Critical Infrastructure Protection
Protect, Integrate and Be Prepared to React
The term "Critical Infrastructure" refers to the basic backbone of a functioning society’s economy. Examples include facilities and services associated with power, oil, tele-communications, agriculture, water and sewerage, public health and transportation. However, to protect Critical Infrastructure fully, we need to consider the human aspect. This includes the people that work in these facilities and in many cases, the customers or users that rely on this infrastructure.
Airport Safety and Security
International regulations require that passengers who intend to board an aircraft are randomly tested for the presence of trace explosives. The science of trace explosives detection is well established and is based on the fact that if a person handles explosives, even though they may wash their hands afterwards, minute traces of explosive will still remain. These traces can be passed on readily to their personal belongings, which can include mobile phones, laptops, keyboards, laptop bags and various other items of baggage.
Improving Airside Access Control and Airport Safety
It is generally agreed that one of the most obvious methods of taking an illicit explosive device onto a passenger aircraft is via hand baggage, articles of clothing and in some extreme cases by virtue of “body bombs”.
However, for maximum security, the detection processes applied to passengers should be applied equally to the ground staff, ground crew and other maintenance operators who enter the airport via the various airside access points. As with passengers, these personnel should be tested regularly for the presence of trace explosives on the property and clothing which accompanies them.
As with passengers, people can be chosen at random or may be chosen based on both gathered intelligence, which can be based on behaviour monitoring techniques, and/or the discovery of the presence of suspicious materials in articles they are taking on site.
Narcotics and Explosives Threat Detection in Airports
The DE-tector (ECAC certified) is a bench-top implementation of a system that detects traces of both drugs (narcotics) and explosives. It plays a key role in both air passenger security screening where it is found in combination with hand baggage X-ray systems.
The Bruker RoadRunner - a battery-portable, hand-held, version of this technology that affords a greater degree of transportability; literally a "go anywhere" device. Just like the bench-top DE-tector, this technology will detect traces of both drugs and explosives.
The hand-portable System helps users in major facilities to improve their productivity as the device can be carried round with them and suspicious packages tested at will. This lightweight system weighs less than 3,5Kg and features hot-swappable batteries for extended deployments.
Building Protection
Unprotected inlets to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems of buildings such as offices, banks and Government establishments, are a prime targets for a terrorist chemical attack. In all situations only small amounts of toxic material are required and if unprotected or not monitored, these toxins can disseminate rapidly and cause traumatic results to the building occupants.
Dedicated Solutions to Protect Buildings
In addition to ensuring the inlets are protected, by physical or mechanical means, or by design, detection devices, such as the Bruker TIMON (Toxic Industrials MONitor) can be installed that measure the air quality 24/7 and alarm if a toxic threat is discovered. When a threat is detected the TIMON, will alarm (identifying the threat and concentration) and the output of the instrument can be configured to take remedial action to protect the building occupants. These actions can include shutting down air inlets, isolating specific intakes or diverting the airflow to waste. In addition to the remedial actions the alarm system will alert security so that evacuation procedures may be initiated.
Results Counts. Success Saves Lives.
Bruker Detection products have been installed successfully in major banks, public buildings and parliament buildings; protecting both the occupants and visitors. In addition to a range of chemical detection systems, Bruker also offers on-line biological agent detection systems, radiation detectors and trace explosives detection. All our products are designed to help you protect people and property and fulfil your obligations to your employees, visitors and customers.
Pop Concert Security and Safety
Pop concerts represent a microcosm of the population who set out with one goal; to enjoy themselves. Regrettably, these types of major events often attract people with a different goal; to sell and to distribute drugs or narcotics. Where intelligence information suggests that drugs or narcotics might be on site, people and their belongings can be checked for traces of drugs quickly and easily.
Increasing the Safety of Concerts
Personal property can be swabbed to determine if any drug traces are present, and this includes items like mobile phones, cameras and hand baggage. Alternatively, a detection system that detects the volatile vapours of narcotics such as methamphetamine can be readily used to make a quick check for the presence of drugs in bags, pockets and clothing.
