Demonstration of a Passive Seismic-Acoustic Phased Arrays Network on the Littoral Seabed for Monitoring Land Activities

Quantum Technology Sciences, Inc. (Quantum) proposes to adapt for maritime littoral operation its TRL-9 land-based SADAR system of networked seismic-acoustic phased arrays that detects, locates, tracks, and classifies vibrational energy from specified sources of interest. This Phase II project will demonstrate the capability and value of fielding a littoral system for monitoring onshore activity. When this project concludes, Quantum will provide DARPA recommendations for a system engineered for operations in specified locales. The proposal addresses the problem of surveilling significant activities of interest on land and in the land-water transition zone. The concept is to place arrays of ocean bottom recorders on the littoral seabed off the shoreline of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) for collecting signals from sources active on and in the surrounding land, seabed, water, and near-surface airspace environments. Each ocean bottom recorder comprises three geophones oriented orthogonally, one omnidirectional hydrophone, heading sensor, data acquisition and storage system, and a 70-day integrated power supply. Data will be collected using the seabed arrays for at least 30 days and include structured testing events using controlled energy sources on land and at sea. In addition, proximity to CCFSF provides numerous sources of opportunity such as: helicopter flights over land and sea; static liquid fueled rocket engine tests; rocket launches; sea vessel security operations; large boat operations (supporting space launch events); and large cruise vessels entering and leaving Port Canaveral. Quantum is very confident signals from such highly energetic sources will appear in the data recorded by the seabed arrays. The three project technical objectives are: (1) Collect signals with a network of passive seismic-acoustic phased arrays placed on the seabed in littoral waters originating with both controlled and uncontrolled seismic-acoustic energy sources of interest; (2) Using existing algorithms and methods perform a detailed analysis of the collected data, assess the ability of the individual seismic-acoustic phased arrays for acquiring signals from energy sources of interest, and assess the performance of the network of arrays for locating and spatially tracking these energy sources; and (3) Optimize the signal and information processing functions for improved overall performance against the DARPA-specified sources of interest within the volume of collected data. Quantum and its parent company Geospace Technologies will manufacture and deploy the seabed arrays. In coordination with DARPA, Quantum will write and execute a Data Collection Plan and a Phased Data Analysis Plan. At project completion, Quantum will provide a comprehensive summary final report on the deployment, data collection, and analysis results with recommended next steps for maturing the demonstrated capability into an operational surveillance system.