Ebook: Detection of Explosives and Landmines: Methods and Field Experience

This ARW is the third NATO-sponsored workshop on Explosives Detection and Humanitarian Demining. The previous events were • Detection and Destruction of Anti-Personnel Landmines Moscow, 1997 • Explosives Detection and Decontamination of the Environment Prague, 1997. Over the last decade applied research in Humanitarian Demining has made progress to some extend, but according to the tremendous tasks of Demining and the lack of scientific methods for practical detection of explosive devices, research activities are still of the same importance than ever before. Concerning countermeasures against terrorism the detection of explosives is one of the keyfactors, but the practical applications are not sufficient solved. An international exchange of research results are therefore urgent, to find out the most promising measures for application. The coincidence of this ARW and the terrible disaster of New York and Washington may demonstrate the importance of this task. In consequence the explosive device detection technologies can make a major contribution to collective, family and individual security. In developed countries, these technologies provide a strong deterrent and preventative measure against terrorist threats. In less developed regions, they can improve individual, institutional and state security, lessening the insecurity that motivates many terrorists acts. The elimination of landmine threats is just one of many ways of achieving this. However our attempts to meet the extremely difficult technical challenges posed by landmine and UXO contamination are inevitably leading us to new technological approaches.

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The problem of reliably detecting explosives, whether in buried landmines or hidden in cars, aircraft cargo, baggage, or carried by suicide bombers, has not yet been solved. Explosive device detection technology can make a major contribution to collective, family and individual security. This book reviews the state of the art in a wide range of different technologies and considers whether there are alternative methods or technologies. It includes information from experts about methods and field experience.

The consensus is that current sensor technologies are inadequate for most mine action tasks and anti-terrorist activities (consider plastic mines) and no single sensor system will be able to meet all needs. Scientists must forge strong links with end users and should visit real minefields to acquire a clear understanding of the problems.

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The problem of reliably detecting explosives, whether in buried landmines or hidden in cars, aircraft cargo, baggage, or carried by suicide bombers, has not yet been solved. Explosive device detection technology can make a major contribution to collective, family and individual security. This book reviews the state of the art in a wide range of different technologies and considers whether there are alternative methods or technologies. It includes information from experts about methods and field experience.

The consensus is that current sensor technologies are inadequate for most mine action tasks and anti-terrorist activities (consider plastic mines) and no single sensor system will be able to meet all needs. Scientists must forge strong links with end users and should visit real minefields to acquire a clear understanding of the problems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Chemical methods for the detection of mines and explosives....Pages 1-19
Concept of a Combined Mobile Device for Explosives and Landmines Identification Based on Timed Neutron Source and Electromagnetic UHF Waves....Pages 21-32
Detection of Nanogram Amounts of Explosives....Pages 33-37
Humanitarian demining: sensor design and signal processing aspects....Pages 39-56
Electro-Optical Land Mine Detection....Pages 57-57
Decision-Taking Procedure for Explosives Detection by Nuclear Technique....Pages 59-67
Detection of Explosive Vapours in Ambient Air by Ion Nonlinear Drift Spectrometry Method....Pages 69-75
Trace detection of components emanating from hidden explosives....Pages 77-81
Landmine Detection with an Electronic Nose Mounted on an Airship....Pages 83-91
Detection of Semtex Plastic Explosives....Pages 93-102
HPM/IR Detection of Landmines: Review and Update....Pages 103-124
The Operational Experience and Prospect of Development of the Devices for Detection of Explosive Substances by the Thermal Neutron Radiation Analysis Method....Pages 125-131
Characterization of chemical sensors for the detection of explosives — development of standards....Pages 133-136
Explosives Localisation and Pre-Identification Based on UHF Electromagnetic Waves....Pages 137-146
A Neutron-Gamma Method and Apparatus for Detection and Identification of Hidden Objects in Brick (Concrete) Walls....Pages 147-153
Practical Issues in Manual Demining: Implications for New Detection Technologies....Pages 155-164
Technology and the Landmine Problem: Practical Aspects of Mine Clearance Operations....Pages 165-184
The High Efficiency Complex for Detection of Landmines....Pages 185-193
Detection of anti-personnel landmines using microwave radiometry techniques....Pages 195-198
Analysis of Performance of a System For Explosives Detection in Airline Baggage....Pages 199-201
Sensorics of the German Mine Detection System MMSR....Pages 203-216
The Problem of Military TNT in NQR Mine Detector....Pages 217-225
Detection of Nitrogen-Containing Substances By Means of a Small Size Accelerator....Pages 227-237
Methods of Building a Database of Radiolocation Characteristics of Explosive Substances for Their Localization and Identification....Pages 239-241
Radiation Beam Technologies in Detection and Destruction of Explosives....Pages 243-246
Methodology and Field Equipment For Detection of Explosives, Drugs and Other Substances of Organic Origin....Pages 247-249

