PROACTIVE

PRedictive reasOning and multi-source fusion empowering AntiCipation of attacks and Terrorist actions In Urban EnVironmEnts

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The main goal of PROACTIVE is to research a holistic citizen-friendly multi sensor fusion and intelligent reasoning framework enabling the prediction, detection, understanding and efficient response to terrorist interests, goals and courses of actions in an urban environment. To this end, PROACTIVE will rely on the fusion of both static knowledge (i.e. intelligence information) and dynamic information (i.e. data observed from sensors deployed in the urban environment). The framework will be user-driven, given that the project is supported by a rich set of end-users, which are either members of the consortium or members of a special end-user advisory board. From a technological perspective, PROACTIVE will integrate a host of novel technologies enabling the fusion of multi-sensor data with contextual information (notably 3D digital terrain data), while also resolving the ambiguities of the fusion process. Moreover, the PROACTIVE framework will incorporate advanced reasoning techniques (such as adversarial reasoning) in order to intelligently process and derive high level terroristic semantics from a multitude of source streams. The later techniques will be adapted to the terrorist domain, in order to facilitate prediction and anticipation of actions and goals of the terroristic entities. Overall, PROACTIVE will leverage cutting-edge technologies such as the Net-centric Enable Capability (NEC) approach and the emerging “Internet-of-Things” concept, which are key enablers of new capabilities associated with real-time awareness of the physical environment, as well as with tracking and analyzing human behaviour. PROACTIVE will address the technological challenges that inhibit the wider deployment of NEC/ IoT in anti-terrorist applications. Following the deployment and evaluation of the framework, PROACTIVE will produce a set of best practices and blueprints, which will contribute to a common EU approach to terrorist prevention in an urban environments.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded research project worked to develop an urban sensor network for monitoring terrorist threats. The network combines with systems for evaluating the 3D city environment and human behaviours, and also suggests responses.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Terrorism has become a real and ongoing threat, but combating it is fraught with difficulty. Attacks are very difficult to predict, plus urban environments add additional vulnerabilities and constraints.

The http://www.fp7-proactive.eu (PROACTIVE) project aimed to provide effective tools to remedy the situation. The 10-member consortium proposed a multi-sensor framework, aiding with detection of urban terrorist threats, plus an evaluation system that suggests appropriate responses. The system was intended to incorporate novel technologies for combining multi-sensor data with 3D environmental or terrain information. Furthermore, the evaluation module would incorporate advanced reasoning techniques, which also facilitate prediction of terrorist events.

PROACTIVE used two key technologies to develop new real-time environmental awareness and behavioural-analysis capability. The team also addressed the technological challenges that inhibit general deployment of the technologies in anti-terrorism applications.

The study developed a multi-source data-fusion grid. The grid provides better coverage, thus improving local and global situational awareness. The information also helps to improve the confidence of threat declarations. A lower networking layer of the fusion grid supports efficient communication among the grid's nodes.

Team members developed a decision-support system, incorporating terrorist modelling and intent-referencing modules. Using machine learning and Bayesian networks, the system predicts terrorist goals and motivations, and recommends response actions.

Further developments include algorithms that detect, recognise and track potential threats through analysis of the urban environment and its changes. The tracking algorithms also examine individual behaviours and crowded scenes. A sub-system coordinates instrumented policemen and unmanned aerial vehicles, leading to increased response effectiveness. The project also established preparations for a later testing phase.

PROACTIVE has provided support to urban anti-terrorism efforts with sensor and evaluation tools. The outcomes are slated to enhance public security and aid in more efficient emergency response.