BioSense/SR-BioSpectra demonstrations of wide area/early warning for bioaerosol threats: program description and early test and evaluation results

Jean-Robert Simard; Sylvie Buteau; Pierre Lahaie; Pierre Mathieu; Gilles Roy; Denis Nadeau; John McFee; Jim Ho; Susan Rowsell; Nicolas Ho; François Babin; Daniel Cantin; Dave Healey; Jennifer Robinson; Scott Wood; Jack Hsu

doi:10.1117/12.894631

13 October 2011 BioSense/SR-BioSpectra demonstrations of wide area/early warning for bioaerosol threats: program description and early test and evaluation results

Jean-Robert Simard, Sylvie Buteau, Pierre Lahaie, Pierre Mathieu, Gilles Roy, Denis Nadeau, John McFee, Jim Ho, Susan Rowsell, Nicolas Ho, François Babin, Daniel Cantin, Dave Healey, Jennifer Robinson, Scott Wood, Jack Hsu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8189, Optics and Photonics for Counterterrorism and Crime Fighting VII; Optical Materials in Defence Systems Technology VIII; and Quantum-Physics-based Information Security; 81890E (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.894631
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Threats associated with bioaerosol weapons have been around for several decades and have been mostly associated with terrorist activities or rogue nations. Up to the turn of the millennium, defence concepts against such menaces relied mainly on point or in-situ detection technologies. Over the last 10 years, significant efforts have been deployed by multiple countries to supplement the limited spatial coverage of a network of one or more point bio-detectors using lidar technology. The addition of such technology makes it possible to detect within seconds suspect aerosol clouds over area of several tens of square kilometers and track their trajectories. These additional capabilities are paramount in directing presumptive ID missions, mapping hazardous areas, establishing efficient counter-measures and supporting subsequent forensic investigations. In order to develop such capabilities, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear, and Explosives Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) have supported two major demonstrations based on spectrally resolved Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) lidar: BioSense, aimed at defence military missions in wide open spaces, and SR-BioSpectra, aimed at surveillance of enclosed or semienclosed wide spaces common to defence and public security missions. This article first reviews briefly the modeling behind these demonstration concepts. Second, the lidar-adapted and the benchtop bioaerosol LIF chambers (BSL1), developed to challenge the constructed detection systems and to accelerate the population of the library of spectral LIF properties of bioaerosols and interferents of interest, will be described. Next, the most recent test and evaluation (T&E) results obtained with SR-BioSpectra and BioSense are reported. Finally, a brief discussion stating the way ahead for a complete defence suite is provided.

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Jean-Robert Simard, Sylvie Buteau, Pierre Lahaie, Pierre Mathieu, Gilles Roy, Denis Nadeau, John McFee, Jim Ho, Susan Rowsell, Nicolas Ho, François Babin, Daniel Cantin, Dave Healey, Jennifer Robinson, Scott Wood, and Jack Hsu "BioSense/SR-BioSpectra demonstrations of wide area/early warning for bioaerosol threats: program description and early test and evaluation results", Proc. SPIE 8189, Optics and Photonics for Counterterrorism and Crime Fighting VII; Optical Materials in Defence Systems Technology VIII; and Quantum-Physics-based Information Security, 81890E (13 October 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.894631

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