Date posted: 05/06/2009*

Representatives from Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems joined local, state and federal officials in Providence, R.I., April 16 for a demonstration of the Port Area Waterside Surveillance System, or PAWSS. The demonstration took place at the grand opening of the Providence Emergency Management Agency’s new Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Raytheon permanently deployed the sensors and its Athena data fusion and operations center technology to provide situational awareness capability.

With a network of sensors from the southern entrance of Narragansett Bay to the Port of Providence 25 miles north, PAWSS allows decision makers to spot and evaluate threats early. Athena integrates information from the sensors, including radars and day vision cameras, to provide input to the Rhode Island Common Operating Picture (RICOP). This gives officials advance warning and the improved situational awareness needed to maintain port security. The shared future vision of RICOP is to provide an integrated and enhanced situational awareness capability that provides state-wide public safety and security across multiple domains. Athena would serve as the data fusion and decision support backbone.

Providence Mayor David Cicilline welcomed Raytheon and other attendees. They included R.I. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and R.I. Rep. James Langevin, who had assembled to witness a live demonstration of the EOC’s capabilities and Project Athena’s situational awareness technology.

Mary Petryszyn, IDS vice president for Civil Security and Response Programs, said, “The technology demonstrated today grew out of what we initially deployed for maritime domain awareness in 2004. We have been growing Athena’s capability since then, and we anticipate learning more from PAWSS that will enable us to continue to develop the capabilities that will enable decisions that protect our nation and its interests.”