Integrated detection and monitoring system

• US 8,502,699 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MC Technology Company Limited (Haas Group International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MC Technology Company Limited (Haas Group International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zerwekh, William D., Martinez, Ted R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/038,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,121 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/562, 340/539.26, 340/539.29, 340/539.1, 340/511, 340/360.1, 340/35, 250/360.1, 250/35
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/12 Provision for actuation of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A method and system is provided for implementing an integrated detection and monitoring system. Aspects of the present invention include mounting at least detector into a vehicle to provide a mobile detector. The mobile detector is then transported to a security checkpoint and positioned along side a vehicle pass-through. As a vehicle passes through, the mobile detector scans the vehicles to detect levels of one or more designated materials. If any material detected exceeds a threshold alarm level, the detected level of the material is stored in a file that is associated with the vehicle, and the file is wirelessly transmitted to a command center to notify authorities.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an integrated detection and monitoring system, comprising:

concealing a first detector by placing the first detector into a first trailer to provide a first mobile detector;

concealing a second detector by placing a second detector into a second trailer to provide a second mobile detector;

transporting the first and second mobile detectors to a security checkpoint, and positioning the first and second mobile detectors on each side of a road, such that the first and second mobile detectors do not straddle or form an overhang over the road, wherein the first and second mobile detectors are configured to be deployed covertly and non-conspicuously at the security checkpoint for anti-terrorism monitoring the road;

using the first and second mobile detectors to scan vehicles that pass by to detect levels of one or more designated materials, wherein the vehicles pass by in-between the first and second mobile detectors without entering an internal opening of either one of the first and second mobile detectors,

if any material detected exceeds a threshold alarm level for one of the vehicles, storing the detected level of the material in a file that is associated with the vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting the file to a command center to notify authorities.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

utilizing first and second detectors that are capable of detecting a material including at least one of a nuclear/radioactive material, an explosive material, a chemical, a drug, and a biological agent.

3. The method of claim 1 further including:

customizing support stands for first and second trailers, and mounting the first and second detectors to the customized support stands.

4. The method of claim 1 further including:

associating at least one digital image taken of the vehicle with the vehicle, and transmitting the at least one digital image to the command center.

5. The method of claim 4 further including:

passing the levels of the material detected from the first and second detectors to a controller, and from the controller to a computer, and displaying the detected levels on a user interface of the computer.

6. The method of claim 4 further including:

also transmitting to the command center a location of the first and second mobile detectors and a direction of travel of the vehicle that caused the alarm.

7. The method of claim 1 further including:

setting up the first and second mobile detectors to begin scanning vehicles for one or more designated materials.

8. The method of claim 7 further including:

after the first and second detectors are aligned,

(i) establishing a background count rate from the first and second detectors and performing a test to establish a variance in a measured signal from the detectors;

(ii) setting first alarm level above the background by a margin of approximately six times the standard deviation established by the test;

(iii) setting a second alarm level at approximately ten times the original margin; and

(iv) setting a third, high level alarm, corresponding to count rate equivalent to a maximum reading of at a predetermined distance from a surface of a standard vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 further including:

further providing the first and second mobile detectors with a set of vehicle sensors for lining up the first and second detectors once deployed in the field and for detecting the vehicles that approach, and an environmental control unit.

10. The method of claim 9 further including:

further providing the second mobile detector with a controller, computer, a wireless communications link, a digital video and still camera, and a power source.

11. The method of claim 10 further including:

wirelessly coupling the controller in the second mobile detector to the first detector in the first mobile detector.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the digital camera is a combination video and still camera that continuously captures video of the vehicle as it passes by the vehicle sensors, and optionally captures a digital still image of the vehicle'"'"'s license plate if a high level alarm is triggered.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein in response to the vehicle passing through a first security checkpoint without exceeding the threshold alarm level, and entering a second security checkpoint and exceeding the threshold alarm level, a determination is made that the vehicle picked up the material between the first security checkpoint and the second security checkpoint.

