Wireless Smart Sensor Web Area Monitoring has been made possible by extraordinary technological advances in sensors and microelectronics and by the emergence of the Internet as a real-time communication tool. A vast proliferation of sensors and associated processors can be made available for battlefield and homeland security purposes, in much the same manner as they are being used throughout commercial industry. The sensing parameters and the method of deployment may vary, however the need for an intelligent, secure, web-centric distribution and fusion of sensor information that provides greatly enhanced situational awareness, on demand, is common to both situations.

“U.S. military strategy, as stated in the Joint Chiefs of Staff "Joint Vision 2010" posture statement, is to be based on Information Superiority -- real-time intelligence from "sensor to shooter". When combined with precision weapon delivery, this is the backbone of the "Revolution In Military Affairs" that will allow us to achieve total battlefield dominance.” – The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology / Honorable Jacques S. Gansler (1998)

In light of recent events, this statement speaks louder than ever. In addition, our defense industrial base has undergone necessary consolidation; and we, in turn, must capitalize on the lessons learned from the successful commercial transformation ¬- how to adopt modern business practices; consolidate and streamline; embrace competitive market strategies; and eliminate or reduce excess support structures. Our future direction must include greater competition; greater civilian/military integration; and strengthened global links, in order to achieve the full potential of our defense industrial base. First, in the information area, to achieve an interoperable, integrated, secure, and "smart" command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) infrastructure, which encompasses both strategic and tactical needs.

In much the same manner as the ICHM®20/20 can assess and remotely communicate the condition of critical rotating machinery components, it can be interfaced with a multitude of sensors to monitor the environment for the presence and concentration of biological or chemical warfare agents, or to determine the origin of sniper fire and initiate retaliation.
Much different from the DOD's traditional approach of packing platforms with huge, costly, standalone sensors, the ICHM®20/20 system platform can however, utilize low cost sensor technologies including piezoelectric, piezoresistive and variable capacitive MEMS devices. The following is a partial list of the many additional types of sensors, which might be required to interface with the ICHM®20/20 system, for optimal area monitoring.

• Biological
• Chemical
• Mechanical Switch
• Magnetic Switch
• Balanced Magnetic Switch
• Glass Break
• Photoelectric Beam
• Microwave
• Wall Vibration
• Fiber Optic Wall
• Audio Sensors
• Passive Ultrasonic
• Active Ultrasonic
• Passive Infrared
• Interior Active Infrared
• Exterior Active Infrared
• Dual Technology Passive IR / Microwave
• Fence Vibration
• Electric Field
• Capacitance
• Stain Sensitive Cable
• Fiber Optic Fence
• Taut Wire
• In-Ground Fiber Optic
• Ported Coax Buried Line
• Balance Buried Pressure
• Buried Geophone
• Video Motion Detection
• Radar
• Acoustic Detection (Air Turbulence)