Information Exploitation

Mission

The Mission of Information Exploitation area is to be an innovative technical solutions leader for collecting and exploiting multi-source data to provide purposeful and actionable information to the national intelligence, defense and commercial communities. The group is a technical leader in standoff chemical and biological defense. The group looks to provide best-value solutions through product leadership, operational excellence, and customer focus

AIRIS onboard helicopter

AIRIS passive standoff chemical and biological sensor deployed onboard a UH-1 helicopter
Automated Target Recognition

Automated Target Recognition of chemical cloud based on statistical analysis of IR hyperspectral image
 
Optimized sensor placement solutions

Optimized sensor placement solutions for the protection of base facilities and forces deployed in the field

Core Competencies

Core competencies include development of sensor systems based on a strong phenomenological understanding of signature generation and vertically integrated sensors. This includes the collection of all source data with a specialization in MASINT data types and the processing of data through classical statistical methods, knowledge based systems and data fusion techniques to transform data into purposeful information.

Current Research Thrusts Include:

 

  • Innovative Data Fusion and Clutter Reduction Algorithms for the Detection, Identification and Localization of Radiological Dirty Bombs in Cluttered Environments 
    • Sponsor: DHS, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
    • Objectives/Overview: Develop and demonstrate novel approaches that significantly improve spectral (energy) clutter suppression, and thus enhance radionuclide threat detection and discrimination.  Enhance performance by exploiting multi-dimensional information provided by unique systems based on networked detectors for persistent urban surveillance.
  • Sensors for Terrorist IED Network Defeat 
    • Sponsor: US army, NVESD
    • Objectives/Overview: Develop a passive infrared imaging system for the standoff detection of fugitive explosive residues resulting from the production of improvised explosives devices (IED). 
  • Hyperspectral Imaging for Post Intercept Weapons of Mass Destruction Identification
    • Sponsor: DTRA
    • Objectives/Overview: Develop a standoff optical capability to determine the type of warhead deployed on a cruise or ballistic missile intercepted by a defensive system.
  • Standoff Detection of Chemical on Surfaces 
    • Sponsor:  US Army RDECOM
    • Objectives/Overview: PSI is developing a technology to be utilized for stand-off detection of threat chemical residues on surfaces.  The approach utilizes a pulsed laser at an eye-safe wavelength (1.5 micron) to heat surfaces, a fast spectrometer to collect the emission signature produced by hot fragments desorbed from the surface and a data acquisition and analysis system to identify the contaminant(s) responsible for the observed signature.
  • Development of Validated Plume Signature Codes at Nontraditional Wavelengths Utilizing Ground Based Simulation Facilities
    • Sponsor: Missile defense Agency
    •  Objectives/Overview: PSI is utilizing its FAST technology to measure velocity dependent cross sections of reactions between rocket engine effluents and atmospheric species in the exo-atmosphere that produce products emitting in wavelength bands that are not traditionally used in plume signature prediction codes.  PSI's measurements will be used to evaluate and validate extensions of MDA's high altitude plume signature code, SOCRATES-P.
       

Area Leadership

Bogdan Cosofret

Dr. Bogdan Cosofret

The Information Exploitation Area is led by Dr. Bogdan R. Cosofret, Principal Research Scientist. Since joining PSI in 2003, Dr. Cosofret has been involved as a scientist and program manager in a diverse range of technical areas. He has made numerous contributions in the area of passive infrared imaging sensing technology, quantitative 3-D reconstructions of chemical clouds, LIDAR receiver technology, as well as in the area of sensor placement strategy and optimization. His efforts have led to the development of prototype and deployable instrumentation, as well as algorithm methodologies for chemical and biological defense applications.

Contact

Bogdan R. Cosofret
Physical Sciences Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA 01810-1077

Telephone: (978) 689-0003
Fax: (978) 689-3232
cosofret@psicorp.com

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