June 8: U.S. Army Sponsored Aerostat to Aid in Tracking Lake Erie Algal Blooms this Summer

The aerostat system can also provide surveillance and communications in emergency situations – setting up emergency cell towers, providing visuals of disasters including flooding, draughts, tornadoes and hurricanes. Western DataCom of Westlake, OH provides the communicationsexpertise, while SkySentry of Colorado Springs, CO and its team of Ohioemployees provide operations and business development expertise.

Roger Nikiforow, local high school teacher and state naturalist commented that “Congresswoman Kaptur understands the importance of real world scientific experience for students K – 12. The aerostat provides just those opportunities that show students real world applications of communications, power and surveillance technologies - they intrigue students and are the future of intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance.”

This fall the team of aerostat operators and partners, including NASA, John H. Glenn Research Center, will demonstrate the communications and surveillance techniques with the U.S. Coast Guard, Neah Bay, the Ohio Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol. These high-tech systems can provide the Coast Guard, border patrol agents, Homeland Security and U.S soldiers with reliable secure communications and surveillance in the Great Lakes as well as the innermost areas of enemy territory – including Afghanistan and Iraq. The applications are very complimentary. Often times the Coast Guard has limited voice and data connectivity in the Great Lakes called “drop zones” and similarly our U.S. soldiers have extreme limitation in mountainous regions in theatre. According to SkySentry President, Charlie Lambert, “this team can provide ruggedized network and surveillance solutions offering our Border Patrol Agents, Coast Guard, Homeland Security and U.S. soldiers with secure visual, voice and data communications on demand over very cost effective and reliable cellular systems”.

Situational awareness is what Border Patrol, Homeland Security, Coast Guard and U.S. Soldiers sometimes refer to as the “unblinking eye” where they have a comprehensive understanding of their current engagement – including suspects and more importantly their own forces.

The fall demonstration will provide solutions that deliver voice and video to displays on the intercept boat providing a “Common Operating Picture” connecting all First Responders and avoiding communications difficulties such as those encountered during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.