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Wide Area Monitoring

Sensol has developed a series of seismic and acoustic sensor arrays able to detect and provide location details for such things as artillery fire, rocket fragments and explosions. The system consists of a control display unit (CDU) and the sensor array comprising microphones, local processors, portable GPS systems and a communication module. Sensol is able to integrate more than 100 sensors into a single system covering thousands of square kilometres. The robust system communication links configure automatically and can also automatically reroute data if parts of the system are not operational for any reason. The CDU correlates all information from the sensor array for display to the user in easy to interpret graphical interfaces including map overlays.

Typical Large Area Detection System Arrangement. SA-Sensors T-Target event.
Figure 1: Typical Large Area Detection System Arrangement. SA-Sensors T-Target event.

Sensol is in discussions with various organisations involved in aeronautics, military systems, satellite and space technology. In particular, Sensol is collaborating with DSTO on the Scramjet project. In November 2006 the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the United States Air Force signed a collaborative agreement to advance research into high speed (hypersonic) flight. The Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) project worth more than US$54m will see up to ten hypersonic flight experiments conducted over six years at Woomera in South Australia. http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/4803/

Sensol is developing a sensing capability for use in the first two flights of HIFiRE in November 2008. Sensol's sensing system will be deployed prior to the flights across the target landing area in the Woomera prohibited area. The system will provide DSTO with the necessary detection and analysis capability to identify the impact location. The system will deploy up to 20 seismic sensor and data recorder units.

For further information on the Sensol seismic sensor and data recorder units

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Sensol is undertaking extensive research and development to extend its capabilities in developing sensor arrays for wide area monitoring. The research aims to develop advanced methods for detecting and locating the impact of high energy projectiles with the earth and making this data available to a user over a large distance. The requirement is for sensor nodes to be placed in a grid with a spacing between each sensor of between 5 and 20km. The GPS unit in each sensor currently allows their position to be known without the need to accurately position them and also provides an accurate timestamp for the recorded seismic data. For increased sensitivity each sensor node will be placed at low points in the terrain while the Repeater units will be placed within a line of sight nearby on highpoints to increases their range of operation.

The research program will test the system by ensuring the point of impact is found by first recording the seismic data for each sensor node. This data can then be transferred to a users computer, either wirelessly when they come within range or through a physical interface. The system includes software that can be loaded onto the user's computer, which allows the impact peaks in the data to be identified. Based on the time delay between the peaks and the known position of each sensor node the location of the impact can be found.

The research program will continue through until 30 June 2009. The technical requirements and specifications being researched are below.

Seismic Sensor and Data Recorder

Repeater Unit

Capabilities

Components

Sensor node

Repeater Unit

Base station

Software