Security from space

Abstract

Satellites have gained a prominent role in the US's toughened homeland protection plan and many companies are set to benefit. Satellites have an important role in monitoring and protecting infrastructure and many companies are planning to capitalise on America's emergent homeland security market. According to an October 2002 study by the Electronics and IT Association, they could be competing for up to ÷n-worth of business, which could grow to $12bn by 2008. Of course, only a small percentage of this would go to satellite companies, but this has not stemmed the flow of new ideas. As part of the Homeland Security initiative, NASA and the Department of Transportation are considering how commercial satellite imagery could be applied to other potential terrorist targets such as airports. By developing interactive digital maps, they hope to illustrate their use not only in planning airport security improvements, but also in guiding rescuers through the devastation following an incident. Eventually, it is envisaged that real-time ground radar data could be incorporated to help detect suspicious aircraft or vehicle movements.