A novel surveillance technology now on the market offers an application that could help beef up perimeter security in corrections.  The system, which detects the human heartbeat, is being used in correctional facilities across the country and is gradually becoming a viable watchdog to help prevent needless escapes. 

Ballistocardiogram technology detects the heartbeat of persons hidden in a large or small vehicle.  It was developed by the Oak Ridge National Labs in Tennessee as a part of the nation's nuclear weapons counter-proliferation program. The current technology is described as 100 percent effective with a detection time of less than one minute. 

“There are two systems out there right now,” said Leo E. Labaj, Program Manager of Security Technologies at Oak Ridge, “Both are virtually 100 percent effective when used under the right conditions.”

Both systems, GeoVox's AVIAN, which holds the license for the techbnology test at Oak Ridge, and ENSCO, Inc.'s MicroSearch, consist of an industrial computer loaded with specially-developed software, sensors and either a touch-screen monitor or a keyboard. 

The only element that has degraded this technology's performace thus far has been moderate to high winds.  According to Labaj, false positive readings can increase to as high as 30 percent if used outdoors with nothing to block the wind.  Some facilities, such as the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Tennessee, have placed tarps around the sensors to minimize false readings.  Others, such as Calipatria State Prison in California, are planning to build a small structure within the fence near the sally port, where the system would be used.

Tennessee Commissioner Donal Campbell brought the Geovox AVIAN detection technology in shortly after four prisoners, aided by a prison employee, escaped from Riverbend in a false compartment of a truck.  After a successful testing stage, the system was installed and the department ordered four more to be installed in West Tennessee High Security Facility and three medium-security facilities with high traffic.

According to Campbell, the administration has been very happy with the technology and no inmates have attempted to breach the system since it was installed.

Minor problems such as sensor adjustments and software modifications are all the Commissioner noted.  The tarps installed to block the wind have decreased the number of false positive readings and operations are smooth.

Risk Outweighs the Cost

Where security is compromised, ballistocardiogram detection technology can offer a helping hand.  Labaj feels that the cost of not using it is too great.

“If technology is available to prevent escapes and you don't have it, there is a potential liability issue,” said Labaj, “That escape could have been prevented for $49,000…If an escapee kills someone, the prison could be liable for what could have been prevented.”

It needs to be understood that technology enhances the work of current security staff, Campbell said.

“Like all technology, you shouldn't depend on it alone,” said Campbell, “The technology needs to serve as support to the human element.”  Technology is a tool to give an added advantage, he said.  Without the staff contribution, the technology will inevitably fail.

On December 27, 1998, there was an escape at Riverbend…but the technology was not to blame.  It worked perfectly, according to Campbell.  An employee failed to do what was required allowing the preventable escape to happen. Staff training is an important consideration.

“You need to make sure staff is there to carry out procedure,” said Campbell.  Once procedure is in place and staff is trained, operations should be secure. 

How Does the Technology Work?

Remarkably, the mechanical force caused by the heartbeat is strong enough to cause even a fully-loaded tractor trailer truck to move.  The seismic sensors of this technology can detect this movement (in fact, it can detect one millionth of an inch movement) and identify it as a heartbeat, thus revealing any person attempting to hide in a false compartment of a vehicle.

“There should be no movement in a truck with no one in it,” said Labaj, “Any human presence will create a movement…This system looks at a specific frequency and focuses on where a heartbeat would be.”

The two systems work virtually the same.  With both products featuring an easy-to-use vehicle data log, to help monitor, manage and report on portal traffic.  The data can be easily archived, retrieved and printed for administrative purposes.  MicroSearch has a keyboard for data entry, while the AVIAN integrates a touch-screen system. Geovox officials say soon they will have a built-in fingerprint detector to ensure that drivers of the vehicles remain the same.

The Future of the Technology

This technology is currently being tested for consideration in border enforcement applications.
The system software is being evaluated to see if the effects of wind can be minimized.
A system that is near perfect and getting better threatens to be the one and only choice for adequate perimeter security.“[Correctional administrators] don't have any other choice than this,” said Labaj, “Dogs and physical searches have both been beat.  If you want to do an adequate search, you have to use this technology.” 

For More Information

To find out more about the development of this technology, contact Leo E. Labaj at 423-241-3295 or 423-483-6352 or email him at leo@asp2.com. 

To find out mroe about the AVIAN technology, contact Mark White at mark@geovox.com or (512) 413-2692 or visit the website www.geovox.com

For more information about the Tennessee DOC's experiences with the technology, contact Donal Campbell's office at 615-741-2071.