Energy Citations Database

Chemical Sensing of Explosive Targets in the Bedford Basin, Halifax Nova Scotia

The most common UXO detection methods used today are anomaly detectors such as magnetometers and other metal detectors. Unfortunately, these techniques are often unable to discriminate between UXO or MLOs and metallic litter, such as shell fragments or other detritus. As a result, the false alarm rate associated with these techniques is quite high. Other systems, including sonar systems, ground penetrating radar, and other technologies, are capable of detecting anomalies in the environment that indicate the presence of UXO and MLOs. Software algorithms that attempt to reduce the false alarm rate by distinguishing between UXO and naturally occurring items such as rocks, are often incorporated into these systems. The successes of these systems varies, and have not been widely deployed in the field, often due to cost or difficulties of moving these
large and rather complex systems into the field.

We are developing a small, portable detection system that can be used to determine whether there are explosive molecules associated with objects submerged in shallow water. Often, these objects will have been detected using other techniques, but by combining two different detection technologies, the false alarm rate can potentially
be reduced to near zero.

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