Advanced Research and Training Capabilities

PRTC serves government and industry clients that require a controlled, reality-based testing and training environment. Over the last two decades, PRTC has invested in infrastructure and assets that make it an ideal test-bed for research, experimentation, and training.

SERVICES

PRTC’s capabilities in EMS and Cyber Physical Sensing/Information/Operations domains can be utilized during training events or for experimentation. Visit Research for more information on experimentation.

Spectrum Approval (VHF, UHF, FM, AM)

NTIA 7.11 Experimental Authorization

1 Fixed 5G installation (6 total planned); 2 Mobile 5G COLTS

A separate 3G, 4G, 5G closed cellular system

Spectrum Monitoring Instrumentation for situational awareness

Remote Access for RF command/control and Distributed EMS

Training Network Access to DoD infrastructure and capabilities for training and integration

Military grade radios (Motorola), Software-Defined Radios (SDR), satellite comms systems

Physical Space

Acres of Opportunity

The Playas town-site consists of several thousand acres in southwestern rural New Mexico. Playas consists of two distinct regions, the livable and play (experimentation) areas.

The livable area has residential (~57) and commercial buildings (~30), utilities, and communications infrastructure to support those working and living within the town site. The play area includes 185 houses, many of which are connected to experimental power and fiber to support research, testing, and experimentation.

Isolated, high-desert location, 4,500’ elevation ~ 30-min flight time to White Sands Missile Range and Ft Huachuca

3,952 acres owned, 2,695 acres leased, access to State, BLM, and private land

5,000’ unimproved airstrip and hangar

20x20nm, 300’-FL180 military airspace directly above, connected to Tombstone MOA (FL180)

High-power rifle range with a shooting distance of up to 1,200 yards, complete with target butts that support .50 BMG semi-automatic or bolt-action rifles.

Long-distance rifle range with a 300-yard rifle range, two 100-yard rifle ranges, and a 25-yard pistol range.

INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSETS

Providing a Layered Level of Defense

PRTC can provide the critical infrastructure environment that serves as the backbone of our national and economic security for research and testing. In particular, critical infrastructure to collect information and gain access to industrial control systems in the energy, water, and aviation sectors.

3 fixed cell sites on towers (3G, 4G, 5G)

Masts and towers (20+) mapped at relevant distances with line of site and functioning equipment cataloged, patch panels for access, functionality, and expansion

Small-scale power distribution unit with automatic transfer switches and smart meter test bed

Robust fiber network

Fully isolated, configurable, and controllable electric power distribution network with transfer switches, smart meters and SCADA system

Controlled access; multiple, secure facilities at various classification levels

Central Control Room upgrade for robust Command and Control/Management

Single-point server for remote/on-site C2, data collection, storage, display of data; Backhaul

Safety, Medical, Fire, Security

Training

Leading the Reality-based Security Training Pack

Our location in the sunny Southwest makes this a perfect place to study solar or wind power as renewable energy. The sun is almost always out and our winds, though not constant, can be powerful. The high altitude and clear skies are a perfect place for astronomy. We are isolated from cities, so our air is clean and smog-free. The wide-open spaces around PRTC and our state-of-the-art electronics are a great testing ground for communication and surveillance equipment and systems. Visibility from high ground is superb and we have towers that can connect across miles of valley floor or from peak to peak. We have explosive ranges that can be used for research and testing. There are unique opportunities to study the processes, costs, and effects of training (military, first responders, security, national preparedness). Our airfield is perfect for testing and development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). With plenty of room to maneuver, the sky's the limit. Finally, there is research potential in the native flora and fauna; the high desert itself is an enchanting place.

Potential Training Scenarios Ideal for the PRTC Environment

Urban/Rural Search and Rescue

To train first responders in locating and rescuing individuals in various natural and urban environments following a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

Cyber Security Breach and Mitigation

To prepare cybersecurity teams to respond to and mitigate a cyber-attack on city infrastructure.

Public Health Emergency Management

To train public health officials and emergency responders in managing a widespread public health crisis, such as an epidemic or bio-terrorism event.

Large-scale Evacuation Drills and Training

To train emergency management agencies in orchestrating, executing, and evaluating a large-scale evacuation in response to an impending disaster.

Anti-Terrorism and Public Safety Drills

Preparing law enforcement and other security agencies in the response to a potential terrorist attack and/or threat in an urban setting. Could include response to a bomb or active shooter.

Research

There is no Action without Research

The mission of PRTC includes ongoing research and collaborations that inform future development, tools and capabilities refinement and the continuous improvement of the overall cyber-kinetic environment.

Current Collaborations

Florida Institute of Technology - Acoustic Array

The collaboration between ICASA and the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and their Center for Advanced Data Analytics & Systems (CADAS), to deploy an IoT sensor network at PRTC. The sensor array, designed and developed by FIT, collects metrics to validate and recognize aircraft presence and environmental audio cues in real-time. FIT’s sensor deployment at PRTC introduces a new environment to their algorithm, improving their training set and potentially the long-term accuracy of their model.

University of Hawaii - Infrasound Array

The Infrasound project established in the summer of 2023 was initially a temporary deployment to capture the Osirus Rex reentry. There are now eight permanent installations that include power, communications, and device enclosures. This installation expands our acoustic sensing range in Playas.

Earthscope - Seismic Array

ICASA and EarthScope are collaborating on the temporary deployment of a seismic sensor array at PRTC. EarthScope has furnished ICASA with seismic sensors and support components to install throughout the environment. Once installed, we will establish data collection and processing. The data will be shared between the two organizations for research and experimentation and will further complement the sensing capabilities at PRTC.

Jun Zheng - NMT Computer Science & Engineering

Generative Models for Anomaly Detection in Water SCADA Systems

Dr. Zheng and his team (consisting of one graduate and one undergraduate student researchers) aim to develop and implement novel approaches for ensuring the security and operational integrity of water SCADA systems by advancing the understanding of anomaly detection techniques using deep generative models (or DGMs) and advanced learning techniques.

Anders Jorgensen – NMT Electrical Engineering

A Testbed for Robust Communications with Spread-Spectrum Technology, Software Defined Radios and Machine Learning

Dr. Jorgensen and his team (consisting of one graduate student researcher) will develop infrastructure to research communication detection, jamming, and jamming evasion using software defined radios and machine learning algorithms, in support of emerging research at Playas.

Dongwan Shin – NMT Computer Science & Engineering

Development of a Flexible Security Policy Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks

Sensor Networks Dr. Shin and his team (consisting of one graduate student researcher) will develop a flexible security policy framework for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) that enable sensor nodes to make critical security decisions about how they share information with others. The framework will be flexible so that it can adapt to changes in the threat landscape and network configurations, ensuring robust defense mechanisms that are both scalable and customizable.

This facility offers what many cannot, and we are actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with other researchers and institutions in all areas of basic and applied research and specifically those focused in the following areas of interest:

IoT Environment (Evaluation, Manipulation, Analysis)
Acoustic Sensing (AI/Machine Learning)
Software Defined Radio
SCADA (Controls, Security, and Analysis)
Power System Experimentation and Analysis
Network Vulnerability Analysis