Periodic Reporting for period 2 - COSMIC (CBRNE Detection in Containers)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2020-04-01 do 2021-09-30
The threat of CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives) components used by terrorists is a major concern for EU and worldwide security. Today there is a major security gap in the existing security flow that can be used by terrorists to hide and smuggle CBRNE materials inside containers and vehicles. The challenge of improving container and vehicle border crossing and critical infrastructure entrance security checks is of great importance in fighting terrorist threats, theft and smuggling.
COSMIC developed a novel technological approach for the detection of CBRNE materials hidden in shipping containers. The project included the research, design and implementation of a 3-stage (primary, secondary, and focused manual inspection) detection system using a new set of innovative sensors, built on top of the existing security flow.
The role of the Primary Detection is to perform fast CBRNE inspection combined with other security checks in order to identify containers suspected for CBRNE materials.
Only the suspected containers pass to secondary detection. The Secondary Detection adds a new set of CBRNE detectors in order to improve levels of false positive and negative, without slowing down the flow of containers. Primary and Secondary inspections are performed on closed containers.
The third stage (Focused manual inspection) requires the opening of the containers. For that, COSMIC developed new sensing devices such as PDA for the detection of bacteria in liquids or solids, and DMA-CPC for virus detection with capability to provide fast results in the field, without the need to send it to any external laboratory for slow and complex analyses.
The project has demonstrated to perform data fusion of sensors and container profile using a neural network that learns from experience, which is able to refine the results from the sensors. This is especially relevant when the measurement of these sensors is near the threshold values to trigger alarms.
COSMIC developed a novel technological approach for the detection of CBRNE materials hidden in shipping containers. The project included the research, design and implementation of a 3-stage (primary, secondary, and focused manual inspection) detection system using a new set of innovative sensors, built on top of the existing security flow.
The role of the Primary Detection is to perform fast CBRNE inspection combined with other security checks in order to identify containers suspected for CBRNE materials.
Only the suspected containers pass to secondary detection. The Secondary Detection adds a new set of CBRNE detectors in order to improve levels of false positive and negative, without slowing down the flow of containers. Primary and Secondary inspections are performed on closed containers.
The third stage (Focused manual inspection) requires the opening of the containers. For that, COSMIC developed new sensing devices such as PDA for the detection of bacteria in liquids or solids, and DMA-CPC for virus detection with capability to provide fast results in the field, without the need to send it to any external laboratory for slow and complex analyses.
The project has demonstrated to perform data fusion of sensors and container profile using a neural network that learns from experience, which is able to refine the results from the sensors. This is especially relevant when the measurement of these sensors is near the threshold values to trigger alarms.
The project began with close collaboration among the consortium partners, which are a combination of end-user and technology partners.
As Law Enforcement and Customs Agencies, the COSMIC end-user partners (DCA, INP and GUCI) expect the COSMIC technology to serve in the future toward a safer society, to contribute to the fight against terrorism, organised crime and international crime, and to improve freedom, security and justice in and around the EU. Together with the technology partners, the end-users agreed on the prioritised list of CBRNE substances along with their threat level and criminal use.
Target subsets of bacteria and virus were selected by CNB-CSIC. Stocks of the non-pathogenic bacteria were generated at the CNB-CSIC lab and sent to SEA, TECH and BGU in order to improve and test their respective bacteria sensors. In addition, stocks of non-pathogenic viruses, UV-inactivated viruses and non-infectious virus-like particles (VLPs) were generated at CNB-CSIC and sent to SEA and Yale University (USA) to improve and validate the virus sensor.
Eight new CBRNE sensors for the three inspection stages, with capabilities of detection currently not available, have been developed and improved by COSMIC partners.
During the design and implementation of the COSMIC Analytics System by ATOS, the end-users provided crucial feedback toward optimal user-interface and proper data collection to gather all necessary parameters needed for effective and rapid decision-making during a container’s inspection process. DCA, GUCI and INP provided ATOS with Analytics System requirements to capture, view, analyse and report the field detection results.
Field-trials were performed at the three end-user sites (Seaports of Rotterdam, Valencia and Haifa), as well as laboratory tests for the biological sensors. The development of the CBRNE sensors is very promising, which has been confirmed by the results from the field-trials. The TRL of the sensors was increased to the next stage, with either continued development or commercialization as a next step.
Dissemination activities were undertaken by the project partners, including the website, brochures, meetings and discussions with other projects and with the ENCIRCLE cluster, etc. The consortium presented the results at the end of the project with a webinar targeted to end-users and relevant industry partners. In addition, the consortium carried out a holistic dissemination approach that combined networking with other research projects, publishing in specialised media, presentations in congresses, dissemination and commercialisation actions, both to partners staff and clients, and creating specific groups in social media at international level.
As Law Enforcement and Customs Agencies, the COSMIC end-user partners (DCA, INP and GUCI) expect the COSMIC technology to serve in the future toward a safer society, to contribute to the fight against terrorism, organised crime and international crime, and to improve freedom, security and justice in and around the EU. Together with the technology partners, the end-users agreed on the prioritised list of CBRNE substances along with their threat level and criminal use.