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The problem of reliably detecting explosives, whether in buried landmines or hidden in cars, aircraft cargo, baggage, or carried by suicide bombers, has not yet been solved. Explosive device detection technology can make a major contribution to collective, family and individual security. This book reviews the state of the art in a wide range of different technologies and considers whether there are alternative methods or technologies. It includes information from experts about methods and field experience.

The consensus is that current sensor technologies are inadequate for most mine action tasks and anti-terrorist activities (consider plastic mines) and no single sensor system will be able to meet all needs. Scientists must forge strong links with end users and should visit real minefields to acquire a clear understanding of the problems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Chemical methods for the detection of mines and explosives....Pages 1-19
Concept of a Combined Mobile Device for Explosives and Landmines Identification Based on Timed Neutron Source and Electromagnetic UHF Waves....Pages 21-32
Detection of Nanogram Amounts of Explosives....Pages 33-37
Humanitarian demining: sensor design and signal processing aspects....Pages 39-56
Electro-Optical Land Mine Detection....Pages 57-57
Decision-Taking Procedure for Explosives Detection by Nuclear Technique....Pages 59-67
Detection of Explosive Vapours in Ambient Air by Ion Nonlinear Drift Spectrometry Method....Pages 69-75
Trace detection of components emanating from hidden explosives....Pages 77-81
Landmine Detection with an Electronic Nose Mounted on an Airship....Pages 83-91
Detection of Semtex Plastic Explosives....Pages 93-102
HPM/IR Detection of Landmines: Review and Update....Pages 103-124
The Operational Experience and Prospect of Development of the Devices for Detection of Explosive Substances by the Thermal Neutron Radiation Analysis Method....Pages 125-131
Characterization of chemical sensors for the detection of explosives — development of standards....Pages 133-136
Explosives Localisation and Pre-Identification Based on UHF Electromagnetic Waves....Pages 137-146
A Neutron-Gamma Method and Apparatus for Detection and Identification of Hidden Objects in Brick (Concrete) Walls....Pages 147-153
Practical Issues in Manual Demining: Implications for New Detection Technologies....Pages 155-164
Technology and the Landmine Problem: Practical Aspects of Mine Clearance Operations....Pages 165-184
The High Efficiency Complex for Detection of Landmines....Pages 185-193
Detection of anti-personnel landmines using microwave radiometry techniques....Pages 195-198
Analysis of Performance of a System For Explosives Detection in Airline Baggage....Pages 199-201
Sensorics of the German Mine Detection System MMSR....Pages 203-216
The Problem of Military TNT in NQR Mine Detector....Pages 217-225
Detection of Nitrogen-Containing Substances By Means of a Small Size Accelerator....Pages 227-237
Methods of Building a Database of Radiolocation Characteristics of Explosive Substances for Their Localization and Identification....Pages 239-241
Radiation Beam Technologies in Detection and Destruction of Explosives....Pages 243-246
Methodology and Field Equipment For Detection of Explosives, Drugs and Other Substances of Organic Origin....Pages 247-249
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