ICx Technologies: comprehensive, layered approach to security

well as the movement of radioactive sources through widely distributed rad-detectors.

 

“With its a-la-carte detection-layering abilities, ThreatSense allows security professionals to build out the best solution they see fit for a particular facility and set of threat scenarios,” said Chuck Call, ThreatSense manager at ICx Technologies.

Matt Birnbaum, vice president of detection sales and marketing, and Pat Dempsey, senior vice president of detection sales, continued the conversation commenting on the company’s chemical agent monitoring device and biological detection units. For bio-threats, the IBAC detects changes in biological material in the air in real time. Once a detection has been made, the device communicates with secondary samplers which take larger liquid samples for analysis and later identification. At this time, that sample must be sent to a lab for definitive results; a process which can take from an hour to a day. For chemical threats, mobile mass spectrometers can be set up within the facility to monitor the air for potential chemical agents, providing on-site detection and identification. In both cases, the initial presumptive data can trigger low-regret, precautionary measures such as communicating with the facility’s HVAC systems to shut down or redirect airflow in order to minimize the potential spread of a threatening agent. ICx works with clients as well as first responder organizations to develop assessment and response protocols to deal with any detection event.

One goal of the ThreatSense system is to distinguish hoaxes from real events, thus preventing disruptions while protecting occupants and assets. A Homeland Security NewsWire article reports on how Europeans businesses are losing approximately €17 billion a year in revenue owing to IT disruptions; on average, European businesses suffer IT failures lasting an average of fourteen hours per company a year, amounting to nearly one million hours of down-time costs

Stand alone, mobile surveillance

Outside its CBRNE product line, ICx manufactures SkyWatch, a stand alone, mobile surveillance tower that can be deployed as a security solution at special events, for port security, flight line protection, parking lot surveillance, force protection and perimeter and border surveillance. For the past four years, the U.S. Park Police has used their SkyWatch towers, as well as various detection devices from ICx, to assist with crowd management and surveillance at the Independence Day celebrations on the National Mall.

 

“Over the years, we have developed a strong relationship with the U.S. Park Police and National Park Service,” said Adam Strange, who heads up the Integrated Surveillance Solutions group at ICx.

A merger of technologies

With a broad range of detection and surveillance technologies, ICx is a leading provider of integrated advanced sensing technologies for homeland security, force protection and critical infrastructure applications. On October 4, the company was acquired by FLIR Systems, Inc., a thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems manufacturer for thermography and imaging applications. The acquisition expands FLIR’s capabilities into advanced sensors for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) detection for defense and homeland security markets. The acquisition also enhances FLIR’s existing intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance product suite through the addition of ICx’s advanced radars and integrated platforms. ICx operations will be integrated into FLIR’s Government Systems Division. Earl R. Lewis, president and CEO of FLIR, described the merger as an “opportunity to expand our business into several attractive adjacent technologies, products and markets.”