You are here:
ADAPTING FTIR MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPLICATIONS
Citation:
HARRIS, D. BRUCE, R. H. KAGANN, AND R. HASHMONAY. ADAPTING FTIR MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPLICATIONS. Presented at AWMA Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, June 21 - 24, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) sensors have numerous advantages for measuring chemical plumes over wide areas compared to point detection sensors. Extractive FTIR sensors have been used for industrial stack monitoring and are attractive for building ventilation system protection. Both would make ideal detection systems for Homeland Security applications. Many of the chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and toxic industrial chemicals of concern for homeland defense have strong infrared signatures that make them ideal targets for this technology. This effort includes a systematic study of how the use of low-cost components and fast deployment conditions affect the ability of the OP-FTIR to detect CWAs. In addition, we have designed and assembled a mobile OP-FTIR sensor in an emergency response trailer; and we plan testing of the OP-FTIR sensor in a real-world urban environment in which a chemical emergency is simulated. Design has been initiated of a compact FTIR duct monitor and a mobile variant for building investigations after exposure and cleanup. Once the viability of these techniques has been established, various newly developed FTIR technologies will be tested to provide faster, remotely controlled, more cost effective, and lower maintenance (room temperature detectors) instruments.