Operational Exercise

Operational Exercise

The NCS4 facilitates operational exercises for technology solution providers. As part of the operational exercise, the NCS⁴ assembles a team with the requisite expertise, identifies appropriate sites for the exercise, generates relevant scenarios, and simulates end-user interaction to provide constructive feedback for developers and interested parties. By design, the demonstration and exercise allows experts to observe stated capabilities in an operational or simulated environment.

Operational Exercise Process

  1. Agreements: the operational exercise is a service offered to solution providers to demonstrate operational capabilities to industry stakeholders. The NCS4 will work with solution providers to complete necessary non-disclosure and service agreements.
  2. Cost: costs depend upon a combination of factors including, but not limited to, exercise duration, location, and team composition.
  3. Design: the NCS4 will work with solution providers to define exercise criteria and objectives using the solution provider’s intent and stated capabilities.
  4. Team: individuals for the operational exercise team are identified based on the objectives and requisite skills detailed during the design phase of the exercise.
  5. Conducting the Exercise: the exercise is conducted in a real-world or simulated environment at a predetermined location for a set amount of time. The exercise is facilitated by the NCS4 and rated by the exercise team. Solution providers are permitted to be on-site for observation, troubleshooting, and answering exercise team questions.
  6. Draft Operational Exercise Review: using the feedback and observations from the exercise team, the NCS⁴ will generate a report that includes an overview of the exercise methods employed, a description of the operating environment, and an overall assessment of the product based on the criteria and objectives developed during the design. Exercise team members, solution providers, and the NCS4 staff are reviewers of the draft.
  7. Publish: the NCS⁴ will provide the final report to the solution provider. Copies of the report are available to the solution provider for further distribution and maintained on the NCS⁴ website for no less than 180 days.

Product and service descriptions were provided by each respective company and the NCS⁴ vouches for their accuracy. The NCS⁴ is an impartial body and does not endorse any products or services. Inclusion on this page does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement from the NCS⁴.

For more information, please contact Daniel Ward at Daniel.L.Ward@usm.edu or (601) 266-5999.

Evolv Express – Evolv Technology

Exercise reports are available to NCS4 Connect members.

Evolv Technology provides touchless security screening products to a wide range of venues. The Evolv Express aims to combine artificial intelligence (AI), security ecosystem integrations, and venue analytics to ensure safer, more accurate threat detection at an unprecedented speed and volume. 

Key features include:

  • Wired and wireless options for flow control and resolution tablets
  • Indoor and outdoor equipped towers
  • Mobility accessories to facilitate installation, movement, and storage

Threat Detection and Patron Screening (System Version 1.1 and 1.4) – Patriot One Technologies

Exercise reports are available to NCS4 Connect members.

Patriot One Technologies is a provider of touchless threat detection and patron screening solutions for community safety. The integrated solutions are intended to allow a wide variety of threats to be detected quickly and easily. The goal of the solution is to provide unobtrusive sensors and invisible screening to provide a seamless experience while enhancing the safety of people and assets.

Key features include:

  • Multi-Sensor Gateway hardware (pillars, interconnecting cables, acquisition boards, and optical cameras)
  • Multi-Sensor Gateway software (device drivers, programs, AI classifications analytics)
  • Networked Platform Server
  • Platform Client
  • Mobile Alert Center (Optional)

XonarSafe™ – Xonar Technology Inc.

Exercise reports are available to NCS4 Connect members.

Please note that this exercise was conducted virtually and limited to live video observation. Exercise criteria consisted of Xonar Technologies Inc. stated capabilities. No external criteria (industry best practices, NIJ standards, ASTM guidelines) were incorporated for the purposes of this observation. 

XonarSafe™  is a scanning system designed to detect weapons as people walk through it. It can be used at sports events, concerts, and other events of mass gatherings.

Key features include:

  • Touchless scanning
  • Outer garments and bags do not need to be scanned separately
  • The location of the potential threat is indicated on a diagram of a person’s body
  • Weather-resistant
  • Can perform temperature checks in addition to scanning for weapons

OnePlan Events – OnePlan

Exercise reports are available to NCS4 Connect members.

OnePlan is a venue and event site-planning tool that combines mapping and visual planning tools into a single platform.

Key features include:

  • Common Operating Picture: Multiple users can access and edit a site map simultaneously
  • Change Log: Track and monitor all changes made to the plan
  • Resource Management: Users can place, manage, and locate resources on a shared map
  • Queue Estimations: Estimate queue length and queue time based on user defined operational capacity, arrivals, and operation end times
  • Social Distancing Calculator: With user input, visualize the effects of social distancing requirements
  • Flow Rate Calculator: Estimate the time required for pedestrians to move through an exit based on user defined flow rate and exit width