The Bruker RoadRunner is a hand-held, battery-operated portable device that can be used both to check for trace amounts of explosives and narcotics. The system can be used in swab or sniff mode. The swab mode allows the user to check for both drugs and explosives whilst the sniff mode is used for specific explosive vapours.
The Bruker DE-tector is a combined drugs and explosives trace detector that is simple and quick to use. A reusable swab is rubbed on the personal property of visitors, and this swab is inserted into the detection device. The system then informs the operator by means of a traffic light system and substance description, whether or not an illicit substance has been found.
Prison and Remand Center Security
Prisons and remand centres are encouraged by government to minimise the potential ingress of narcotics. In many such facilities, the threat from illicit materials being thrown over the perimeter wall has been largely mitigated with increased perimeter patrols and fence-line monitoring techniques. The majority of narcotics, discovered in prisons and remand centres, are largely illegally imported by visitors to the inmates.
Detecting Narcotics/ Drugs and Explosives in Prisons
Based on either intelligence information, behavioural monitoring or by random selection, visitors to such centres can be screened to detect whether they have been in contact with narcotics.
The DE-tector is a combined drugs and explosives trace detector that is simple and quick to use. A reusable swab is rubbed on the personal property of visitors, and this swab is inserted into the detector device. The system informs the operator by means of a traffic light system whether or not an illicit substance has been found.
The RoadRunner is a hand-held, battery-operated portable device that can be used both to check for explosives in a vapour mode, or can be used in trace detection mode using the swab that is rubbed on the personal property of the chosen visitor. Text associated with the discovery shows the name of the drug that has been discovered and the necessary action can then be taken with the specific visitor.
Metro, Subway and Underground Threat Protection
Metros, underground rail systems and subway train stations are prime targets for a terrorist attack. With millions of people using mass transit systems daily, even small amounts of toxic materials can have a devastating effect.
Early Warning Systems
Early warning systems are indispensable, and Bruker has developed a detection and warning system that will respond to the slightest trace of chemical threat materials in the air. Designated TIMON is designed for covert operation, and to emulate a piece of electrical switchgear. TIMON detection systems sample the air at a selected point and will send an alarm to a remote control room if a chemical weapon agent or a toxic industrial chemical substance is detected. The detection instrument can be located at the sampling point, or up to 15 metres from that point so that the sampling point can, itself, be installed covertly. Distances between the detector and the control room can range from a few metres to over 90 metres, and this can be extended significantly by fibre optic communication.
Wide Area Chemical Threat Detection
For wide area chemical threat detection, such as large platforms or stations, Bruker offers the RAPIDplus. It's designed to detect chemical weapons and toxic industrial chemicals with the largest real time detection library in its class. The scanning system of RAPIDplus can cover large swept areas so that a single unit can identify threats emanating from points in a large concourse. This instrument integrates the chemical detection system with a video facility. In this way, the control room can target the RAPIDplus to monitor one or more specific areas of the infrastructure such as the choke points of entrances and exits, or can steer the detector to areas where suspicious activity is identified. With a range from a few metres to some kilometres the device can even be installed to look down train tunnels to detect evolving threats.
Stadium Security and Protection
Stadiums represent a key focus for terrorism, as on match or games days they represent not only a microcosm of spectators, but often have VIP's in attendance. It would be difficult to patrol such areas using conventional chemical detection tools, stadiums are always large and the activities have to be intense, and these activities could alarm the visitors. Under these circumstances, it is best that any chemical technology is operated in a covert manner; often from a permanent covert installation.
Wide Area Chemical Threat Detection
The Bruker RAPIDplus is a passive scanning infrared detection system ideal for monitoring the large volumes of stadiums. Engineered for wide area chemical threat detection, the system is designed to detect conventional chemical weapons and over ninety toxic industrial chemical gases or vapours. RAPIDplus integrates a scanning detection system and a colour video camera.
In this way, control room or security personnel can direct the RAPIDplus to monitor threats from specific areas of the stadium, including choke points such as entrances and exits, or can direct the detection process to areas where suspicious activity might be taking place in the crowd. RAPIDplus not only detects the threat substance, it identifies it too. For example, this allows the operator to discriminate between alcohol vapour (from the consumption of alcoholic beverages!) and other substances that could indicate that a serious event is taking place.
