Table Of ContentNATO Science for Peace and Security Series - B:
Physics and Biophysics
Explosives Detection
Sensors, Electronic Systems and Data Processing
Edited by
Lorenzo Capineri
Eyüp Kuntay Turmus˛
AB 3
Explosives Detection
NATO Science for Peace and Security Series
ThisSeriespresentstheresultsofscientificactivitiessupportedthroughtheframeworkof
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SeriesB:PhysicsandBiophysics
Explosives Detection
Sensors, Electronic Systems and Data
Processing
editedby
Lorenzo Capineri
Dipartimento Ingegneriadell’Informazione
UniversitàdegliStudidiFirenze
Firenze,Italy
and
ş
Eyüp Kuntay Turmu
Emerging SecurityChallenges Division
ScienceforPeace&Security(SPS)
Programme
BRUSSELS,BrusselsHoofdst.ge.,
Belgium
Published inCooperation withNATOEmergingSecurity ChallengesDivision
ProceedingsoftheNATOAdvancedResearchWorkshoponExplosivesDetection,
Florence,Italy
17–18October2018
ISBN978-94-024-1731-9 (PB)
ISBN978-94-024-1728-9 (HB)
ISBN978-94-024-1729-6 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1729-6
PublishedbySpringer,
P.O.Box17,3300AADordrecht,TheNetherlands.
www.springer.com
Printedonacid-freepaper
AllRightsReserved
©SpringerNatureB.V.2019
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Preface
Mines, unexploded ordnances (UXOs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and
other explosive remnants of war (ERW) pose a direct threat to the security of the
citizens of NATO member and NATO partner countries and to regional develop-
ment. Mines and UXOs are a persistent global threat, particularly in war-torn
countries, and international cooperation is crucial to effectively address this
challenge.
Inmoderntimes,IEDsaretheweaponofchoiceforterroristsaroundtheworld,
and as such, there is a growing need for methods to quickly and effectively detect
explosives in both military and civilian environments. Explosive detection and
removalareextremelychallengingasdevicesbecomemoresophisticatedanddeadly
due to advancements in materials, shapes, sizes and varieties. The high cost and
general inaccessibility of state-of-the-art explosives detection devices, combined
with the high risk and inefficiency of classic demining activities, and a lack of
information and education on detection and clearance in danger zones present
considerablechallengestopeaceandsecurity.
InlinewiththeBrusselsSummitDeclarationin2018,theScienceforPeaceand
Security (SPS) Programme continues to support capabilities and technologies to
addresshuman,scientificandtechnological advancementsinthefieldofMine and
UXO Detection and Clearance. Amongst others, SPS supports the development of
new capabilities and technologies to tackle the significant threat posed by mines,
UXOs and IEDs and to manage the consequences of their proliferation by
cooperatingwithpartnersandinternationalorganizationstoleveragethefullpoten-
tial of each stakeholder engaged in the global effort to manage explosive devices.
Finally, the programme funds awareness-raising activities and the development of
capabilitiesforlong-termsolutions.
TheSPSProgrammeisanestablishedNATOpartnershiptoolthatisbasedonthe
threepillarsofscience,partnershipandsecurity.Inthespiritofcooperativesecurity,
SPS provides concrete, practical opportunities for cooperation to scientists and
expertswithinNATO’swidenetworkofpartnercountriesbasedonsecurity-related
civil science, technology and innovation. All activities funded under the SPS
v
vi Preface
Programmeaddressoneormoreoftheprogramme’skeyprioritiesandhavealinkto
security.1 According to these priorities, the programme promotes cooperation,
scientific research and innovation to address contemporary security challenges,
enhances support for NATO-led operations and missions, increases awareness of
security development including through early warning (e.g. mine and UXO detec-
tionandclearance)andisopentoanyothercooperationclearlylinkedtothefieldof
security.
The SPS Programmehas beencontributing tothecore goals of theAlliancefor
six decades. The origins of the programme date back to the 1950s, and its outlook
hasbeensuccessfullyadaptedtothechangingsecurityenvironmentovertheyears.
In2018,wecelebratedthe60thAnniversaryoftheSPSProgrammeatNATO,which
gave us an opportunity to reflect upon the past several decades of SPS and to
showcase prototypes built by SPS-funded experts at NATO headquarters. Today,
the SPS Programme is fundamental to building bridges and fostering partnerships
amongst NATO members and partners through tailored and targeted activities that
promote capacity building and technological innovation through practical
cooperation.