13. A transportation detection and monitoring network, comprising:

a central computer;

a first mobile detector comprising a first trailer concealing a first detector;

a second mobile detector comprising a second trailer concealing a second detector;

the first and second mobile detectors positioned on each side of a vehicle pass-through at a security checkpoint in communication with the central computer, such that the first and second mobile detectors do not straddle or form an overhang over the vehicle pass-through, wherein the first and second mobile detectors are configured to be deployed covertly and non-conspicuously at the security checkpoint for anti-terrorism monitoring at least one of roads, shipping containers, train depots, and ingress and/or egress points for facilities;

wherein the first and second detectors measure are used to scan vehicles that pass by to detect levels of one or more designated materials, wherein the vehicles pass by in-between the first and second mobile detectors without entering an internal opening of either one of the first and second mobile detectors,

wherein at least one of the first and second mobile detectors further includes,

a power source for supplying power to the first and second mobile detectors,

a computer coupled to the first and second detectors, the computer for processing data detected by the first and second mobile detectors for each of the vehicles, such that if any material detected exceeds a threshold alarm level for one of the vehicles, the detected level of the material is stored in a file that is associated with the vehicle, and

a communications link for transmitting the data from the computer to the central computer for monitoring.

14. The transportation detection and monitoring network of claim 13 wherein the first and second mobile detectors further includes a set of vehicle sensors for detecting approaching vehicles.

15. The transportation detection and monitoring network of claim 14 wherein the first and second mobile detectors further includes an environmental control unit.

16. The transportation detection and monitoring network of claim 15 wherein the communication link comprises a satellite communications link.

17. The transportation detection and monitoring network of claim 15 further including a digital camera for capturing a digital image of each of the vehicle that generates detected levels that exceed a predetermined threshold.

18. The transportation detection and monitoring network of claim 17 wherein the digital camera is coupled to the computer continuously captures video of the vehicle as it passes by the vehicle sensors, and optionally captures a digital still image of the vehicle'"'"'s license plate if an alarm is triggered.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second detectors are capable of detecting a material including at least one of a nuclear/radioactive material, an explosive material, a chemical, and a biological agent.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first and second detectors are mounted on support stands that have been customized for the first and second trailers.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first and second trailers is camouflaged.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein one of the first and second detectors from at least one of the first and second detectors is removed from a corresponding one of the first and second trailers, placed on one side of the vehicle pass-through, and camouflaged.

25. The transportation detection and monitoring network of claim 15 wherein in response to the vehicle passing through a first security checkpoint without exceeding the threshold alarm level, and entering a second security checkpoint and exceeding the threshold alarm level, a determination is made that the vehicle picked up the material between the first security checkpoint and the second security checkpoint.

23. A method for implementing an integrated detection and monitoring system, comprising:

placing at least one detector into a vehicle, thereby providing at least one mobile detector;

transporting the at least one mobile detector to a security checkpoint and positioning the at least one mobile detector along side a vehicle pass-through;

setting up the at least one mobile detector by,

aligning the at least one mobile detector,

establishing a background count rate from the at least one mobile detector and performing a test to establish a variance in a measured signal from the at least one mobile detector,

setting first alarm level above the background by a margin of approximately six times the standard deviation established by the test,

setting a second alarm level at approximately ten times the original margin, and

setting a third, high level alarm, corresponding to count rate equivalent to a maximum reading of at a predetermined distance from a surface of a standard vehicle;

using the at least one mobile detector to scan vehicles that pass by to detect levels of one or more designated materials; and

if any material detected exceeds a threshold alarm level, storing the detected level of the material in a file that is associated with that vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting the file to a command center to notify authorities.

26. A method for implementing an integrated detection and monitoring system, comprising:

concealing a first detector by placing the first detector into a first trailer to provide a first mobile detector;

concealing a second detector by placing a second detector into a second trailer to provide a second mobile detector;

transporting the first and second mobile detectors to a security checkpoint, and positioning the first and second mobile detectors on each side of a road, such that the first and second mobile detectors do not straddle or form an overhang over the road, wherein the first and second mobile detectors are configured to be deployed covertly and non-conspicuously at the security checkpoint for anti-terrorism monitoring the road;

using the first and second mobile detectors to scan vehicles that pass by to detect levels of one or more designated materials, wherein the vehicles pass by in-between the first and second mobile detectors without entering an internal opening of either one of the first and second mobile detectors,

if any material detected exceeds a threshold alarm level for one of the vehicles, storing the detected level of the material in a file in association with the vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting the file to a command center computer to notify authorities, such that in response to the vehicle passing through a first security checkpoint without exceeding the threshold alarm level, and entering a second security checkpoint and exceeding the threshold alarm level, a determination is made that the vehicle picked up the material between the first security checkpoint and the second security checkpoint.