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Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
byMR. THEOPHILOS GEMELAS Program Manager Science and Technology Directorate Department of Homeland Security Scientifc Understanding DHS Center of Excellence Aids Arctic Operations MS. TARASPAULDING Associate Booz Allen Hamilton TheU.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecurity'scentersofexcellenceengagetheacademiccommunityto delivertools,technologies,knowledgeproducts,training,andtalenttoenhancethedepartment'ssecurity capabilities.Amongthese,theCenterforMaritime, IslandandRemoteandExtremeEnvironmentSecurity(MIREES)focusesondevelopingresearchand educationprogramsthatpromotemaritimedomain awarenessinareasthatpresentsignifcantsecurity challenges. Ice Tracking via Satellite and Radar Since2008,MIREESresearchershaveworkedonvariouseffortstofacilitateoperationsintheArctic;one exampleisusingsatellitestodetectandtrackvessels andice.Whilethepurposeistoexploitopticaland infrared remote sensing data for ship and ice tracking, satellitescanalsohelpresearchersunderstandwhat timesofyearthisinformationisusefulandwhen suchmethodsareimpractical,duetoenvironmental factorssuchascloudcover,seastate,darkness,and lightinggeometry. Researchers also take into account the properties oftheoceansurface,includingsuspendedparticulates,surfacecurrents,andvariationsinoceansurfacewinds,becausethosepropertiesmayconspire tomakereliableshipandicetrackingchallenging. Assuch,theyarelearningtoidentifyareaswhere theoceanenvironmentalbackgroundismostsuitable foreffcientallocationoflimitedsatelliteresources. Ongoingresearchactivitiesincludedevelopingopticalandinfraredimageryandpassivemicrowavesea iceproducts,since,asshippingincreasesintheArctic, www.uscg.mil/proceedings detectingandtrackingvesselsandicewillbecritical toCoastGuardoperations. Researchisalsounderwaytointegratecoastalradar observationstodevelopanintegratediceandhazardtrackingandobservingsystemcenteredonsemiautonomouscoastalradar.Researchersareevaluating differentautomatedandsemi-automatedapproaches to monitor ice movement, currents, and maritime traffcinseasonallyice-coveredwaters.Thegoalis to improve mitigation and response to hazards and emergencies,suchasoilspills,byprovidingdecision supporttoCoastGuardandotherfrstresponders. Assessing hazards near coastal communities and gaugingpotentialfrstresponderresponsewilllikely continued on page 85 Satellite image of Arctic ice covering a large part of the north coast of Alaska. Image courtesy of Mr. Tom Heinrichs, at University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Summer 2013 Proceedings 83