Hiltmar Schubert - Böcker

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.

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.

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. While the long term goal - 100 per cent detection, 0 per cent false alarms - is an "impossible" dream, the short term goal - improvement of current detection systems - is achievable in a timely and cost-effective manner. While in some scenarios the general direction of work is to reduce the inspection time, in other scenarios time will be sacrificed in favor of 100 per cent detection probability. Strengtheni

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. While the long term goal - 100 per cent detection, 0 per cent false alarms - is an "impossible" dream, the short term goal - improvement of current detection systems - is achievable in a timely and cost-effective manner. While in some scenarios the general direction of work is to reduce the inspection time, in other scenarios time will be sacrificed in favor of 100 per cent detection probability. Strengtheni

The state of the art in the area of security related civil science and technology concerning energetic materials and munitions is of pressing importance at the present time, because 10 years after the end of the cold war, in many countries in east and west, huge stockpiles of munitions still await destruction.The safety behavior of munitions and their energetic material is the determining factor for all precautionary measures for the protection of environment and population. The probability of a catastrophic reaction of munitions and their energetic components will be so more likely, the closer the munitions are to the end of their life time. Residues and undetected ordnance, recycling, destruction of ammunition and depletion or reuse of energetic materials will either cause more or less damage to environment.Scientific research and development have the aim to increase performance of munitions on one side and to improve safety in relation to unpredictable events on the other side. The impact on the environment by the production and normal use of munitions and their residues after use will acquire an increasing importance in environmental awareness. The excellent technical presentations were classified in five Groups, according to the technical programme. The "Introduction to the subject; Methods, tests and application; Insensitive and "green" munitions; Storage and transportation; and Demilitarisation and recycling" sessions, were closed by a final and general interesting discussion among participants.

The state of the art in the area of security related civil science and technology concerning energetic materials and munitions is of pressing importance at the present time, because 10 years after the end of the cold war, in many countries in east and west, huge stockpiles of munitions still await destruction.The safety behavior of munitions and their energetic material is the determining factor for all precautionary measures for the protection of environment and population. The probability of a catastrophic reaction of munitions and their energetic components will be so more likely, the closer the munitions are to the end of their life time. Residues and undetected ordnance, recycling, destruction of ammunition and depletion or reuse of energetic materials will either cause more or less damage to environment.Scientific research and development have the aim to increase performance of munitions on one side and to improve safety in relation to unpredictable events on the other side. The impact on the environment by the production and normal use of munitions and their residues after use will acquire an increasing importance in environmental awareness. The excellent technical presentations were classified in five Groups, according to the technical programme. The "Introduction to the subject; Methods, tests and application; Insensitive and "green" munitions; Storage and transportation; and Demilitarisation and recycling" sessions, were closed by a final and general interesting discussion among participants.

These proceedings contain the presentations and results of several discussions of the workshop on “Detection and Disposal of Improvised Explosives” held in St.-Petersburg, Russia, September 7-9, 2005. This Advanced Research Workshop was the fourth event concerning Detection of Explosives in connection with counter terrorism. After the first three workshops, dealing with vapor and trace detection, electronic nose detection and detection of bulk explosives, this workshop was devoted to the detection of Improvise Explosives including: Methods of detection of Improvised Explosives (IE). Methods of detection of Improvised explosives devices (IED). Disposal and safe handling of ID and IED. The treatment of detection methods may be divided in the following groups: Overview about the different methods; Trace- and vapor detection; Electromagnetic methods; Neutron methods; Laser techniques. Because of different definitions of Improvised Explosives the parti- pants of the workshop agreed after some discussions with the following definition: An Improvised Explosive (IE) can be any chemical compound or mixture capable of an explosive reaction. They are normally easily prepared by a knowledgeable layman under simple conditions. Components of IE are typically inorganic salts containing molecular bound oxygen like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc. or organic compounds with nitro-, nitami- or nitrate-groups or peroxides. Admixtures of military or commercial explosive materials are also used. From the chemical point of view IE can be divided into the following types: Salts containing chemical groups with oxygen (like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc.) in mixtures with combustible substances like carbon-hydrogen compounds.

