LASER REMOTE SENSING OF CLANDESTINE DRUG FACILITIES

SPEC HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE LASER REMOTE PHASE-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY (PRFS) TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DETECTION OF CLANDESTINE DRUG FACILITIES. THE TECHNOLOGY IS CAPABLE OF DETECTING ORGANIC SPECIES SUCH AS KEROSENE FILMS ON THE GROUND AND ON THE SURFACES OF RIVERS, STREAMS OR LAKES AND CAN DISTINGUISH THESE FILMS FROM OTHER PETROLEUM SLICKS. THE PRESENCE OF KEROSENE IN THESE WATERWAYS IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FLUSHING AND DISPOSAL OF THIS SOLVENT FROM THE COCAINE PROCESS. ADVANTAGES OF THIS TECHNIQUE OVER DIRECT CHEMICAL VAPOR DETECTION ARE: CHEMICAL VAPOR DETECTION IN JUNGLE SETTINGS HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO TERRAIN AND INTERFERENCES (METHANE FOR EXAMPLE). MOST PROCESSING CHEMICALS HAVE HIGH VAPOR PRESSURES, HEAVIER THAN AIR. THIS CAUSES THE MAJORITY OF THE VAPORS TO REMAIN CLOSE TO THE GROUND, WITH LITTLE OR NO CONCENTRATION OVER THE JUNGLE CANOPY. FINALLY, FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUES ARE MUCH MORE SENSITIVE THAN TRADITIONAL ABSORPTION SYSTEMS (DIAL, RAMA, ETC...). THE PHASE I PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE: SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION, FLUORESCENCE CHARACTERIZATION IN ENVIRONMENTS, PRFS SYSTEM DESIGN, SIMULATION AND LABORATORY DEMONSTRATION, AND A PROTOTYPE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.