ATD: Statistical Methods for Nuclear Material Surveillance Using Mobile Sensors

这项建议中的研究勾勒出了一个强大的移动传感器网络系统，并开发了统计算法和模型，以提供对大城市核或生物材料的一致、普遍和动态的监测。具体地说，该项目提出了一种新颖的传感器网络设计，在出租车和警车等大量车辆上安装了核传感器和全球定位系统(GPS)跟踪设备。来自该网络的实时信息在中央监视中心处理，在那里执行数学和统计分析。所提出的统计方法包括基于潜在模型的多空间簇检测方法和基于序贯蒙特卡罗方法的状态空间模型，用于实时检测和跟踪可能运动的核源。这些方法具有通用性和灵活性，可以用于其他涉及大规模传感器网络的环境中。在过去十年中，由于全球恐怖主义、对美国利益的反对增加以及对手更多地获得尖端技术和材料，对国家和国土安全的威胁变得更加动态和复杂。在这些威胁中，核攻击是最具破坏性的行为之一，造成严重的生命损失以及对基础设施的长期和大规模破坏。因此，人们越来越担心在人口稠密的大都市地区引爆核材料或脏弹的前景。在美国主要城市部署先进的核监视和探测系统以保护基础设施和人类生命变得越来越重要。对移动传感器网络监控系统的研究对提高我们对恐怖威胁的检测能力，从而改善国土安全具有广泛的影响。在拟议的项目过程中，将积极开展与研究生和本科生的教育和培训有关的活动，为他们在这一领域可能的职业生涯做准备。

The research in this proposal outlines a robust system of a mobile sensor network and develops statistical algorithms and models to provide consistent, pervasive and dynamic surveillance for nuclear or biological materials in major cities. Specifically, the project proposes a novel design of sensor network, in which nuclear sensors and Global Position System (GPS) tracking devices are installed on a large number of vehicles such as taxicabs and police vehicles. Real time information from this network is processed at a central surveillance center, where mathematical and statistical analyses are performed. The proposed statistical approaches include multiple spatial cluster detection method using latent models and state-space model for real-time detection and tracking of possibly moving nuclear sources using sequential Monte Carlo method. The methods are general and flexible and can be used in other settings involving a massive network of sensors. Threats to national and homeland security have become more dynamic and complex in the past decade due to global terrorism, increased opposition to U.S. interests, and increased access by adversaries to sophisticated technologies and materials. Among the threats, nuclear attacks is one of the most devastating acts, with severe losses of human lives as well as long term and large scale damages to infrastructures. As a result, there have been growing concerns regarding the prospect of detonating nuclear materials or dirty bombs in the populous metropolitan areas. It becomes more and more vital to have sophisticated nuclear surveillance and detection systems deployed in major cities in the U.S. to protect infrastructures and human lives. The proposed research on surveillance systems of a mobile sensor network can have broad impacts in advancing our detection capabilities of terrorist threats hence improving homeland security. During the course of the proposed project, activities related to education and training of graduate and undergraduate students will be actively engaged, in preparation for their possible careers in this area.