ARA

Founded in 1979, Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) offers innovative technologies and solutions to problems to improve our safety, security, and way of life. Our employee-owners, most of whom have advanced degrees in engineering and the physical sciences, have the expertise to tackle the most challenging technical problems.

With offices throughout the United States and Canada, ARA is globally recognized for applying technically excellent, in-depth and diversified research, engineering, and technical support services to provide answers to complex problems. ARA approaches every project as an opportunity to go beyond expectations by delivering solutions that accomplish objectives and lead to new possibilities.

The Pathfinder advanced intrusion detection system is the next generation of ARA’s Expendable Unattended Ground Sensor (E-UGS) system. Pathfinder incorporates lessons learned by the US Military and is specifically optimized for Defense, Border Security, Critical Infrastructure, and Consumer applications.

To be successful, threats require two things…surprise and maneuver. Pathfinder eliminates both by taking you inside your threat, revealing its operations, patterns, and likely intent, allowing you to respond more deliberately and effectively and reduce your likelihood for loss.

Next Generation Footstep Detection For:

Perimeter Security
Pathfinder redefines the traditional perimeter security and virtual fence paradigm, by securing ‘the right space NOT the whole space’, improving your overall security and reducing your overall costs. Successful perimeter security begins with the ability to identify and secure critical Points of Penetration (POP). POPs are defined as any logical choke point vulnerability based on natural and/or manmade factors and, in their most basic form, include things such as bridges, gates, fence lines, rail lines, and natural lines of drift.

Threat Pattern Analysis
Developing an understanding of the pattern of ‘normal’ human behavior within a particular area allows for a more rapid threat assessment and incremental response to observed anomalies. To better understand threat movement patterns and behaviors, we complement POPs with Route Analysis Detections (RAD), by placing sensors on logical lanes into and out of a POP. RADs can be complex and difficult to determine but often are manmade, terrain-driven, evidence-based, and/or tactically deduced.

Surveillance Detection
Attacks or physical penetrations are almost always preceded by some level of surveillance or reconnaissance. Therefore to prevent them, you must be able to detect and monitor when such intelligence gathering is taking place. Surveillance Detection Zones (SDZ), when employed properly, do just that. Specifically employed to detect movement during reconnaissance and surveillance, and often combined with POPs and RADs, SDZs deduce likely threat intent and expose their plan long before it’s ever executed. SDZs are specifically designed to capture ingress and egress, cover dead space, and ID movement specific to close target reconnaissance and/or covert surveillance.