Harbour Protection
Tuesday 9th November 2010, 1400hrs–1530hrs
Chaired by Patrick Keyzer Underwater Harbour Protection: Application of Wideband DDS and WIdeband Acoustic Barriers Mr Andrzej Elminowicz, R&D Marine Technology Centre (CTM), Poland L. Zajączkowski, R&D Marine Technology Centre S.A., Poland Download Author Biography (PDF) Conventional Diver Detection Sonars (DDS) have limited effectiveness in difficult propagation conditions and areas with high disturbances, especially in Littoral Water (LW) and Extremely Littoral Water (ELW). It has been noted that detection at the surface and be-low thermoclines always causes huge problems. A System that consists of wideband Acoustic Barriers (WAB) and wideband DDS (WDDS) is a highly suitable acoustic device to operate in LW and ELW. WAB and WDDS cooperating in bistatic mode increase the detection probability of underwater objects as well as extend the protected area. The sea area with strong thermoclines may be protected by addi-tional WAB, detecting objects below thermocline. The WAB and WDDS systems create new capabilities to detect threats that are invisible for some traditional sonars. In some cases the portable magnetic barrier should also be integrated into systems as a device „sealing” the pro-tected zone. This paper will describe the wideband monostatic and bistatic acoustic barriers as well as wideband DDS specially designed to be integrated into protection bistatic systems. The de-vices have a sophisticated signal processing enabling their cooperation without mutual inter-ferences. Results of investigation of stationary or portable acoustic barriers cooperating with stationary or portable DDS are also described. The aforementioned System should be treated as crucial in underwater protection of critical infrastructure. (This abstract has been cleared by the national authority Director J.T. Dobkowski, Ph.D). Maritime Surveillance System using Passive Sonar Mr. Edyta Porosinska, OBR Centrum Techniki Morskiej S.A., Poland Research and development activity in the scope of autonomous security systems protecting maritime objects from present-day threat is the priority of the 7 Frame Program. In 2007 the AMASS (Autonomous Maritime Surveillance System) international research program was initiated with the purpose of designing and constructing a system to safeguard the European Union courtiers from illegal immigration, smuggling of prohibited and dangerous substances and terrorism attack. Among different methods of the harbors, seaways, coastlines or other maritime objects protection the most efficient are passive or active sonars. The performances of passive systems ensure long-range detection capabilities at small power consumption. The system composed of many passive sonars characterises high detections efficiency. It is easy adaptable to protected object and performed task. The single passive sonar is configured as the array of several hydrophones. The system of data acquisition and processing enables detection, DOA (Direction of Arrival) estimation, location and tracking of various maritime vehicles. The synchronous data gathering and filtering is performed using FPGA technology. The DOA estimation is based on the MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification) algorithm. The system is assembled on the buoys equipped with stand-alone power supply subsystem, GPS, cameras and telemetry units. The whole system is remote controlled from the Command and Control Center. This paper will depict the hardware and software of the passive sonar developed for AMASS system, and sonar performances and results of the sea trials will be exclusively revealed. Improving Underwater Surveillance: LYBIN Sonar performance Prediction Mrs Elin Dombestein, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), Norway There are big challenges in maintaining good quality under water surveillance with sonars. Several parameters affect the performance, like temperature profile, bottom conditions, depth etc. Misevaluating these parameters contribute to the creation of sonar “blind spots”, reducing the detection capabilities of the surveillance system in certain areas. As the water temperature and other parameters change, the blind spots also relocates, making it very hard to know what part of the area that the sonar actually covers. By implementing specially adapted sophisticated sonar performance prediction software like LYBIN for controlling sonar settings, the underwater security in harbors, water borders and alike, may be greatly improved. It uses a broad set of parameters to accurately calculate the probability of detecting objects in a given area under water with the use of sonar technology. As this probability changes with environmental properties, it can rapidly calculate the sonar coverage for all available sonar settings and parameters, and present the optimum parameters for covering chosen important areas. LYBIN is a robust, user friendly and fast acoustic ray-trace simulator that easily can be integrated with external software. It is a well established and frequently used sonar prediction tool. It is in operational use by the Norwegian Navy and has been modified and improved for this purpose for more than 20 years. LYBIN has become an important tool in both planning and evaluation of maritime operations and the software is already integrated in combat system software, tactical decision aids and tactical trainers.
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