GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS Schedule of Intangibles (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 9,305			$ 9,561
Amortization	(261)		(194)
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	5
Energy & Security Sonar Solutions Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted-Average Useful Life	6 years
Energy & Security Sonar Solutions Segment [Member] | Gross cost intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	539			532
Amortization	0
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	7
Energy & Security Sonar Solutions Segment [Member] | Accumulated amortization intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	(390)			(364)
Amortization	20
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	(6)
GridSense segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted-Average Useful Life	10 years
GridSense segment [Member] | Gross cost intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	2,785			2,777
Amortization	0
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	8
GridSense segment [Member] | Accumulated amortization intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	(958)			(873)
Amortization	81
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	(4)
USSI segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted-Average Useful Life	20 years
USSI segment [Member] | Gross cost intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	2,715			2,715
Amortization	0
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	0
USSI segment [Member] | Accumulated amortization intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	(418)			(380)
Amortization	38
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	0
Power Generation Monitoring segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted-Average Useful Life	13 years
Power Generation Monitoring segment [Member] | Gross cost intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	4,385			4,385
Amortization	0
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	0
Power Generation Monitoring segment [Member] | Accumulated amortization intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	(397)			(309)
Amortization	88
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	0
All Other Segments [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted-Average Useful Life	9 years	[1]
All Other Segments [Member] | Gross cost intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	1,196	[1]		1,196	[1]
Amortization	0	[1]
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	0	[1]
All Other Segments [Member] | Accumulated amortization intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	(152)	[1]		(118)	[1]
Amortization	34	[1]
Cumulative Translation Adjustment	$ 0	[1]

[1] ** Results for the Cathodic Protection segment are included in "Other" in Segment Reporting (see Note 9).