Sentry: Technology for Civilian Protection, Accountability & Ceasefire Monitoring
MLC Vanguard | Created by Hala Systems
Sentry is Hala’s indication and warning system that utilizes a multi-sensor network to generate a credible, real-time, situational awareness of threats in the toughest places on earth. Sentry uses artificial intelligence (AI) to instantaneously validate information from multiple sources, allowing stakeholders to detect, identify, and predict threats.
1,900,000 Lives Impacted
Prior to Hala’s launch of Sentry in Syria, historical methods used for early warning of airstrikes in Syria were makeshift and unreliable. For example, the White Helmets were relying on visual observation of planes from human observers communicating mostly through walkie-talkies and manually activating sirens after the aircraft sighting. Furthermore, the White Helmets suffered from insufficient warning lead-time, time lost when manually activating the sirens, an absence of systematically tracking aircraft flight patterns, and an inability to distribute warnings to large numbers of average civilians in at-risk areas.
Many organizations manually research and monitor violence, posting results on websites that aggregate open- and crowd-sourced information. However, much of this information is not reported on a timely basis nor is it validated regarding trustworthiness. Hala’s scope and breadth make straight-line comparison to other competitors very difficult, as we offer the only data-driven early warning and violence monitoring system that supports civilians and first-responders with time-critical and life-saving information to make better-informed operational plans and strategic decisions.
Hala provides the most effective and cost-competitive service capabilities available to local and global users alike including: Reporting app for civilians and responders: Hala is building upon its intuitive and effective observer mobile app, expanding its capability for use by first responders and civilians within Syria and Yemen. These apps allow reporting aircraft observations, acts of violence, and also in Syria, report emergencies directly to first responders. Remote sensors: Hala is developing hardware acoustic sensors that collect observations of aircraft, ground vehicles, explosions and gunshots. These serve to warn, but also corroborate crowd-sourced reporting. Hala uses remotely operated sirens, for rapid activation during urgent emergencies (e.g., an approaching warplane).
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Hala uses advanced artificial intelligence AI-based algorithms to combine the multiple information sources to track and predict threats, which makes its warnings uniquely accurate. AI-based algorithms are also used to find, group, and assess the validity of open- and crowd-sources reports. The mathematically-computed “trust score” on reporting of events in these war zones sets Hala apart from other reporting sites. Ease of Use: Hala’s reporting portal provides powerful visualization and analysis tools leveraging the latest software and user experience designs. Experience: Hala continues to leverage its operational and technical design experience from working in austere zones, including coordination with partners on the ground and building technology that works where there is no existing power or communication infrastructure.
The Innovation
Sentry is Hala’s indication and warning system that utilizes a multi-sensor network to generate a credible, real-time, situational awareness of threats in the toughest places on earth. Sentry uses artificial intelligence (AI) to instantaneously validate information from multiple sources, allowing stakeholders to detect, identify, and predict threats.
Sentry acts as a low-cost, exportable, and locally administrable knowledge platform designed to gather critical data from areas where it is scarce: war zones, disaster areas, and wilderness, providing an independent and immutable record of events.
Sentry consists of five functional segments. They are: 1) sensing, 2) validating, 3) analyzing, 4) sharing, and 5) acting.
Sensing: we gather data from news and social media via machine-learning (ML) algorithms; trained human observers who use a mobile app we’ve developed for them; and remote sensors we’ve built for acoustic detection of violent events.
Validating: we validate the data by vetting and training observers, monitoring their performance, and cross referencing information over multiple independent sources. Analyzing: we use ML algorithms to determine relevant data points and predict threatened areas in real-time.
Sharing: Within seconds of first observation, we issue warnings to civilians via social media, radio, and sirens, and share data and reports with key stakeholders to counter disinformation and bring accountability for war crimes.
Acting: via our portal and rapid data analysis reporting, we offer a platform and tools to enable efficient coordination and collaboration between civilians, responders, and other stakeholders, so that their actions can be informed by Sentry data.
Hala has successfully tested and deployed this solution in Syria in response to the ongoing indiscriminate bombings plaguing civilians and recently piloted the system in Yemen. Given realized successes there, Hala aims to improve and expand its capabilities to other conflict settings with the ultimate goal of reducing harm, increasing security, and stabilizing communities in need.
About Hala Systems
Hala Systems develops advanced solutions for civilian and asset protection, accountability, and the prevention of violence before, during, and after conflict.
Through the development and implementation of innovative technology, we aim to reduce harm, increase security, and stabilize communities.
