Chemical, Explosive, & Radiological Threat Detection
SC&A, partnered with select, leading advanced technology firms,
supports the needs of U.S. Homeland Security and U.S. Department of
Defense organizations to detect from a distance hazardous chemicals,
explosives (including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and
person-borne IEDs), and nuclear material. Our services include:
- Development of systems to detect hazards: chemical,
explosive, radiological, and biological
- Project management of
multidisciplinary, multi-company teams from industry
and academia
- Systems engineering and systems integration bringing
together disparate technologies
- Threat characterization and analytical support
- Nuclear engineering support
to determine radiation fields from radiological sources
and contaminated surfaces and structures
Sample Projects
- For the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology
Directorate, SC&A led an industrial and university team to develop
a person-portable scanning system using terahertz technology to detect
from a distance low-vapor-pressure toxic chemicals, liquid explosives,
and precursors.
- For the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, SC&A participated as a
subcontractor in the development of a nontraditional design for the
standoff detection of low-vapor-pressure chemical agents. SC&A
identified and characterized the properties of chemical agents as
possible target compounds for the terahertz-based detection system and
helped the prime define the overall project direction and technology.
- For the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, SC&A participated
as a subcontractor in the development of a nontraditional method for the
remote detection of biological and chemical compounds using a system design
based on continuous-wave terahertz technology. SC&A identified and
characterized the properties of target bioterrorism and toxic chemical agents.
- Using internal funding, SC&A is leading an Internal Research and
Development project with other advanced technology companies to develop
methods to remotely, accurately, and quickly detect anomalous radiological
sources that may indicate a threat to national security, such as a
radiological dispersion device (“dirty bomb”) or nuclear weapon.
