Coastal Surveillance
Abstract
This final report gives an account of a one-year effort performed during FY79 under the Coastal Surveillance Project. The objective of the project was to define the operational and technical parameters and evaluate the performance of equipment which could be used for remote surveillance of harbors and near coastal shallow water areas. The effort consisted of two parts: Problem Definition and Hardware Evaluation. In Problem Definition, contacts were made with technical groups and Coast Guard field units to define applicable technology and Coast Guard needs. This led to the design of a prototype Coastal Surveillance System consisting of four elements: radar, sonobuoy, infrared devices and a radio scanner. In Hardware Evaluation, three devices were selected for test and evaluation: a modified Navy sonobuoy AN/SSQ-41, an Army night vision device AN/TAS-6 and a commercially available thermal imaging system (Pyroelectric Videcon Model 84). Testing of the sonobuoy system was conducted at three locations with different depth and bottom topography. Detection ranges of three different size target vessels at three different speeds were determined when the vessel proceeded toward the sonobuoy ('acquisition' range) and when it receded from the buoy ('loss' range). For initial planning estimates and feasibility studies, a detection range of 1500 yards is recommended for the sonobuoy. The AN/TAS-6 night vision device has good potential as a coastal surveillance device while the Pyroelectric Videcon was found to hold little promise for coastal surveillance use.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA091768
Entities
People
- L. H. Chen
- R. F. Dugan
- W. B. Lincoln
Organizations
- United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center