These proceedings contain the presentations and results of several discussions of the workshop on “Detection and Disposal of Improvised Explosives” held in St.-Petersburg, Russia, September 7-9, 2005. This Advanced Research Workshop was the fourth event concerning Detection of Explosives in connection with counter terrorism. After the first three workshops, dealing with vapor and trace detection, electronic nose detection and detection of bulk explosives, this workshop was devoted to the detection of Improvise Explosives including: Methods of detection of Improvised Explosives (IE). Methods of detection of Improvised explosives devices (IED). Disposal and safe handling of ID and IED. The treatment of detection methods may be divided in the following groups: Overview about the different methods; Trace- and vapor detection; Electromagnetic methods; Neutron methods; Laser techniques. Because of different definitions of Improvised Explosives the parti- pants of the workshop agreed after some discussions with the following definition: An Improvised Explosive (IE) can be any chemical compound or mixture capable of an explosive reaction. They are normally easily prepared by a knowledgeable layman under simple conditions. Components of IE are typically inorganic salts containing molecular bound oxygen like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc. or organic compounds with nitro-, nitami- or nitrate-groups or peroxides. Admixtures of military or commercial explosive materials are also used. From the chemical point of view IE can be divided into the following types: Salts containing chemical groups with oxygen (like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc.) in mixtures with combustible substances like carbon-hydrogen compounds.

These proceedings contain the presentations of a NATO-Russian - vanced Research Workshop (ARW) held at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) near Karlsruhe, Germany, attended also by most of the members of the “Explosive Detection Working Group” (EDWG) of the “Advisory Panel on Security-Related Civil Science and Technology”. The ARW, approved by the NATO Science Committee, is the ?fth NATO- Workshop during the last 3 years dealing with the detection of explosives in connection with counter-terrorism. The special goal of this workshop was the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the special ?eld of “Stand-Off Detection” and to ?x the “State of the Art” in this ?eld of research. At the end of the workshop proposals of Research & Development were presented (but not included in the proceedings), which were eva- ated by the present members of the EDWG during the following day of the workshop. One of the ?rst measures to counter the threat will be to stop the transport of illicit materials, that means in our case to detect explosive charges before they are initiated by terrorists.

These proceedings contain the presentations of a NATO-Russian - vanced Research Workshop (ARW) held at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) near Karlsruhe, Germany, attended also by most of the members of the “Explosive Detection Working Group” (EDWG) of the “Advisory Panel on Security-Related Civil Science and Technology”. The ARW, approved by the NATO Science Committee, is the ?fth NATO- Workshop during the last 3 years dealing with the detection of explosives in connection with counter-terrorism. The special goal of this workshop was the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the special ?eld of “Stand-Off Detection” and to ?x the “State of the Art” in this ?eld of research. At the end of the workshop proposals of Research & Development were presented (but not included in the proceedings), which were eva- ated by the present members of the EDWG during the following day of the workshop. One of the ?rst measures to counter the threat will be to stop the transport of illicit materials, that means in our case to detect explosive charges before they are initiated by terrorists.

The organization of an Advanced Research Workshop with the title “Detection and Disposal of Liquid Explosives and Flammable Agents in Connection with Terrorism” was motivated by international findings about activities in this field of application. This ARW followed a meeting about the “Detection of Disposal Improvised Explosives” (St. Petersburg, 2005). Both items show the logistic problems as one of the lessons, terrorists have to overcome. These problems are connected with the illegal supply and transport of explosives and fuels and as counter-measure the detection of these materials. The invention of liquid explosives goes back to the middle of the 19th century and was used for special purposes in the commercial field of application. Because of the high sensitivity of liquid explosives against mechanical shock, caused by adiabatic compression of air-bobbles producing “hot spots” as origin of initiation the commercial application was not very successful. Because of this high risk, liquid explosives are not used in military or commercial application with some exceptions. In the commercial field explosives as slurries or emulsions consisting of suitable salts (Ammoniumnitrate etc.) and water are used to a large extend because of their high insensitivity. In many cases these slurries or emulsions were unfit for terrorist actions, because of their low sensitivity, large critical diameter and using in confinement. In the military field liquid explosives are used in World War I and II as bomb-fillings.