It speaks volumes that specialists from well over half of NATO’s partner coun-
trieshavebeendirectorsorco-directorsofSPS-fundedactivitiesunderthepriorityof
counterterrorism. Many of these activities focused on explosives management in a
varietyoffields,includingdataanalysis,developingnewandadvancedtechnologies
aswellastraining,preparation,disseminationandcapacitybuilding,tonameafew.
These tailored SPS activities often build links between technological research and
development of new capabilities and the human and social aspects of explosives
management.Forexample,anSPS-fundedmulti-yearprojecttosupporthumanitar-
ian demining in Ukraine was launched by the NATO Support and Procurement
Agency and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) after a request for
support in demining operations in Eastern Ukraine by the Ukrainian government.
Theprojectprovidedatotalof53typesofequipmentcomposingof841individual
items, 4 vehicles and emergency trauma medical equipment and delivered training
focusedontheenhancementofSESUskillsinclearingnewlyencounteredIEDs.
In Iraq, the SPS Programme funded a training activity responding to a critical
capabilitygapandanimmediateIraqiprioritytoimplementthepost-conflictsearch
and clearance requirements, allowing the return of displaced populations. One
hundred Iraqi explosive ordnance personnel were trained, and 154 kits of light-
scale equipment were delivered through the project. Likewise, in Jordan, SPS has
funded a multi-year project to deliver a series of cooperative events and training
sessions to provide the Jordanian Armed Forces with more robust and resilient C-
IEDcapabilities.
These activities, which support the human and social aspects of security, are
complemented by projects that cultivate new and rapidly developing technologies.
1The SPS key priorities are based on NATO’s Strategic Concept agreed by Allies in the 2010
LisbonSummitandthestrategicobjectivesofNATO’spartnerrelationsagreedinBerlinin2011.
Preface vii
An ongoing multi-year project ledby Italy and Azerbaijan ispreparing sensorsfor
the detection of explosives, particularly nitroaromatic explosives like TNT, to be
usedinunmanneddronesfortheexplorationofhazardousenvironments.Thistool
willreducehuman-minecontact,thussavinglives.Meanwhile,TurkeyandUkraine
are collaborating on a multi-year project to develop technology based on the
application of two techniques of explosive detection: nuclear magnetic resonance
andmicrowavesub-THzdielectricspectroscopyinordertocreateeffectiveandfast
methodsofidentifyingexplosiveandillicitsubstances.
ThesearejustsomeexamplesofmanyongoingprojectsthattheSPSProgramme
is currently supporting in the field of explosives management. The programme
provides funding and expert advice for security-relevant activities in the form of
workshops, training courses, or multi-year research projects, which foster practical
cooperation by developing networks between academia, think tanks, civil society
and government representatives. One of the specific objectives of the SPS
Programme is to encourage applications that bring a lasting impact and have a
thematic and geographical perspective. To this end, applications that promote
long-termresearchinhardsciences,aswellasinsocialdisciplines,areencouraged.
Social sciences applications may be in the form of long-term studies, case studies
with practical applications and field studies. By connecting scientists, experts,
government representatives and civil society on key issues of security, the SPS
Programmemakesasignificant,positiveimpactuponsocietyandachievestangible
andmoreimmediateresults.
Brussels,Belgium Dr.EyüpKuntayTurmuş
Introduction
The extensive research on the detection of explosives has been continuously the
subject of numerous books and publications [1–17]. This new book is, therefore,
includedinthislineofresearchandfollowsotherspublishedintheNATOScience
forPeaceandSecuritySeriesbySpringer.
This new book derives from the scientific and technological contributions
presentedattheNATO“AdvancedResearchWorkshoponExplosivesDetection,”
heldinFlorence,Italy,on17–18October2018.Theworkshopofferedanopportu-
nity for participants to diffuse the results of their projects and to compare the
developed methods and find possible synergies for increasing the technological
readinesslevelofthesensors,theelectronicssystems,andthedetectionmethods.
The book structure reflects the organization of the workshop (see http://www.
nato-sfps-landmines.eu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NATO_workshop-.pdf) and
consistsofthreesections.
The first section of the book reports the abstracts of seventeen NATO SPS
projects and Three invited contributions to provide a concise information on the
projectaimsandstatus.Thedevelopedmethodsandtheachievedresultsarereported
onlyforthecompletedprojects.
The second section of the book includes a deep and more complete description
alsofromthescientificpointofviewofthirteenNATOSPSprojectsandtwofrom
invitedscientistswhoareactivelyinvolvedinresearchonexplosivedetection.
The third section of the book summarizes the main outcomes derived from the
final roundtable of the workshop. This section provides an assessment of the
scientific and technical developments of the presented projects to determine the
futuredirectionsoftheNATOSPSprograminthefieldofexplosivedetection.
LorenzoCapineri
ix
x Introduction
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