Effective electronic security: process for the development and validation from requirements to testing

Abstract

An electronic physical security system will often fail to meet user expectations or even basic needs. The inability to easily determine if the system is effective is a key symptom of this failure. This paper explored the process for development, implementation and testing of an electronic security solution. This was accomplished by asking What is a simple and repeatable systems engineering process that promotes an effective electronic physical security system? An effective solution was not identified within the literature review process. The Requirements, Alternative, Design, Implementation, Testing and Commissioning (RADITC) process was developed as an alternative solution for the development and validation, from requirements to testing, of an effective physical security solution. The new process is based on two existing processes. The first is a commercial best practice as articulated by Thomas J Whittle. This provides a good foundation of activities. A second more complex life cycle management process used by the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided steps and concepts that are missing from the commercial best practices in use today. This resulted in an effective, easy to use and repeatable process.