Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Remote and unobtrusive detection of the presence of explosive materials has become an urgent priority for society with today's heightened concern about terrorist threats. Present security sensing and monitoring technologies often fail to provide adequate information at economically acceptable costs. The principal research objective of this interdisciplinary project is fundamental studies, technology development, prototyping, testing and implementing of advanced fiber-optic sensor systems to detect specific types of chemical substances in chosen environments, with the particular focus on explosives detection. Experimental investigation, theoretical analysis, modeling, manufacturing and testing of novel sensing materials, waveguiding structures and sensing devices with specifically designed optical properties will be undertaken. Another research objective will involve development of advanced optical signal processing and switching methods, processing and calibration algorithms, and effective integration of sensing devices into efficient local area sensor networks. The practical objective will be to develop a capability of a cost-effective, remote and simultaneous multi-sensor technique that could be tailored for explosives detection. These miniature sensors could easily be hidden in walls, floors, columns or even in pieces of furniture without alerting the public or suspects. They would be able to detect the presence and precise location of dangerous materials in their proximity while being connected via long optical cables to a monitoring station. The principal training objective it to provide exceptional opportunities for training of HQP in the multidisciplinary area of chemistry, photonics and their environmental monitoring applications, where there is a significant shortage of specialists. This project fits well with the target area of Safety and Security, particularly with the research topic of Event Detection.