ALERT | Awareness and Localization of Explosive-Related Threats

Spring 2019: Upcoming ALERT Events

Annual Student Pipeline Industry Roundtable Event (ASPIRE)

March 26, 2019

The Annual Student Pipeline Industry Roundtable Event (ASPIRE) will be held on March 26, 2019 at Northeastern University (Boston, MA). The ASPIRE is hosted by ALERT (Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats) & Gordon-CenSSIS (The Bernard M. Gordon Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems). ASPIRE provides an optimal setting for dialogue between members of the academic, industrial, and government communities and also provides networking opportunities for students looking for internships, co-op experiences, and full-time jobs. ASPIRE is targeted at undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of engineering, science, and computer & information sciences who are interested in careers related to homeland security.

ALERT Technology Showcase and Research Review

May 14, 2019

ALERT will be hosting a Technology Showcase and Research Review on May 14, 2019 at Northeastern University (Boston, MA). This event will feature presentations and demonstrations of ALERT research results and tools from select ALERT projects. Attendees will also be able to interact with individual project researchers and collaborators to learn more about their research throughout the day.

Advanced Developments for Security Applications (ADSA20) Workshop

May 15-16, 2019

The twentieth Advanced Developments for Security Applications (ADSA20) Workshop will be held May 15-16, 2019 at Northeastern University (Boston, MA). Due to conflicts with other events, ALERT has changed the date previously provided. The theme of the workshop will be “Design, Development, Testing, Deployment and Operation of Effective Systems.” Topics that will be addressed include:

• Defining “effective”
• Effectiveness for other stakeholders: airlines and passengers
• Effectiveness for other venues: subway, rail, and cargo
• Human in the loop
• Positive predictive value improvement
• Detection versus deterrence versus displacement
• Role of interconnectivity with open architectures
• Correct operating point on the receiver operator characteristic curve
• Application of metadata
• Rapid response to an adapting adversary
• Managing the threat list
• Dealing with imperfect equipment
• Role of Artificial Intelligence
• Statistical significance of tests and influence of limited training data
• Application of simulants
• True versus auto-detection
• Data augmentation
• Transition – particularly from academia
• Reducing time to market
• Role of third parties

A formal invitation to register for the ADSA20 Workshop and the ALERT Technology Showcase and Research Review, along with the agenda and logistics information are forthcoming. These events are by invitation only. Please contact Tiffany Lam at [email protected] if you are interested in attending.

Advanced Developments Encompassing Processes and Technologies for Customs and Border Protection (CBP-ADEPT-02)

July 17-18, 2019

The second workshop on Advanced Developments Encompassing Processes and Technologies for Customs and Border Protection (CBP-ADEPT-02) will be held July 17-18, 2019 at Northeastern University (Boston, MA). The CBP-ADEPT-02 Workshop will address advanced development and processes for tomorrow with presentations and panel discussions on specific topics, such as:

• An adaptive adversary
• Integration of equipment and data
• Collection and use of meta-data
• Deterrence/hardening
• Insider threats
• Con-Ops
• Adaptation of TSA technologies
• Economics – incentives
• Simulation tools
• War gaming applications

A formal invitation to register for the event, along with the agenda and logistics information is forthcoming. You can find more information about the CBP-ADEPT workshops in the following link:  https://alert.northeastern.edu/transitioning-technology/cbpadept/