Target subsets of bacteria and virus were selected by CNB-CSIC. Stocks of the non-pathogenic bacteria were generated at the CNB-CSIC lab and sent to SEA, TECH and BGU in order to improve and test their respective bacteria sensors. In addition, stocks of non-pathogenic viruses, UV-inactivated viruses and non-infectious virus-like particles (VLPs) were generated at CNB-CSIC and sent to SEA and Yale University (USA) to improve and validate the virus sensor.
Eight new CBRNE sensors for the three inspection stages, with capabilities of detection currently not available, have been developed and improved by COSMIC partners.
During the design and implementation of the COSMIC Analytics System by ATOS, the end-users provided crucial feedback toward optimal user-interface and proper data collection to gather all necessary parameters needed for effective and rapid decision-making during a container’s inspection process. DCA, GUCI and INP provided ATOS with Analytics System requirements to capture, view, analyse and report the field detection results.
Field-trials were performed at the three end-user sites (Seaports of Rotterdam, Valencia and Haifa), as well as laboratory tests for the biological sensors. The development of the CBRNE sensors is very promising, which has been confirmed by the results from the field-trials. The TRL of the sensors was increased to the next stage, with either continued development or commercialization as a next step.
Dissemination activities were undertaken by the project partners, including the website, brochures, meetings and discussions with other projects and with the ENCIRCLE cluster, etc. The consortium presented the results at the end of the project with a webinar targeted to end-users and relevant industry partners. In addition, the consortium carried out a holistic dissemination approach that combined networking with other research projects, publishing in specialised media, presentations in congresses, dissemination and commercialisation actions, both to partners staff and clients, and creating specific groups in social media at international level.
COSMIC provides a significant value proposition with wide impact on society and the economy, regarding the detection of CBRNE threats inside shipping containers. At present, there is limited coverage for, and one of the main challenges is how to detect CBNRE threats in shipping containers without slowing down container shipping flow and without compromising security. Chemical and biological detection are almost not covered, and are in particular limited with closed containers. Even with open containers, there is no possibility to perform the tests in the field. Detection of explosives in containers is mainly handled with dogs and handheld devices with limited detection capacity. Radioactive and nuclear detection are much better inspected, but there still remain key gaps. The existing flow is mainly based on radiation tests, and fails to detect shielded nuclear and radioactive materials.
COSMIC’s progress beyond state of the art is based on a three-stage solution, combined with innovative CBRNE sensors to result in fast detection and reliable (high detection rate and low false alarm) solution for inspection of CBRNE in volume traffic of containers and a high detection performance.
During the COSMIC project, eight new CBRNE sensors for the three inspection stages were developed and improved, each providing capabilities of detection currently not available:
• NA-NOSE (by Technion) chip-based nano-technology sensors for chemical and biological with fast detection-time, for primary and secondary inspection stages.
• Muon Scanner (by Lingacom) for detection of shielded N&R (Nuclear and Radioactive) in dense containers, based on muon cosmic rays, for secondary inspection stage of containers marked as suspect through high-energy X-ray and RPM primary detection.
• DMA-MS (by Lingacom Spain) for primary (fast scan mode) and secondary inspection of explosives, based on vapour extraction from closed containers with high sensitivity.
• DMA-MS (by Lingacom Spain) for secondary detection of chemicals and bacteria, based on vapour extraction from closed containers with an expected limit of detection around 10fg
• PDA (by BGU) sensors, based on Polydiacetylene (PDA) bacteria detection in solids and liquids implemented with low-cost films, forthe manual stage providing short detection time in the field.
• DMA-CPC (by LINGACOM SPAIN) for virus detection in the manual stage with short detection time and high resolution at the field.
The CBRNE sensors interface to the COSMIC data analysis system, along with external sensors and data sources. Optimised for detection performance, low rate of false-alarms and a high detection probability, the system will determine how to proceed with each inspected container.
COSMIC’s progress beyond state of the art is based on a three-stage solution, combined with innovative CBRNE sensors to result in fast detection and reliable (high detection rate and low false alarm) solution for inspection of CBRNE in volume traffic of containers and a high detection performance.
During the COSMIC project, eight new CBRNE sensors for the three inspection stages were developed and improved, each providing capabilities of detection currently not available:
• NA-NOSE (by Technion) chip-based nano-technology sensors for chemical and biological with fast detection-time, for primary and secondary inspection stages.
• Muon Scanner (by Lingacom) for detection of shielded N&R (Nuclear and Radioactive) in dense containers, based on muon cosmic rays, for secondary inspection stage of containers marked as suspect through high-energy X-ray and RPM primary detection.
• DMA-MS (by Lingacom Spain) for primary (fast scan mode) and secondary inspection of explosives, based on vapour extraction from closed containers with high sensitivity.
• DMA-MS (by Lingacom Spain) for secondary detection of chemicals and bacteria, based on vapour extraction from closed containers with an expected limit of detection around 10fg
• PDA (by BGU) sensors, based on Polydiacetylene (PDA) bacteria detection in solids and liquids implemented with low-cost films, forthe manual stage providing short detection time in the field.
• DMA-CPC (by LINGACOM SPAIN) for virus detection in the manual stage with short detection time and high resolution at the field.
The CBRNE sensors interface to the COSMIC data analysis system, along with external sensors and data sources. Optimised for detection performance, low rate of false-alarms and a high detection probability, the system will determine how to proceed with each inspected container.