Extemal monitoring devices for detecting humans hiding invehicles are needed to prevent unauthorized access to restrictedmilitary areas and to prohibit illegal immigrants from enteringthe United States at border crossings. Several investigators havefound that a seismometer, placed on a vehicle, can be used todetect an intruder's heart sounds. Inthe absence of wind noise, the observed signal level of theheartbeat exceeds background noise levels by 20 db. The vehicle'ssuspension system appears to amplify the heart sounds whileisolating noise from the ground. Previous efforts to utilize thismethod have been hampered by wind noise. The wind shakes thevehicle, masking the heartbeat signals. Previous investigationshave also been limited to detecting only a single individualhiding in a car or truck. Unique characteristics of heart soundshave been identified that are likely to make them more apparentin the presence of noise. This Phase I project will useinnovative seismic data acquisition and processing methods todetect an individual's heartbeat and thus determine if anintruder is hiding in a vehicle. The planned method can also beused if more than one person is hiding in the vehicle.Anticipated Results /Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Information obtained in Phase I of thisstudy will provide data needed to develop a seismic monitoringsystem, capable of determining if individuals are present in avehicle, without physically searching the vehicle. Thismonitoring system will be of value for military security and U.S.Border Patrol agents. There are also possible applications forthis system in the medical and health industries.
