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Law-enforcement technologyLocating criminals by tracking their cell phones’ digital fingerprints
To keep from being tracked and getting caught, criminals use evasion tactics such as modifying the built-in ID code in their cell phone or swapping out SIM cards, making it impossible for law enforcement to track the criminals down by relying solely on cell phone signals. German engineers found, however, that the radio hardware in a cellphone — a collection of components like power amplifiers, oscillators, and signal mixers — all introduce radio signal inaccuracies. When these inaccuracies, or errors, are taken together, as seen in the digital signal sent to a cell tower, the result can be read as a unique digital signal –a digital fingerprint. These digital fingerprints do not change even if the built-in ID code has been modified, or the SIM card has been swapped out.
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Law-enforcement technologyLicense plate scanners in Canada under fire from privacy commissioners
British Columbia’s privacy commissioner is not happy about the way police departments are using their license-plate scanners; in a report released last week, Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said changes must be made to the Victoria police department’s Automated License Plate Recognition Program (ALPR), after it was discovered that the program could be used as a surveillance tool
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Infrastructure protectionNexans shows its anti-theft cable solutions
Nexans is showing its new anti-theft cable solutions at InnoTrans, which opened yesterday in Berlin; the solution promises to help network operators reduce the high volume of copper cables theft along their railway networks
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Maritime securityCanada funds digital technology to enhance maritime security, surveillance
New funding will allow exactEarth to improve its ability to locate more than 80,000 ships daily anywhere around the world and transmit this information quickly to its customers; this data is used within Canada and globally for a number of purposes, including enhancing maritime security and surveillance as well as search and rescue support
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SurveillanceDHS funds more tests of autonomous power buoy for ocean surveillance
Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has entered into an agreement with DHS Science & Technology Directorate to perform a new round of in-ocean tests on the company’s Autonomous PowerBuoy to demonstrate its use for ocean surveillance
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Port securityLong Beach Police Department purchases underwater inspection system for port
The Port of Long Beach is the second busiest seaport in the United States and is a major gateway for trade with Asia, handling more than six million containers annually; to enhance port security, the City of Long Beach Police Department has purchased an Underwater Inspection System (UIS) from Cod Octopus
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BusinessRemote monitoring market exceeds $29 billion in 2011
A new reports says that the world market for remote monitoring services was worth more than $29 billion in 2011, equivalent to $2.4 billion in recurring monthly revenues (RMR) across the year; the report also estimated that, in the same year, 54 million accounts, or customer locations, were provided with services
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In the trenchesUnmanned sub-tracker to address a silent threat
The growing number of adversaries able to build and operate quiet diesel electric submarines is a national security threat that affects U.S. and friendly naval operations around the world; DARPA autonomous surface vessel will track and follow enemy subs for months
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Search and rescueSoft robots for search-and-rescue and reconnaissance missions
Soft robots are useful because they are resilient and can maneuver through very constrained spaces, which makes them useful for search-and-rescue and reconnaissance missions; researchers show a soft robot made of silicone; it can walk, change color, and light up in the dark; it can even change temperature; it can do all of this for less than $100
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Law-enforcement technologyNIST ballistic standard tie Guns to criminals and crime scenes
Nearly 200,000 cartridge cases are recovered annually at U.S. crime scenes; thanks to a new reference standard developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), law enforcement agencies will have an easier time linking these cartridge cases to specific firearms
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Near-Earth objectsRaytheon's Space Fence technology tracks space debris
Space debris threatens systems the U.S. military and economy depend on every day, including satellites that power navigation, weather and critical infrastructures; the Space Fence program is capable of detecting more and much smaller objects in low earth orbit
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Foot biometricsNew biometrics discipline -- foot biometrics – for security, disease detection
Identity science takes a giant, well, step forward with a new discipline in biometrics: foot biometrics; researchers at the new $1.5 million per year Pedo-Biometrics Research and Identity Automation Lab will test insole sensory system prototypes for a variety of identification uses, from security to detecting the onset of such diseases as diabetes and Parkinson’s
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Law-enforcement technologyCalifornia bill prohibiting use of license plate readers dies in state Senate
Facing growing pressure from law enforcement agencies in the state, and a concerted effort by technology and insurance companies, the sponsors of a bill which would prohibit the use and storage of License Plate Recognition (LPR) data, decided not to bring the bill to a vote on the California Senate floor
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License-plate readersCalifornia bill would restrict data usage from license plate scanners
Legislation has been introduced in California to limit the use of data gathered by patrol car-mounted license plate readers, and the duration for which such data may be held; access to the data by other agencies and personnel would be limited as well
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Vehicle trackingLoJack helps recover more than 10,000 stolen cars
On Tuesday LoJack Corporation, the manufacturers of the eponymous vehicle tracking device, released their latest statistics on vehicle theft
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