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Homeland Security

News and technical information on sensors for Homeland Security applications


Article
On-Site Trace Chemical Detection, Part 2: IMS and DMS Working Together   February 1, 2008

Last month we discussed how IMS and DMS are used for trace chemical detection. Now we consider how the two technologies can be used in tandem to achieve greater selectivity and sensitivity and fewer false positives.More>>

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On-Site Trace Chemical Detection, Part 1: Understanding Ion Mobility and Differential Ion Mobility Spectroscopy   January 1, 2008

The first installment of this two-part series discusses ion mobility spectroscopy (IMS), the leading contender for fast and reliable detection of trace chemicals, and differential ion mobility spectroscopy (DMS), a related technology that provides faster, smaller and more sensitive sensors capable...More>>

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New Implementations of OGC Sensor Web Enablement Standards   December 1, 2007

Wildfires, river basins, tsunami alerts, and environmental risk management are just some of the projects using OGC's interoperability framework for Web-based access and control of sensors and sensor data.More>>

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Embedded Web Services: Making Sense out of Diverse Sensors   May 31, 2007

Integrating networks of sensors has been a goal for years, from the creation of device profiles and industrial networking standards through to the adoption of ad hoc wireless sensor and control networks. Web services promise to ease the integration of these disparate and distributed elements.More>>

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The Big Picture: Sensor Webs in Disaster Response Demo   March 13, 2007

In an increasingly wired world, knitting together data from disparate sources into an interoperable whole can present disaster managers and first responders with critical information during a major emergency or crisis.More>>

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Monitoring Within and Without   December 1, 2006

Firefighters and HazMat workers have a very tough job. They're frequently in heavy gear, in unfriendly atmospheres, and working hard. Unfortunately, this combination of equipment, environment, and job stress means that frequently they're operating at the limits of human endurance.More>>

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Better Security with Ambient Air Sensing   December 1, 2006

We all want to feel safe in public places, and knowing that there's nothing noxious in the air is a strong step in that direction.More>>

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Border Chief Says . . .   December 1, 2006

The federal government is spending billions on new Border Patrol agents and on sensor and radar networks in remote areas of the U.S.-Mexico border.More>>

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Stepping Up Large-Scale Security   December 1, 2006

New developments are advancing security capabilities for large facilities. For example, Vidient Systems, developer of intelligent video surveillance and analysis software, is partnering with Intergraph Corp., provider of spatial information management software, to integrate Vidient SmartCatch with...More>>

Article
Self-Assembling Fluids   November 1, 2006

NIST researchers have devised a novel platform for self-assembling hierarchical surfaces in a fluid. Rather than mixing the components on a substrate and letting them dry, the investigators allowed them to mix and assemble freely in a fluid and then quickly froze them in place.More>>