Biological detection of explosives Book Chapter

Harper, RJ, Furton, KG. (2007). Biological detection of explosives . 395-431. 10.1016/B978-044452204-7/50032-8

cited authors

  • Harper, RJ; Furton, KG

authors

abstract

  • This chapter deals with the detection of explosives in a biological way. Various biological detectors for explosives have been studied over the years with "Canis familiaris." It is better known as the common dog, the most widely deployed detector to date. The focus is on detector dogs that are now used ubiquitously by law enforcement and private agencies for detection of many different items including explosives. The use of the canine as a detector is based on the well-established reliability and impressive selectivity and sensitivity associated with dog's sense of smell. A recent report on standoff explosive detection techniques conducted by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that it is important to use multiple orthogonal detection methods. Biological explosive detectors, including detector dogs, can be considered orthogonal detectors to sensors under development, as they generally rely on different detection modalities. Explosive detection canines are selectivity combined with mobility and independent thinking that still ranks the canines as the current best method for real-time detection of explosives. Chemoreception is the process of detecting chemical compounds by a living organism and involves molecular interactions with olfactory neurons by molecules that have moderate molecular weight. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • December 1, 2007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 395

end page

  • 431