Comprehensive UAS Detection and Tracking in Arlington’s Entertainment District.
The City of Arlington’s Entertainment District is a hub for major events and attracts thousands of people to its popular venues, including stadiums, concert halls, and entertainment centers. With the rise in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) activity, especially in urban areas, the city faced the challenge of protecting this heavily populated area from unsafe and illegal UAS activity, particularly during large events. Unauthorized drone activity posed risks to public safety and security, requiring the city to implement a reliable system for UAS detection, tracking, and enforcement.
Misson Objective
The City of Arlington’s Entertainment District is a hub for major events and attracts thousands of people to its popular venues, including stadiums, concert halls, and entertainment centers. With the rise in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) activity, especially in urban areas, the city faces the challenge of protecting this heavily populated area from unsafe and illegal UAS activity, particularly during large events. Unauthorized drone activity poses risks to public safety and security, requiring the city to implement a reliable system for UAS detection, tracking, and enforcement.
The primary concern for the City of Arlington is the need to:
- Detect and track UAS over its entertainment district, especially during special events when large crowds are present.
- Quickly and accurately identify cooperative UAS (those with Remote ID) as well as non-cooperative UAS (those without Remote ID).
- Pinpoint UAS operators in real-time to allow for quick response by law enforcement and mitigate the risks posed by unauthorized drone activity.
What we did
In response to this challenge, Hidden Level deployed Airspace Monitoring Service (AMS), its advanced RF sensor network, to provide comprehensive airspace monitoring across Arlington’s Entertainment District. The system is designed to deliver continuous, real-time UAS detection and operator location, helping the city’s law enforcement maintain safety and security during major events.
Value Delivered
1. Non-Cooperative UAS Detection: Hidden Level provided advanced detection capabilities for both common and uncommon UAS models, extending beyond DJI platforms. This enabled identification of non-cooperative UAS that were not broadcasting their position or identity via Remote ID.
2. Cooperative UAS Tracking: In addition to non-cooperative detection, Hidden Level also reliably identified and tracked Remote ID (RID)-enabled UAS, ensuring complete coverage of both compliant and non-compliant UAS operating in the area. Using Hidden Level’s system, Arlington Police Department was able to tag and identify their own cooperative craft, so they could be distinguished from potential threats.
3. Real-Time Operator Identification: Using real-time data on UAS operator locations, enabled faster interdiction and enforcement actions. This capability was critical during large events, where quick responses helped ensure public safety. The Arlington Police Department was able to rapidly interdict and engage with operators violating airspace rules, allowing for timely enforcement and reporting.
4. Predictive Analytics to inform enhancements to operating procedures: Hidden Level built a repository of high-fidelity historical data that could be used by the Arlington Police Department to understand pattern of life. By reviewing and analyzing this information, they were able to determine the most common take-off areas for drone flights and take proactive measures like installing cameras in parking lots and assigning officers to patrol specific areas on event days to mitigate illegal drone use before it happened in some cases.
5. Ongoing Performance Upgrades: Since its initial deployment in September 2021, Hidden Level has provided routine performance and capability upgrades to the system via software updates. These enhancements have led to even more effective UAS detection, operator location, and operator interdiction capabilities, ensuring the system stays ahead of evolving UAS threats.
Conclusion
The deployment of Hidden Level’s UAS detection and tracking technology in Arlington’s Entertainment District provided the city with a powerful tool to monitor and mitigate the risks of unsafe UAS activity. By offering real-time UAS and operator detection, comprehensive tracking across multiple platforms, and routine system enhancements, Hidden Level’s solution has significantly improved public safety and event security in one of Arlington’s most critical areas.
Comprehensive UAS Detection and Tracking in Arlington’s Entertainment District.
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