The Secure Perimeter Awareness Network (SPAN) at John F. Kennedy International Airport

The secure perimeter awareness network (SPAN) at JFK is an integrated system of networked sensors for intrusion detection, assessment, reporting, and video recording. The system includes our airport security display processor (ASDP) system, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, an ASDP graphical user interface (GUI), and a common operational picture (COP). The ASDP system takes raw radar data from the ASDE-3 ground surveillance radar and monitors the airport property and perimeter for any security breaches. The system detects and tracks objects of interest beyond and at the perimeter, and on the air operations area. If a tracked object, such as a car, a boat (JFK borders Jamaica Bay), or a person, breaches the user-defined perimeter, the ASDP system issues an alarm, displays the intruder´s position on the GUI, and slews a camera to the location of the intruder and tracks the intruder. The video is displayed on the COP, an integrated geo-registered, situational awareness display of all sensor data. The COP shows not only the video, but also a layered display and interface for radar data and other sensor inputs. Finally, SPAN records all video for review and possible future prosecution.