Port Security and Emergency Response Using Uncrewed Systems

Known as the “most modern gateway in America [1] ,” the Port of Virginia stands as a pivotal economic and strategic asset within the Hampton Roads region, contributing billions to Virginia’s economy and playing an essential role in global trade.

The Port Security and Emergency Response (PS&ER) using Autonomous Systems (UxS) [6]  project (herein after referred to as the PS&ER Project) provided opportunities to showcase innovative unmanned technologies in an effort to enhance safety, security, and operational effectiveness of the Port of Virginia.

The purpose of this report is to showcase how various innovative cross-domain UxS solutions can be leveraged in the development of a holistic solution for PS&ER missions that can be applied across all port environments. This includes an overview and comparative analysis of the 5 cross-domain UxS solutions demonstrated during the PS&ER Project. As the solutions were funded and developed independently of each other, the comparative analysis helps identify synergies across the solutions’ capabilities as well as opportunities to combine these solutions into a comprehensive PS&ER solution that can be leveraged to improve port security and operations. This report concludes with an integrated solution scenario focusing on the implementation of a holistic solution comprised of innovative cross-domain UxS capabilities, inspired by those originally derived from the PS&ER Project. The integrated scenario showcases how various UxS technologies can be leveraged to enhance the safety, security, and operational effectiveness of port environments.

 [1]  Virginia Port Authority, “Experience the Most Modern Gateway in America”, The Port of Virginia, 2024, accessed April 14, 2024,  https://www.portofvirginia.com/gateway/ . 

 [2]   Virginia Port Authority | Virginia.gov 

 [3]   Report: Port Helps Drive Economic Investment and Job Creation Throughout the Commonwealth - Port of Virginia 

 [4]  Virginia Port Authority, “Experience the Most Modern Gateway in America”, The Port of Virginia, 2024, accessed April 14, 2024,  https://www.portofvirginia.com/gateway/ . 

 [5]   ODU’s Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy Helps Lead Unmanned Systems Port Security Demonstration | Old Dominion University 

 [6]  UxS refers collectively to air, surface, and underwater unmanned systems.

On June 30, 2021, Virginia’s Homeland Security Division, VIPC, VISA and CNA hosted a maritime safety and security workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to identify public safety activities that lend themselves to unmanned technologies to enhance safety and security in the Hampton Roads maritime environment.

1.     Identify opportunities to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of maritime safety and security activities in the Hampton Roads area.

2.     Identify specific requirements and capabilities required to optimize these activities.

The workshop consisted of two parts: (1) identifying and prioritizing “pain points” and (2) identifying requirements for any solution that might address those pain points.

Participants identified several major pain points that were both critical to the safety and security of those in the Hampton Roads area and that UxS solutions could address. These pain points were assessed using a priority assessment matrix (see Figure 1) to identify high-medium-low priority challenges. Participants further assessed the identified pain points to develop a list of common needs and capabilities that UxS would require in order to meet the various needs of different port safety and security missions.

Following the completion of the workshop, on July 28, 2021, the Engagement Summit: Seeking Innovative Solutions for Port Security and Emergency Response (herein after referred to as the UxS Industry Summit) was held in Norfolk, Virginia. This was an opportunity to present the workshop findings to UxS vendors and provide an opportunity for dialogue between Hampton Roads safety and security personnel and the vendors who might be able to meet the requirements that participants outlined during the workshop. The summit confirmed the validity of the earlier identified pain points and challenges faced by emergency responders operating in the Port environment.

On January 5, 2022, VISA and VIPC released the Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the PS&ER Project. The AO provided an opportunity to demonstrate the application of UxS capabilities (e.g., UxS platforms, sensors, data/information management) to address the 8 pain points identified in the PS&ER Workshop and outlined in the subsequent UxS PS&ER Summit. The AO specified proposed solutions should demonstrate UxS capabilities that can be deployed to observe and detect PS&ER use cases related to hazmat, bomb squad, SAR, maritime/port operations, and general response operations within, and around, the Port of Virginia.

Numerous UxS solution proposals were submitted in response to the PS&ER AO. Following review by the PS&ER selection committee, 5 cross-domain solutions were selected to receive PS&ER funding for the development of their proposed UxS solutions. The PS&ER Project culminated in a real-world demonstration of each solution to an audience of PS&ER stakeholders in and around the Hampton Roads areas of the Port of Virginia.

The UxS solutions demonstrated during the PS&ER Project can be leveraged to develop an integrated solution that holistically addresses common day-to-day operational challenges experienced in a port environment as well as challenges specific to public safety and emergency response operations.

An integrated cross-domain UxS solution could be composed of three main components, including a communications or network infrastructure, an interoperable COP platform complete with user interface, and a fleet of diverse UxS vehicles for airborne, maritime, and ground operations.

