General Dynamics - Experts & Thought Leaders

(Click here for larger image)  An important component of the RVSS system is PureTech Systems’ Geospatial Video Management System The recent designation by the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) granted “Full Operating Capability” of General Dynamics’ Remote Video Surveillance Systems (RVSS) deployed for protection across the southern border of the United States.  An important component of the RVSS system is PureTech Systems’ Geospatial Video Management System for Command and Control and the PureActiv patented video analytics used for real-time automated long range detection, classification, and tracking in support of CBP’s mission along the U.S southern border. “Achieving this approval is a great accomplishment and we’re honored to be an instrumental part of the solution that is helping the great men and women of Customs and Border Protection protect our nation’s borders,” commented Larry Bowe, president and CEO of PureTech Systems. “Reaching this milestone was truly a team effort with all those involved.” General Dynamics RVSS Upgrade Contract General Dynamics, was awarded the contract to upgrade the RVSS capability along the southern U.S. border in July of 2013 with field deployments, including the PureActiv system, beginning in 2015.  The RVSS system consists of a series of elevated towers and structures equipped with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors enabled with video intelligence and advanced sensor control developed by PureTech Systems to provide persistent ground surveillance to border patrol agents. In their release, General Dynamics Information Technology’s IT Services and Solutions sector vice president and general manager, Dan Busby, quoted that, “Reaching a full operating capability designation is a testament to both the effectiveness of the RVSS solution and our continued partnership with CBP.  The RVSS upgrade will continue to provide CBP and U.S. law enforcement personnel with the advanced technology necessary to secure our nation's borders and increase agent safety through enhanced situational awareness." Efficient And Effective Border Security Also, quoted in the release was Ronald D. Vitiello, Chief of CBP's U.S. Border Patrol, who said "The deployment of the Remote Video Surveillance System is important to the safety of our agents and to our mission. Successful partnerships like the one we have with the General Dynamics team, are necessary to efficiently and effectively secure the border." The recent “Full Operating Capability” milestone was the culmination of two years of deployment and field testing at key locations across the southwest, including the Arizona sites of Nogales, Douglas, Naco and Ajo, as well as, the McAllen and Laredo locations in Texas. The RVSS Upgrade program has a potential 10-year performance period, during which the General Dynamics OneSource team, will manage the operation and maintenance at all sites.

PureTech Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of geospatial video analytic software, recently announced that it has integrated its PureActiv geospatial surveillance solution with General Dynamics Global Imaging Technology's line of VZ-series mid- to long-range cooled electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) multi-sensor camera systems. The integration enables the camera systems to utilize PureTech's thermal video analytic and long range, map-based PTZ control capabilities. The resulting solution is ideal for a wide range of homeland security applications requiring long-range targeting and wide-area perimeter surveillance including border and coastal protection. The solution leverages PureTech's video analytic capabilities, providing the ability to detect and dynamically display the target's location on a map-enabled, geospatial command and control. Paired with the EO/IR capabilities of the VZ-series day and thermal sensors, the integrated solution targets surveillance and reconnaissance in ground-based defense and homeland security missions requiring maximum detection distance, in most degraded weather conditions, day or night. The VZ-series of EO/IR multi-sensor camera systems also includes step zoom or continuous zoom thermal camera options, both of which have been incorporated into the integration. "The combination of the VZ-series long range imagers and pan-tilt-zoom control with PureTech Systems' thermal video analytics and map based camera control provides compelling long-range sensor capabilities," explains Eric Olson, vice president of marketing at PureTech Systems. "Pointing a camera to a target or location several kilometers away is a difficult task, but it becomes very efficient and highly accurate when integrated with the geospatial (map-based) camera control." The integration of the pan-tilt-zoom functionality also allows the camera series to utilize PureTech Systems camera auto follow feature, which automatically steers the camera to follow a target without the need for any operator interaction.  "General Dynamics designs and manufactures high performance, short, medium and long-range EO/IR camera systems to insure our customers have the most reliable system and highest quality image for mission success," John van Dyke, senior director, sensors and processing at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. "The efforts with our VZ-series integration with PureActiv translate directly to our short-range, uncooled, VU-series EO/IR multi-sensor camera systems, as well. Adding the capability to use PureTech System's intelligent video and geospatial camera controls is one additional step to insure we are providing our customers with the mid- to long-range solutions they need." PureTech's intelligent video solution uses real object size to classify the target as a person, car, truck or boat of a particular size class and can be deployed as a server-based or an edge device solution. The capabilities can be deployed on PureActiv's map based command and control or on an existing PSIM / video management system.