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Security Full Report Document Security Technology Sector First year progress report Author – Kshitij Aditeya Singh Organisation – Institute of Nanotechnology May, 2009 Executive Summary A European Strategy on Security was adopted in 2003. The European Security and Defence policy as a part of the common Foreign and Security policy has deployed 20 missions in response to incidents. The use of various policy instruments in European Union (EU) has contributed to security of society, improving equality, human rights and good governance. The policy and missions adopted by the EU are linked to the United Nations objectives in security. The European Security Strategy aims to address the security challenges such as proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and organised crime, energy security, cyber security, climate change, securing industrial supply chains and trade routes, and responding to natural disasters. The rapidly changing dynamics of present times and forces in a globally integrated world are a reflection of the numerous challenges facing societies in protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Recent acts of aggression in London and Madrid bombings have revealed the weaknesses of security provisions in civilian zones. Risk and threats that have multiple dimensions need to be addressed for maintaining harmony and peace. The disruptions in civil society may arise from natural elements or divisive human forces. Technology can act as an enabler in assisting agencies in operational situations, where limitation of time and unknown quantity of risk presents itself. Technology research and development can enhance capabilities in supporting security missions for maintaining peace and harmony in society. Methodology The European Security Research Advisory Board (ESRAB) had produced a strategic framework for structuring research on technology and non-technological aspects. In a multidisciplinary approach to research aligned with strategic missions, capability development and systems development has been identified of prime importance. The technical research in ESRAB was grouped based on capability development, system development and system of system demonstration. These research areas were focused on addressing mission specific needs or multi-mission needs. The mission areas identified under ESRAB were border security, protection against terrorism and organised crime, critical infrastructure protection, and restoring security in case of crisis. A cross mission analysis was conducted as a part of the scope. The capability enhancement was focused into the following functional groups: detection, identification and authentication; situational awareness and assessment including surveillance; risk assessment, modelling and impact reduction; positioning and localisation; command and control; intervention; doctrine and operations; incident response; information management; communication; training exercise. - 2 - Figure E.1 – Nanotechnology as an enabler of capabilities for Security Missions (Source: ESRAB) Nanotechnology research and development can enhance security capabilities that enable critical security missions. An illustration of a capabilities enhancement by nanotechnology research is shown in figure E.1. The segmentation of nanotechnology applications for security was done based on enhancement of capabilities and missions identified in ESRAB. The mission specific capabilities enhancements are largely categorized into existing, new and advanced. The segmentation of the security technology sector was done into four sub-sectors: ‘detection’, ‘protection’, ‘incident support’, and ‘anti-counterfeiting, authentication and positioning’. The detection sub-sector is further divided into technology segments for ‘chemical’, ‘biological’, ‘radiological and nuclear’, ‘explosive’ (CBRNE) weapons and ‘narcotics’ detection. The research and development observations in the protection sub-sector is further done by technology segments defined as ‘protection of civilians and civilian security agencies’, ‘ equipment and infrastructure protection’, and ‘condition monitoring of civilian zones and infrastructure’. The research and development observations in incident support segment have been done based on nanotechnologies relevant to ‘decontamination’, ‘forensic’ and ‘neutralising CBRNE effect’. The final segment has nanotechnologies research and development analysed based on ‘anti- counterfeiting, authentication and positioning and localisation’ (AAPL). A definition of the each of the technology segments is available from each of the sub-sector report. A visual representation of the segmentation of capabilities can be seen in Figure E.2 below. - 3 - Segmentation Detection Chemical Biological Radiological / Narcotics Explosive Nuclear Protection Infrastructure and Personal Protection Condition monitoring equipment AAPL Anticounterfeiting Authentication Positioning and Localisation Incident Response Decontamination Forensics Neutralising CBRNE effect Figure E.2 – Segmentation of capabilities in Security Technology Sector The observations in each of the technology segments from the literature review were classified into the technology readiness level. These were defined into 6 levels representing research (fundamental and applied), development (prototype and field trails) and application (niche and mass deployment). Gaps in implementation and further research needs have been identified for the above technology segments that relate to specific missions. The technology segment observations have also taken interaction with aspects of commercialisation, environment health and safety issues, ethical, societal and regulatory aspects into consideration. The expert engagement process through surveys, interviews and workshops were used to validate the findings and refine the course of future work. Observations from workshop discussion were recorded and synthesized through a group of observers along with the moderator. The methodology is limited in not being able to present an exhaustive view of all technology research and developments taking place across the world. Among other methodology challenges are balancing the width of technology monitoring and analysis, balancing knowledge representation in profile of experts engage and improving the comparative assessment between world regions taking national language publications into consideration. - 4 - Detection The growing threat from terror related activities to civilian security presents a significant challenge to policymakers and security agencies. The observations in the detection segment have been made with a view to assist civilian agencies and policymakers in identifying technology developments of materials and devices between 1-100 nm that may prove to be useful in safeguarding civilians by detecting substance posing a significant threat. The approach taken for detection has been that of identifying development that enable devices or instruments used in detection of different species. The risk agents have been defined in the initial part, where chemical biological, radiological dispersive devices, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) weapons are the main focus of the detection sub-sector. The observations also address nanotechnology developments in detecting narcotics. The scientific species have then been related to specific enabling nanoscale technologies and devices integrating them. The observations are intended to provide an overview of the current state of the art and the development trajectory. The detection of chemical weapons by identification of chemical species can be accomplished by a range of sensing methods, and instruments. The nanotechnology development mentioned in the observations for chemical weapons detection are electronic noses, conductive polymers, field effect transistors, piezoelectric sensors, field effect transistors, piezoelectric sensors, surface acoustic wave sensors, flexural plate wave sensors, sensor arrays, optical fibres, cantilever mechanism, chemiresistive action, chemicapacitive sensing and spectroscopic methods. Nanotechnology research and development for explosive detection has been observed. These observations are based on electrochemical sensing, mass based detection, optical sensing, biosensors, Terahertz detection, photoluminescence, cataluminescence, nanosensors, and nanowires based methods for explosive detection. The methods for detecting biological toxins are based on molecular recognition, self assembled bilayers, biosensors, metallic nanowires, Terahertz waves. Detection of radioisotopes based on methods based on sensor networks, radiation portal monitoring equipment, cantilever based detection, mass spectrometry, nuclear resonance fluorescence, electronic neutron dosimeter and neutron imaging camera has been mentioned. The role of radiation detection material, nanocomposites, and nanomaterials for detectors has been observed. Narcotics detection based on membranes, portable detection systems, mass spectrometry, and Raman scattering has been observed. The nanotechnologies for various detection methods have been observed to be in different stages from applied research, to prototypes and developments that are undergoing field trials. The pace of technological developments is variable for the different detection methodologies used. Demand for specific additional research and desired functionality for detection has been - 5 - further elaborated. Each technology segment identifies the drivers and barriers for research affecting the development of detection. The main drivers
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