Australia needs real-time security centres for critical event response

By on 18 July, 2017

An array of screens could display live data feeds from sources such as CCTV, drones, police body sensors and offender databases.

 

A leading US expert on security technology is currently in Australia to address some of the nation’s senior law enforcement personnel including Police Commissioners, Border Patrol teams and Defence officials.

Criminal profiler Mike King was in Canberra today to discuss how security at large-scale events could be bolstered with high-tech command centres capable of tracking athletes in real-time.

King has advised intelligence analysts around the world on using real-time monitoring during major national and global events, including the Boston marathon, which suffered a deadly bombing in 2012. He said the Australian Government needs to be prepared ahead of major sporting events, such as the upcoming 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

This morning at the Australian Security Summit in Canberra, King said that high-tech security command centres capable of tracking athletes and crowds in real-time could help Australian law enforcement monitor large events and respond to incidents as they occur.

King said such data centres would bring together data feeds from sources such as CCTV, drones, police body sensors and offender databases, and of course real-time maps.

Mike King this morning addressed the Australian Securtiy Summit in Canberra.

“At the heart of these centres is the real-time mapping of activities and movements as they unfold at an event,” Mr King said. “Live weather and traffic feeds, satellite images, building floor plans and critical infrastructure maps can also be combined to provide a complete, real-time map of activities and movements as they unfold at an event.”

King is a former Chief of Staff for the Utah Attorney General’s Office and 28-year police veteran. He now works with law enforcement agencies across the globe for geospatial technology developer, Esri.

King says that in combining real-time data feeds into a single perspective, authorities are afforded the ability to intelligently apply resources where required and respond rapidly to incidents as they unfold.

“It’s a perspective that enables decision-makers to proactively identify threats, and react effectively and quickly,” he said. “This enables decision-makers to proactively identify threats and hotspots and react quickly.”

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Mr King suggested establishing such data centres to address security concerns surrounding the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, which will require a combined force of 10,000 from state police, Air Force and Army personnel, and private security staff. Information from these agencies could also be visualised and analysed in the centre.

“The mapping technology that underpins the centre can integrate data from every one of these organisations,” King said.

“For instance, runners in the Boston Marathon can now be tracked throughout the race, with police and emergency services monitoring this information to shift resources along the course to where they are most needed.

“This increased collaboration and communication would help decision-makers rapidly access vulnerabilities and deploy resources more efficiently and strategically.”

Using the example of an unauthorised vehicle entering a restricted area, King demonstrated that a centralised data centre would allow all agencies to access the same up-to-date intelligence and determine how best to respond.

The dashboards could also be accessible via mobile devices in the field, allowing critical information about suspects, vehicles or locations to be delivered to responders before or as they arrive on the scene.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place on the Gold Coast between 4 and 15 April. It will bring athletes from 70 countries to compete in 275 events across 18 sporting categories. It is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors.

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