Automated Swimmer Recongition Algorithms for the HarborGuard Intrusion Detection System

The remote identification of surfaced swimmers in a harbor environment is a critical requirement for a comprehensive waterside security system. This requirement can be clearly divided into detection and classification objectives. Detection in this context means identifying the presence of a target on the surface of the water. Classification means discriminating between different types of targets - specifically, discriminating between swimmers on the surface and non-swimmer targets, such as birds and floating debris. Barron Associates, Inc. (BAI) has teamed with L-3 Communications Klein Associates to propose an SBIR program that leverages the industry-leading HarborGuard waterside security intrusion detection system manufactured by Klein. The Klein HarborGuard already provides detection capability that exceeds the requirements set forth in the SBIR solicitation. The objective of this SBIR effort is to enhance the HarborGuard with sophisticated automatic target classification algorithms designed to reliably recognize surfaced swimmers with a low occurrence of false alarms even in the presence of many non-swimmer surface targets. BAI and Klein will collect extensive sensor data that BAI will use to develop and test a reliable automated swimmer recognition (ASR) algorithm. If successful, the enhanced HarborGuard will meet or exceed all of the requirements set forth in the SBIR solicitation.