Detector Integration with Current and Emerging Networked Systems (DICENS)

WGS Systems LLC (WGS) proposes the Detector Integration with Current and Emerging Networked Systems (DICENS) research and engineering effort to develop relevant communications protocols, application programming interfaces, and interface control documentation to allow legacy and emerging radiation detection systems to be integrated into current and emerging networked systems.Radiation and nuclear (R/N) detectors are critical to the protection of government personnel and US citizens.With the increased threat of potential use of R/N devices against US interests by bad actors, improved networking, standardizing interfaces, and timely response to sensor events is critical.The sensors will not always be able to operate in environments with commercial cellular networks and must often work in more austere environments such as open-ocean, remote border sections and ports of entry with limited infrastructure.Location of R/N events must be known so that timely and effective response, containment, and mitigation can be undertaken.In GPS-denied areas alternative solutions must be devised to effectively track mobile sensors.The resultant communications network must include an adaptable sensor network management infrastructure that can quickly and seamlessly adapt to new sensor and communication technologies, and operational environments.This Phase I effort will include survey and cost-benefit analyses of existing radiation detection devices and networks.WGS will utilize this analysis to design, engineer, and produce a prototype network of integrated radiological sensors for testing and demonstrations.The test network will provide the basis for the Phase II integration of multiple sensor and communication devices into a comprehensive sensor network.