A Mobile Sensor Network for the Surveillance of Nuclear Materials in Metropolitan Areas

Nuclear attacks are among the most devastating terrorist attacks, with severe losses of human lives as well as damage to infrastructure. It becomes increasingly vital to have sophisticated nuclear surveillance and detection systems deployed in major cities in the U.S. to deter such threats. In this paper, we outline a robust system of a mobile sensor network and develop statistical algorithms and models to provide consistent and pervasive surveillance of nuclear materials in major cities. Specifically, the network consists of a large number of vehicles, such as taxicabs and police cars, on which nuclear sensors and Global Position System (GPS) tracking devices are installed. Real time readings of the sensors are processed at a central surveillance center, where mathematical and statistical analyses are performed. We use simulations to evaluate the effectiveness and detection power of such a network.