A Multiband Wide Area Fluorescence Detection System

Nomadics has been working with landmine detection technologies since 1998. During that time we have established the extreme sensitivity of an amplifying fluorescent polymer (AFP) that has been employed in the direct detection of ultratrace quantities ofchemical signature compounds of explosives and effective methods of fluorescence measurement including standoff detection. These methods have the potential for use with developing sensors based on the use of microbes for detection of explosives.Together, these technologies offer tremendous potential for locating landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other explosives. Nomadics is collaborating with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to meld these complementary technologies to prove the feasibility ofthis approach.Besides wide-area screening for landmines and UXO, this technology has the potential to provide detection of other chemical and biological contaminants, such as releases of environmental pollutants and toxic wastes. For example, withspecific microbes, large underground storage tank fields could be monitored for leaking containers.