Crime-Fighting Sensors

This article discusses crime fighting sensors that are being designed to identify ceramic weapons, plastic explosives, chemical weapons, and organic materials. They are also being developed to help protect citizens from terrorism and aid police in solving crimes. One organization leading the development of innovative antiterrorism sensing technologies is Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. Among Sandia’s projects is an explosives-detection portal, designed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The portal is intended to help prevent airliner hijackings and bombings by identifying passengers, airport visitors, and employees who have been recently working with any of a wide variety of explosive chemicals. Upcoming tests with the Albuquerque Police Department’s crime lab are designed to help work out any bugs in the technique, define what kinds of evidence it can help find, and determine whether the system will be practical as a tool for law enforcement. Its most promising features are its portability and the fact that it does not contaminate evidence.