University of Hawaii and federal officials formally opened a new Department of Homeland Security research center at UH-Manoa yesterday that will bring $1.2 million for research projects to the campus this year.

The National Center for Island, Maritime and Extreme Environment Security is a partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. It is one of five Homeland Security research centers in the U.S. involving 11 universities.

The research involves “;areas where we are among the very best in the world,”; said UH President David McClain.

The center's director, Roy Wilkens, said Congress is providing $2 million a year for the next four to six years for the center. UH-Manoa will get about $1.2 million of that this year, which will cover administration costs and four research projects, he said.

Wilkens said the research includes what he called “;over the horizon”; radar, which covers 150 miles beyond what can be seen on the horizon. Current radar is generally line of sight and goes out about 20 miles, he said.

Researchers here already use the “;over the horizon”; radar to monitor ocean waves and currents. Using the Homeland Security money, UH researchers are looking into whether the radar can be used to detect ships and low-flying aircraft. It might also be used by the Coast Guard to help find missing boaters and monitor oil spills, Wilkens said.

Another project involves sensors for satellites that can monitor ship traffic or oil spills from space. One possible use is to track fishing vessels that might illegally enter the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, Wilkens said.

A third research area is in using underwater noise to detect divers or underwater vehicles, he said. Researchers here currently use the acoustic technology to keep track of whales.

The fourth project involves gathering and sorting through information on the Internet to keep track of shipping, he said.

The areas of research involved in the center are in many of the same areas as the new Navy-affiliated Applied Research Lab at UH. The difference is that the ARL involves the Navy contracting directly with the university for research.

UH-Manoa landed the Homeland Security center after putting together a proposal that competed against proposals from other universities.