Aspects Of Explosives Detection

Detection and quantification of trace chemicals is a major thrust of analytical chemistry. In recent years much effort has been spent developing detection systems for priority pollutants. Less mature are the detections of substances of interest to law enforcement and security personnel:in particular explosives. This volume will discuss the detection of these, not only setting out the theoretical fundamentals, but also emphasizing the remarkable developments in the last decade. Terrorist events—airplanes blown out of the sky (PanAm 103 over Lockerbie) and attacks on U.S. and European cities (Trade Center in New York and the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, railways in London and Madrid)--emphasize the danger of concealed explosives. However, since most explosives release little vapor, it was not possible to detect them by technology used on most organic substances. After PanAm 103 was downed over Scotland, the U.S. Congress requested automatic explosive detection equipment be placed in airports. This volume outlines the history of explosive detection research, the developments along the way, present day technologies, and what we think the future holds. Written by experts in the field who set out both the scientific issues and the practical context with authority Discusses and describes the threat Describes the theoretical background and practical applications of both trace and bulk explosives detection

Existing and Potential Standoff Explosives Detection Techniques examines the scientific techniques currently used as the basis for explosives detection and determines whether other techniques might provide promising research avenues with possible pathways to new detection protocols. This report describe the characteristics of explosives, bombs, and their components that are or might be used to provide a signature for exploitation in detection technology; considers scientific techniques for exploiting these characteristics to detect explosives and explosive devices; discusses the potential for integrating such techniques into detection systems that would have sufficient sensitivity without an unacceptable false-positive rate; and proposes areas for research that might be expected to yield significant advances in practical explosives and bomb detection technology in the near, mid, and long term.

The use of explosives in terror attacks, including improvised ones, presents an ongoing threat which requires the development of techniques for detecting a larger variety of explosives, faster detection, and with lower rates of false alarms. Counterterrorist detection techniques of explosives [...] covers the most successful techniques for explosives detection at present. This completely revised volume describes the most updated research findings, which will be used in the next generation of explosives detection technologies. New editors Drs. Avi Cagan and Jimmie Oxley have assembled in one volume a series of detection technologies of explosives, written by a group of scientists who are experts in each of these technologies. The book helps researchers to compare the advantages and disadvantages of all available methods in detecting explosives and, in effect, allow them to choose the correct instrumental screening technology according to the nature of the sample.

Up to now so called sniffer dogs are the most successful and widespread systems for the explosives detection at airports and in public areas. Dogs are able to detect explosives under various conditions. On the other hand dogs are living beings and their behavior and skills are influenced by numerous parameters (e.g. age, sex, trainer, daily condition, etc.). To overcome these problems concerning the detection of explosives and illicit substances by dogs chemical sensors seemed to be a valuable alternative for this application and therefore a valuable tool in counter terrorism. The presented papers are an outcome of an NATO ARW which was hold in Moscow and cover different aspects of vapour and trace detection of explosive. Starting from different scenarios (airport security, inspection of large areas, freight screening, boarding passes, etc.) and taking into account the capability of dogs the chances of and demands on chemical sensors are discussed in view of their possible application. Several papers highlight the capability and possibilities of different methods and devices for the vapour detection of explosives (drift MS, high speed gas analyzers, ion mobility increment spectrometer, etc.). Information about the post explosion identification of explosives by LC/MS and the development of explosive standards for dog training and sensor testing are presented also.

The fast detection of explosives from the vapor phase would be one way to enhance the protection of society against terrorist attacks. Up to now the problem of detection of explosives, especially the location of explosives whether at large areas e. g. station halls, theaters or hidden in cars, aircraft cargo, baggage or explosives hidden in crowds e. g. suicide bombers or bombs in bags has not been solved. Smelling of explosives like dogs do seems to be a valuable tool for a security chain. In general different strategies can be adopt to the basic problem of explosive detection: • bulk detection • vapor detection Normally meetings cover both aspects and applications of the detection. Even though both methods might fulfill special aspects of a general security chain the underlying scientific questions differ strongly. Because of that the discussions of the scientists and practitioners from the different main directions are sometimes only less specific. Therefore the NATO Advisory Panel in Security-Related Civil Science and Technology proposed a small series of NATO ARW's which focuses on the different scientific aspects of explosives detection methods. This book is based on material presented at the first NATO ARW of this series in Moscow which covered the topic: Vapor and trace detection of explosives. The second ARW was held in St. Petersburg and treated the topic Bulk detection methods. The third workshop was held in Warwick and focused on electronic noses which cover a somewhat different aspect of vapor detection.

Field Detection Technologies For Explosives Explosives are historically the weapons that have been most frequently used against civilians by terrorist organisations. In the past few years, the use of explosives by terrorist groups has cost the lives of more people than the combination of all other attacks, including the use of weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological and nuclear weapons). Early detection of these substances is one of the most effective ways to prevent attacks using explosives from occurring. Fast and reliable equipment to detect the presence of explosives and explosive devices is critical to fighting terrorism. Written in a style that makes complicated technologies easy to understand, this book covers the principles, instrumentation and applications of current technologies used to detect explosives in the field. Both trace detection technologies and bulk detection technologies are discussed. The section on trace detection technologies includes chapters on ion mobility spectrometry, piezoelectric sensors, chemiluminescence-based detectors, polymer-based technologies and mass spectrometry. It also discusses detection requirements, methodologies used for detector evaluation, and sampling technologies. The section on bulk detection contains chapters on x-ray, millimeter wave imaging, neutron and nuclear quadrupoie resonance technologies. This volume introduces the basic concepts of commonly used explosives detection technologies and is an essential resource for novice or more experienced personnel working in the explosives detection field as well as those with a general interest in this important subject. Features Discusses all aspects of commonly used field detection technologies. Reviews detection requirements and explosives sampling methods. Describes specific instruments used for field detection applications, such as at airports, harbours and border crossings. Includes a summary of common explosives and their important properties for easy reference. Provides an introduction to data fusion and receiver operating characteristic methods, both of which have recently received significant attention in the field of explosives detection. Book jacket.

Detection of Bulk Explosives: Advanced Techniques against Terrorism contains reviews of: existing and emerging bulk explosives detection techniques; scientific and technical policy of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation; challenges in application and evaluation of EDS systems for aviation security; multi-sensor approach to explosives detection. There are also reports devoted to the following individual explosive detection techniques: X-ray systems in airports; neutron in, gamma out techniques; neutron and gamma backscattering; nuclear quadruple resonance, including remote NQR; sub-surface radars; microwave scanners; laser-induced burst spectroscopy (LIBS); acoustic sensors; nonlinear location (NUD); systems for localization and destruction of explosive objects.

This volume presents selected contributions from the “Advanced Research Workshop on Explosives Detection” hosted by the Department of Information Engineering of the University of Florence, Italy in 2018. The main goal of the workshop was to find out how Science for Peace and Security projects in the field of Explosives Detection contribute to the development and/or refinement of scientific and technical knowledge and competencies. The findings of the workshop, presented in the last section of the book, determine future actions and direction of the SPS Programme in the field of explosives detection and management.The NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, promotes dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO member states and partner nations based on scientific research, technological innovation and knowledge exchange. Several initiatives were launched in the field of explosive detection and clearance, as part of NATO’s enhanced role in the international fight against terrorism. Experts and scientists from NATO members and partner countries have been brought together in multi-year projects, within the framework of the SPS Programme, to cooperate in the scientific research in explosive detection field, developing new technologies and methods to be implemented in order to detect explosive substances in different contexts.