Projects in the research area 'Detection of hazardous substances'

All the collaboration projects presented focus on the development of detection systems for biological or chemical and explosive substances and the potential uses of Terahertz technology in detecting weapons and hazardous substances. The research topics range from the early recognition of biological pathogens and other contaminants which are dangerous to health, for example in drinking water supply systems, to the detection of traces of explosives, for example within the framework of luggage screening at airports.

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Particular attention is focused on the development of practical and portable systems for detecting toxic or explosive substances and improved on-the-spot analysis methods for examining suspicious objects and detecting biological or chemical warfare agents. The projects will also study ethical, psychological and organizational issues relating to the use of these new detection technologies.

AquaBioTox

Online-capable system for monitoring drinking water with a biological broadband sensor including automatic image recognition
Early identification of contaminants in drinking water requires an online-capable broadband sensor system. Its features: it responds quickly and reliably, is robust against false alarm, easy to handle and operates economically. The project aims to develop and realize such a system.

ATLAS

Chip-based system for the detection of animal diseases
A new system is to be developed which enables the detection of different animal diseases on the spot.

BiGrudi

Biological hazards: risk assessment, ultra high-speed detection and identification of bioterrorist agents
A quick and easy-to-use diagnostic platform is to be developed for the first time using selected model agents in order to enable the assessment of bioterrorism risks entailed by suspicious material samples.

BioProb

Detection of biological hazardous substances such as toxic proteins, pathogens and viruses with an automated B-detector based on an electrical biochip
A portable system would pave the way towards robust on-site identification of biological hazardous substances. The collaboration will therefore provide the scientific and technological basis for a complete and universal B-detection system for on-site analysis.

ChipFlussPCR

Chip-based flow-through PCR system for complete mobile nucleic acid analysis of biological hazardous substances
The aim is a portable, fully fledged analytical lab for rapid and unequivocal detection of potential pathogens which can be misused for bioterrorist attacks.

ChipSenSiTek

Fibre-optical micro-sensors for the real-time detection of explosives
The concept is a special coating of the sensors, so that the selective and highly sensitive detection of different classes of explosive becomes possible.

DACHS

Detector array with a gas chromatograph for the identification of toxic substances
The research project promises quick on-site analysis of toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents. The aim is to develop a portable measuring system which can detect and identify such hazardous substances.

EXAKT

Near real time trace analysis of airborne chemical warfare agents and explosives
A new flight time mass spectrometer is to be used for the near real time analysis of highly toxic or hazardous substances in the air.

HANDHELD

Handheld THz spectrometer for the detection of explosive hazardous liquids
The aim of the project is to develop a prototype of the world's first mobile handheld THz-spectrometer. This will be able to locate liquid explosives even in closed bottles.

HYGAS

Hyperspectral sensor for quick automatic remote detection of hazardous substances
This project will develop a hyperspectral sensor, i.e., an imaging remote sensing system. This special sensor can be used for automatic detection of hazardous material from a distance and its visualization for exact locating.

IRLDEX

Infrared laser-assisted imaging detection of explosive materials
The work of the collaboration partners focuses on the analysis of relevant explosives and scenarios, the construction of an active multispectral sensor and the development of image-processing algorithms for detecting explosives.

PathoSafe

Raman spectroscopy to detect security level 3 agroterrorist pathogens
A special method, the Raman spectroscopy, is established to identify pathogens under different threat scenarios. The goal is to develop a portable device which can be used on site in a threatened area and can be operated by relief personnel such as police, fire brigade or health and veterinary offices.

Safe Inside

Detection of security-relevant substances in places which are difficult to access
The detection system will involve a combination of a mobile, highly selective and sensitive mass spectrometer as its central component and an infrared spectrometer.

S.O.N.D.E

Scenario-based emergency diagnostics system for field use
The aim of this research project is to develop mobile, integrated, diagnostics systems using microsystems. This equipment will serve to demonstrate the presence of (new) pathogens and potential B-agents.

TEKZAS

THz real-time camera (two-dimensional) for application in security technology
The overarching objective of the project is to study and implement a multi-sensor system for the remote detection of hidden chemical, biological and explosive (CBE)hazardous substances carried directly on the body.

TeraCam

Active, fully electronic, room-temperature, real-time THz camera for security applications
Two laboratory camera systems will be developed in the course of the project: One system is to be suitable for long-distance early recognition enabling images at a distance of up to 20 metres. The second system will involve lower production costs but will only be usable for close-up images.

TeraTom

High-resolution THz tomography for security applications
The aim is to develop a prototype for close-range screening which enables high-resolution searches of small items, for example a shoe.

THEBEN

Terahertz detection systems: Ethical support, evaluation and standardization
Societal security concepts are analysed and evaluated in the context of security technologies, and advice is offered for the political and research communities.

 

THz-Videocam

Passive THz video camera for security applications to detect hidden objects at great distances
The project develops a passive video camera which takes real-time pictures of moving objects at great distances in the THz spectrum.