Dr. Thomas G. L. Allen Profile

Dr. Thomas G. L. Allen

Branch Chief/Info Systems Branch/Space Vehicles

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Proceedings Article | 29 May 2012 Paper

Improved near-earth object detection using dynamic logic

Thomas Allen, Alan O'Connor, Igor Ternovskiy

Proceedings Volume 8408, 84080L (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.921223

KEYWORDS: Asteroids, Logic, Data modeling, Stars, Detection and tracking algorithms, Motion models, Comets, Speckle, Fuzzy logic, Target detection

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Proceedings Article | 17 March 2008 Paper

An innovative middle tier design for protecting federal privacy act data

Thomas Allen

Proceedings Volume 6973, 697304 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.770415

KEYWORDS: Databases, Network security, Computer security, Manufacturing, Solids, Systems modeling, Video processing, Control systems, Colon, Data mining

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Proceedings Article | 18 April 2006 Paper

Damage assessment of mission essential buildings based on simulation studies of low yield explosives

Thomas Allen

Proceedings Volume 6241, 62410Y (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.668518

KEYWORDS: Buildings, Explosives, Information security, Weapons, Computer security, Network security, Distance measurement, Internet, Fourier transforms, Computer simulations

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There has been a lack of investigations related to low yield explosives instigated by terrorist on small but high occupancy buildings. Also, mitigating the threat of terrorist attacks against high occupancy buildings with network equipment essential to the mission of an organization is a challenging task. At the same time, it is difficult to predict how, why, and when terrorists may attack theses assets. Many factors must be considered in creating a safe building environment. Although it is possible that the dominant threat mode may change in the future, bombings have historically been a favorite tactic of terrorists. Ingredients for homemade bombs are easily obtained on the open market, as are the techniques for making bombs. Bombings are easy and quick to execute. This paper discusses the problems with and provides insights of experience gained in analyzing small scale explosions on older military base buildings. In this study, we examine the placement of various bombs on buildings using the shock wave simulation code CTH and examine the damage effects on the interior of the building, particularly the damage that is incurred on a computer center. These simulation experiments provide data on the effectiveness of a building's security and an understanding of the phenomenology of shocks as they propagate through rooms and corridors. It's purpose is to motivate researchers to take the seriousness of small yield explosives on moderately sized buildings. Visualizations from this analysis are used to understand the complex flow of the air blasts around corridors and hallways. Finally, we make suggestions for improving the mitigation of such terrorist attacks. The intent of this study is not to provide breakthrough technology, but to provide a tool and a means for analyzing the material hardness of a building and to eventually provide the incentive for more security. The information mentioned in this paper is public domain information and easily available via the internet as well as in any public library or bookstore. Therefore, the information discussed in this paper is unclassified and in no way reveals any new methodology or new technology.

Proceedings Article | 19 July 2004 Paper

NINJA: a noninvasive framework for internal computer security hardening

Thomas Allen, Steve Thomson

Proceedings Volume 5441, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.542500

KEYWORDS: Network security, Computer security, Information security, Computing systems, Telecommunications, Network architectures, Mobile communications, Information technology, Computer networks, Computer architecture

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Vulnerabilities are a growing problem in both the commercial and government sector. The latest vulnerability information compiled by CERT/CC, for the year ending Dec. 31, 2002 reported 4129 vulnerabilities representing a 100% increase over the 2001 [1] (the 2003 report has not been published at the time of this writing). It doesn’t take long to realize that the growth rate of vulnerabilities greatly exceeds the rate at which the vulnerabilities can be fixed. It also doesn’t take long to realize that our nation’s networks are growing less secure at an accelerating rate. As organizations become aware of vulnerabilities they may initiate efforts to resolve them, but quickly realize that the size of the remediation project is greater than their current resources can handle. In addition, many IT tools that suggest solutions to the problems in reality only address "some" of the vulnerabilities leaving the organization unsecured and back to square one in searching for solutions. This paper proposes an auditing framework called NINJA (acronym for Network Investigation Notification Joint Architecture) for noninvasive daily scanning/auditing based on common security vulnerabilities that repeatedly occur in a network environment. This framework is used for performing regular audits in order to harden an organizations security infrastructure. The framework is based on the results obtained by the Network Security Assessment Team (NSAT) which emulates adversarial computer network operations for US Air Force organizations. Auditing is the most time consuming factor involved in securing an organization's network infrastructure. The framework discussed in this paper uses existing scripting technologies to maintain a security hardened system at a defined level of performance as specified by the computer security audit team. Mobile agents which were under development at the time of this writing are used at a minimum to improve the noninvasiveness of our scans. In general, noninvasive scans with an adequate framework performed on a daily basis reduce the amount of security work load as well as the timeliness in performing remediation, as verified by the NINJA framework. A vulnerability assessment/auditing architecture based on mobile agent technology is proposed and examined at the end of the article as an enhancement to the current NINJA architecture.

Proceedings Article | 15 July 2004 Paper

Gradient theoretic clustering: a theoretic model

Thomas Allen

Proceedings Volume 5438, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.540756

KEYWORDS: Databases, Image retrieval, Feature extraction, Image enhancement, Fuzzy logic, Visual information processing, Information theory, Systems modeling, Content based image retrieval, Image analysis

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Proceedings Article | 8 August 2003 Paper

Improving the performance of content-based image retrieval systems

Mary Jane Willshire, Thomas Allen

Proceedings Volume 5108, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484834

KEYWORDS: Databases, Image retrieval, Feature extraction, Image segmentation, Image processing, Content based image retrieval, Mechanics, Visualization, Information theory, Information visualization

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Showing 5 of 6 publications

Conference Committee Involvement (2)

Cyber Sensing 2012

24 April 2012 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Data Mining, Intrusion Detection, Information Assurance, and Data Networks Security 2007

10 April 2007 | Orlando, Florida, United States

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