Testing Technology
“…if we react with
government’s quandary. Do we let this controlled environment. As the system
player on the field or bench him? becomes more stable, emphasis shifts to
reptilian instinct to the
To answer this question, any technology Operational T&E (OT&E), which is conducted
with the potential for deployment enters under realistic operational conditions.
terrorists’ threats, we’ll
the DHS Acquisition Life Cycle, throughout DT&E, in U.S. aviation security, is the
which various forms of T&E are conducted. responsibility of the DHS Science &
end up with greater
The early phases of the cycle are spent Technology (DHS-S&T) Directorate.
developing the testing strategies, Testing is performed at the
inherent problems,
navigating various acronym groups and Transportation Security Laboratory, the
teams to design the overall approach and William J. Hughes Technical Center in
rendering ourselves,
agree upon the goals of the test New Jersey, or is delegated to DHS
programme. Once the strategies are contractors either in private industry or
ostensibly, weaker
approved, the device graduates to the national laboratory circle. The goal
Milestone B – the System Development & here is to identify the system’s
than when we
Demonstration Phase. performance under different controlled
At this stage, the official Test & environmental parameters. Accuracy,
began…”
Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) is written, reliability, manoeuvrability, software
though it will be updated throughout the integration, etc. are assessed under
programme to reflect significant changes varying temperature, pressure, humidity
in the strategy as the system’s capabilities and other parameters (sea spray, shock,
vulnerability risk, etc.), the vendor will and limitations are brought to light. This vibration) depending on the
begin the processes to enter the DHS Test document focuses on the programme’s technology’s intended deployment.
& Evaluation (T&E) cycle. overall structure, major elements, and OT&E is the TSA’s responsibility. Actual
T&E is the key term in any discussion objectives. Besides defining the testing, however, is usually conducted, or at
about new technologies or systems. The administrative responsibilities for the least monitored, by independent operational
government spends a large amount of particular programme, the funding, budget, test agencies with TSA oversight. Testing at
time and resources here because testing and resource requirements, the TEMP this stage models military and engineering
is the only thing that can assure identifies the issues and parameters the techniques, defined by Critical Operational
deployments that actually work. Testing, test programme will examine. Issues (COIs) with Effectiveness and
however, is also a long, methodical There are two major types of T&E. Suitability categories.
process of checks and trials, balances Developmental T&E (DT&E) measures the A COI is basically one of a device’s key
and errors, and miles of red tape, which system’s technical performance in a operational requirements phrased as a
seem to arrest the development of the
emerging technologies that promise to
cure our aviation security ills. When the
London Bomb Plot surfaced, it was also
revealed that technologies designed
specifically to detect liquid explosives
existed, but were “being tested.” Likewise,
shoe scanners, designed to prevent
Richard Reid copycats, are “being tested.”
Somewhere in the land of Being Tested,
miraculous products are training for the
Aviation Security Super Bowl. So why
doesn’t coach put ‘em in the game?
Because it’s not that easy: Those liquid
explosive detectors – what is their rate of
accuracy? What are they capable of
detecting? And how practical is their
deployment in an airport environment? The
public is willing to concede some time and
liberty, but expects assurances of their
safety in return. If a technology works for its
intended purpose – e.g., detecting
explosives – but at the cost of an average
20 minutes of checkpoint wait time for
every passenger, or even 5 minutes for that
matter, is it creating more problems than
it’s solving? This, of course, is a
hypothetical example, but it’s an accurate, A Safe Skies data acquisition specialist conducts attempt-to-defeat tests
albeit simplified, illustration of the against a perimeter detection device
Aviationsecurityinternational April 2008 www.asi-mag.com 11
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