Final report on JIEDDO research project optimally locating BETSS-C surveillance assets

Abstract

This is the final report for the project entitled Optimally Locating BETSS-C Surveillance Assets' sponsored by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. The research has focused on developing optimization models for optimal placement of cameras and tower-mounted surveillance systems such as BETSS-C (Base Expeditionary Targeting and Surveillance Systems-Combined). These systems have proven themselves useful in detecting improvised explosive devices as they are being emplaced, and in making certain locations less desirable for emplacement. We have created models and solution software that locate a given set of camera towers (also observation towers or aerostats) to optimally cover points of interest on the ground. Computational results show that it is possible to obtain near-optimal solutions for problems with up to 30 cameras and 100 points of interest on a laptop computer in less than one minute.