Unique facility for law enforcement applicable CWD and TWS technologies test and evaluation

Abstract

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate (AFRL/IF) has established the Concealed Weapons Detection/Through Wall Surveillance Test & Evaluation (CWD/TWS T&E) Facility to accomplish in-depth analysis of technologies applicable to identified Law Enforcement (LE) and Corrections operational and situational functional requirements. This CWD/TWS T&E Facility is capable of performing T&E on all technologies that have been proposed to accomplish these functions. The current technology focuses are: for CWD, passive and acoustic operations; for TWS, active radio frequency (RF) and acoustic operations. However, this T&E Facility can be easily adapted for analysis of other technology application prototypes. The technology prototypes that are in existence have been developed primarily through direct support from the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Office of Science & Technology (OS&T). Additionally, Statements Of Need (SON) from US National and State LE and Corrections agencies, along with market indicators, have driven commercial institutions to research and investigate the feasibility of adapting their technology applications for utilization to address the CWD and/or TWS challenges. This paper will highlight the unique capabilities of this Facility. These being: T&E of CWD/TWS devices against NIJ specified requirements; Characterization of CWD/TWS devices performance; Characterization of the constructed walls for TWS; and Representative test setups for CWD/TWS testing.