Outcomes:

• Efficient monitoring of marine environment
• Operation improvement that enhance the safety, security, and overall operational effectiveness of the port

The daily operations of the proposed integrated solution can be seen in action when applied to the plausible threat scenario described in the workshop:

Implementing the proposed cross-domain UxS solution at the Port of Virginia for the purpose of supporting public safety and emergency response operations will enhance port resiliency by bolstering response and recovery efforts for both natural and man-made disasters.

Outcomes:

• Support first responders gather information and develop situational awareness at the start of an emergency response event.
• Act as a force-multiplier during response operations, such as SAR, HAZMAT, and environmental assessment.
• Support the restoration of maritime environments as the response phase transitions into the recovery phase.

Implementing the proposed cross-domain UxS solution at the Port of Virginia to support public safety and emergency response operations will enhance port resilience by bolstering response and recovery efforts for both natural and man-made disasters. During these events, integrated UxS solutions offer port and public safety communities a game-changing toolbox of diverse technical capabilities. The proposed integrated cross-domain UxS solution provides scalable technologies that can be reconfigured to adapt to the evolving needs of each unique response and recovery operation.

At the beginning of a response operation, the existing mesh network supporting routine port operations needs to be assessed to determine if it its network boundary needs to change to address the needs of incident response operations. By rapidly scaling up the mesh network, a secure local area network can be expanded to provide communications for the response team. Digital communication channels provided by the mesh network enable constant communications and real-time data sharing between a central command center, response units deployed in the field, and UxS vehicles.

The data gathered in the field can then be processed by the COP platform to create a comprehensive real-time visualization of ongoing response activities throughout the port, environmental conditions, security threats, and the condition of critical infrastructure. Typically located in the command center, the COP platform provides a holistic view of the operational environment to enable informed decision-making and proactive responses to emerging situations as an emergency event continues to evolve. Ports can use the COP platform to assess incoming data from UxS vehicles, help determine the appropriate next course of action, and prioritize allocation of valuable resources. The COP platform also facilitates interagency coordination and collaboration throughout the response and recovery efforts by supporting the sharing of situational awareness data to law enforcement and public safety applications approved for access during the course of the response operations, leading to a more effective response effort and reduced downtime for port operations.

The fleet of UxS vehicles can be leveraged to support a multitude of response-related use cases. In support of developing a comprehensive COP, UxS can be deployed to conduct surveillance operations, support initial situation assessments, and provide aerial assessments by transmitting real-time imagery and video feeds to the command center. During aerial assessments, UAS equipped with advanced sensors, such as LIDAR and multispectral cameras, can provide detailed environmental monitoring and infrastructure inspection support. Because UMS are usually equipped with an assortment of high-resolution cameras, thermal/IR imaging, sonar, and radar systems, they can be deployed to assess the situation in the surrounding port waters. UMS may also simultaneously identify vessels encountered during the surveillance operation, conduct critical infrastructure inspections, and monitor for any irregular environmental conditions or potential security threats. Likewise, UGS may be deployed to conduct ground-level inspections of port infrastructure and security patrols.

The UxS vehicles can also assist in HAZMAT- or SAR-related operations. For HAZMAT operations, UxS vehicles may be deployed to perform reconnaissance missions to identify the precise location of a HAZMAT spill or leak and define the hazard area. The surveillance data transmitted from the HAZMAT location can be used to identify the type of hazardous material, assess the situation, and inform the containment and clean-up plan. Data gathered from UxS hazard mapping as well as air and water testing can inform first responder and public safety procedures (e.g., respiratory precautions, shelter-in-place orders), identify isolation and protective zones, and detect the presence of related contaminants in the surrounding water and air. For SAR operations, UxS solutions equipped with spectral sensors or imaging capabilities can be deployed to help locate missing individuals. UxS supporting SAR operations may also be equipped with RBG cameras for facial recognition and speakers to help broadcast alerts (e.g., missing person information, BOLOs).

As the response phase begins to transition into the recovery phase, the integrated cross-domain UxS solution can be leveraged to support the restoration of maritime operations and port reconstitution efforts. UxS can perform aerial, maritime, and ground surveillance to assess any new damage or potential hazards resulting from the emergency. In addition, UxS can conduct thorough inspections of critical port infrastructure. UMS vehicles can be deployed to conduct sonar scans focused on locating any debris that may pose a hazard to the vessels navigating through the port. UMS can also conduct bathymetric surveys to assess any long-term effects on the sea floor and detect any irregular changes. For HAZMAT-related recovery efforts, UxS can be used to conduct continuous monitoring of containment and clean-up efforts and perform routine water and air quality tests for contaminants identified in initial response operations.

The proposed integrated solution can be illustrated by returning to the workshop emergency response scenarios: