The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sent shockwaves across the nation. This incident marks the first shooting of a US president or former president in more than a generation and underscores glaring security lapses.
However, recent advancements in fiber optic interferometer technology and artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising solutions.
Examining security lapses at Trump's Pennsylvania rally
In the instance of the recent assassination attempt on Trump, one of the most obvious security oversights was the presence of an unsecured rooftop within 500 feet of the stage, providing the gunman with a clear line of sight. The building, which encompassed high ground, windows, and a rooftop, was located outside the “hard perimeter,” where exhaustive security screenings were conducted.
Security personnel initially spotted the shooter acting suspiciously. Despite local law enforcement noting his behavior and even passing this information to the Secret Service, the shooter disappeared from their radar for a critical period of time. About 19 minutes before the shooting, law enforcement was actively trying to locate him but only managed to identify his position once he was already on the roof.
The American Glass Research building’s roof access remained uncontrolled, allowing the shooter to position himself without obstruction. Snipers from the Butler County Emergency Services Unit, positioned on the second floor of the same complex, were unaware of the shooter on the roof. Ultimately, miscommunication and ineffective coordination among different law enforcement units compromised the integrity of the event’s security.
FoRI surveillance enhances security at stadiums and other large venues
Securing large venues like stadiums, convention centers, and public meeting halls is an intricate task involving multiple layers of security. The top challenge for security teams is monitoring the entire facility and surrounding area in real time.
Large venues require comprehensive surveillance coverage of dozens of access points and tens of thousands of attendees. Security teams are tasked with monitoring data from over a thousand cameras, but when these teams are stretched over such a large scale and only equipped with traditional security systems, their efforts become porous.
Surrounding a facility with a portable fiber optic ring interferometer (FoRI) essentially places eyes and ears throughout the entire venue. Basically, the FoRI is made up of two beams of light that bend ever so slightly when sound waves cross the fiber optic ring. Additionally, the fiber optic loop detects audio disturbances and reports anything outside the normal range of expected crowd noise. The technology is so sensitive that it can even detect the exact location of a falling snowflake.
FoRI systems are designed to be integrated into a venue’s existing infrastructure without invasive installation procedures. The cables are virtually undetectable when hidden or buried, and the entire system can be operated from a discrete handheld device. Moreover, because these systems are unaffected by weather and electromagnetic discharges, they remain useful in both outdoor and indoor settings.
AI enhances security and reduces response time
Integrating AI and machine vision technologies with fiber optic surveillance systems marks a significant advancement in the security of large venues. These technologies provide an added layer of security capable of comprehensive coverage and real-time threat identification.
Essentially, FoRI technology and video surveillance are the venue’s eyes and ears, and AI becomes its central nervous system. Together, the technology constantly monitors the entire premises, identifies security anomalies, and warns security teams of potential threats.
AI scans incoming data from the fiber optic ring for sounds that stand out. When the system detects an audio anomaly inside the security perimeter, it automatically points a camera in that direction, records a 60-second video clip, and sends it to the server. Within seconds, the AI surveillance system uses that clip to generate a detailed, real-time report and summary—including information on the number of people involved, their appearances, and their movements—and directs security teams to the location of the potential threat.
This automated process enables security teams to respond promptly and effectively. In large venues, this enables security personnel to focus on every potential threat without being overwhelmed by massive amounts of incoming data.
However, neither FoRI technology nor its integration with AI is meant as an outright replacement for existing security systems; it simply makes them smarter and faster. AI systems can monitor vast amounts of data to identify patterns or red flags that human analysts may otherwise miss. This enhances the ability to predict and mitigate potential threats by analyzing human behavior, identifying suspicious activities, and flagging them for further investigation in real time.
One of the most exciting prospects is AI systems’ continuous learning capability, which assigns each alert a threat level from one to eight. With every new data point, these systems become more effective at identifying and addressing threats, and every system benefits from what other systems on its global network learn. This continuous improvement means that the efficiency of security teams at large venues will steadily grow more capable as time goes on.
Integrated security technology for the modern world
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump exposes significant vulnerabilities in the security protocols at large political events and serves as a stark reminder that current measures may not be sufficient to counter the ever-evolving landscape of threats. By leveraging advanced technology and enhancing real-time coordination with law enforcement, we can bolster security measures and ensure that such venues are safer for everyone.
Ultimately, heightened security at large political events is not just about protecting high-profile individuals. It is about ensuring the safety of thousands of attendees.
In an increasingly uncertain world, we must remain vigilant and proactive, continually reevaluating and enhancing our security protocols to meet emerging threats head-on. The cost of complacency is too high, and the stakes are too great.
We owe it to ourselves to strive for the highest standards of safety and security. By continuously adapting and improving, AI and machine vision technologies will play an increasingly vital role in our collective safety.
