Multi-Band Fluorescence Imaging for Wide Area Detection of Land Mines, Unexploded Ordnance, and Other Contaminants

NEWTEC Services Group, Inc. proposes that a safe, expedient, and cost effective means of reclaiming contaminated lands from landmines and UXO can be achieved through the implementation of engineered plant-based fluorescent bioreporters. This technology isbased upon a previous microbial mine detection program, where microbes would excite and fluoresce in the presence of TNT vapors from UXO and landmine hazards in the soil. However, plants provide a much greater surface area in their leaves and stems for abrighter fluorescent signal generation, and their root systems accumulate the explosives from subsurface soils where they occur in much higher concentration. These added advantages will significantly increase the probability of detecting UXO, landminesand explosvie waste hazards from an airborne platform. The focus of the research effort is to generate and evaluate fluorescent signatures of genetically modified plants and tailor the plant(s) fluorescence to optimize the use of existing passive oractive imaging technology from an airborne platform for the wide area detection of these hazards and concentrations in the field. With respect to UXO recovery programs and international humanitarian demining initiatives, the technology could assist in thediscrimination of UXO areas and minefields through the identification of both patterns and random dispersals around specific structures that were targeted during previous conflicts or at test facilities and impact areas. Since landmines and UXO hazardsare deployed randomly over long distances, and encircle small villages, bridges, RR lines and infrastructure sites (hydro-electric stations, power lines, oil & gas reserves and utilities), this technology expedites the detection and recovery of thesehazards for humanitarian benefits and land reclamation/reutilization programs. Including the recovery of existing infrastructure, and facilitating access to new oil, gas, mineral resources and agricultural lands.