Technology Focus Area: Trace Detection Technology

Trace Detection Technology Overview

The Trace Explosives Detection Program members have extensive experience with chemical-based trace detection technology and play a key role in the development of advanced explosives trace detection (ETD) systems. This technology is based on the collection and chemical analysis of minute quantities of explosives residue (particle or vapor) that are associated with the concealment of explosives in articles, packages, vehicles, or on people. The Trace Program provides expertise for technology developers and provides support for research and development (R&D) at the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL)

Prototype ETDs that have been developed with the support of the Trace Detection group or that have undergone extensive assessments include advance trace portals, novel handheld and benchtop ETDs (including environmentally hardened versions), new sampling methods/devices and materials (including High Volume particle and vapor Samplers), canine training aids, and nanotechnology and polymer based novel sensor based platforms.

The Trace Sensor Programs is involved in the development of next-generation systems and programs. Work includes surface and particle phenomenology studies, advanced sampling systems, next-generation vapor and particle ETD systems, R&D leading to lab and field trace standards, miniaturization of ETDs, microsensors (including microelectro-mechanical (MEMS)-based and nano-electro-mechanical (NEMS)-based systems), and canine olfaction R&D.

The Trace Team works extensively with other U.S. government agencies and foreign governments; these collaborations include R&D co-funded projects and evaluation of prototype and commercial trace systems.

TSL’s focus in explosive trace detection is concentrated in the following areas: explosives characterization, sampling, sensor development, system development, and canine. Recent activities in each of these themes are summarized below.

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Explosives Characterization

• Particle and Vapor Phenomenology: Collection of data that characterize the behavior of trace explosives residues in a variety of relevant contamination scenarios.
• Particle and Vapor Test Standards: Production of trace detection test standards, methods and data that optimize the evaluation of trace detection particle and vapor test standards.
• Trace Threat Scenario Contamination Studies: Collection of data that describe the explosive trace signature for a given threat scenario.
• Explosives Vapor Signatures: Collection of data that clarify the vapor components associated with explosives threat materials.

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Sampling

• Non-Contact and Remote Trace Sampling Systems: Development of non-contact trace sampling systems for various trace detection platforms.
• High Volume Trace Sampling Systems: Development of effective high volume trace sampling equipment that would expand trace screening operations to other venues that are currently inaccessible to effective trace detection.
• Modular Trace Sampling Systems: Development and integration of modular trace sampling systems as this would allow the use of current detection systems in a wider range of deployment venues.
• Multifunctional Trace Sampling Systems: Exploring technologies that offer the ability to simultaneously collect both particulate and vapor samples and effectively deliver the collected analyses to a trace detection system, including the capability to effectively collect both particulate and vapor signatures simultaneously.
  

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Sensor Development

• Optical Sensing: Development of advanced optical sensing platforms for point and stand-off detection.
• Non-contact trace detection: Development of trace detection systems that support the capability to perform non-contact trace detection.
• Multimodal Sensor Arrays: Development of new trace detection equipment with higher sensitivities, reduced false alarm rates, reduced size and costs, including sensing components which may include sensors and sensor coatings (non-optical), sensor arrays, advanced detection algorithms, sensor testbeds, preconcentrators and prototype trace explosives detectors.
• Multifunctional Detection: Development of sensing devices, system components and detection systems capable of detection both explosives and toxic chemicals.

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System Development

• Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Detector Enhancements: Exploration of evaluation methods that lead to enhanced COTS detector systems.
• Alternative Technologies: Ongoing evaluation of relatively mature trace detection systems that may become potential candidates for further development or pre-certification testing.
  
  

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Canine

• Canine Training Aids: Focusing on the development of canine training aids for emerging threats and improving performance of existing training aids.
• Canine Enhancements: Development of effective methods for screening canine populations for suitable candidates for canine detection teams thereby reducing the costs associated with initial training and procurement of canines for explosives screening activities.
• Canine Trace Technology: Developing methods to integrate sensor suites and other technologies, such as trace sampling systems and video transmission, into canine screening operations, thereby expanding the capabilities of canines to a wider range of venues and deployment operations.
  

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