWB EMW propagation above sea surface will also facilitate the introduction of UWB communication systems for maritime users and systems for oil spill detection in potentially dangerous areas. This project will produce engineering components which can be applied elsewhere and as a consequence we expect the project to be monitored by industrial institutions interested in translating research results into commercial products. The project is original and challenging and we anticipate high-volume production and export of the system to have a direct impact on the economy and establish a stronger UK position in the international high-tech market. Liaison with beneficiaries and dissemination will be spearheaded by the Investigators in collaboration with the Project Advisory Group (PAG).
Microwave-based remote-sensing tools are conventionally based on the EMW reflection phenomena, while the proposed system relies on the FS effect and is technically closer to communication systems. This makes it possible to use low-cost COTS components from the communications area. As a result the proposed system will be cost-effective in production. Due to the expected high performance and the system's unique ability to fill specific gaps in the current range of remote-sensing technology, we expect it will have widespread and global applications which should result in significant export opportunities for UK-based manufacturers.
This will include end users such as companies and organisations responsible for security and manufacturers of sensor and surveillance systems (making profits from production and distribution). This will in turn lead to a major stimulus for the defence and security industries which employ a large number of people in the UK and contribute a major part of the UK Industrial base. This will feed through and have a substantial economic impact on the UK economy in general. Many defence and security-related companies like SELEX, BAE Systems, QinetiQ, Thales and others are considering sensor networks (distributed sensors, smart sensors, etc.) as the key direction in their high-level system development. In the maritime domain, the concept of "Smart Buoys" technology is very popular worldwide