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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S63052/01
Title: Development of complementary technologies for forensic and security screening.
Principal Investigator: Edwards, Professor HG
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Her Majesty's Government Communications HM Customs and Excise Police Scientific Development Branch
Renishaw plc (UK)
Department: Chemical & Forensic Sciences
Organisation: University of Bradford
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 August 2004 Ends: 30 November 2007 Value (£): 210,654
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Analytical Science Instrumentation Eng. & Dev.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
GR/S63045/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Extensive discussions with Government security and customs agents, and senior scene-of-crime officers from the West Yorkshire Police, have established that their work would be revolutionized if they had access to rugged, portable sensing and spectroscopy systems, which would exploit a wide range of frequencies to locate and identify materials of forensic or security interest non-invasively at crime scenes, ports-ofentry, or in sensitive locations such as Embassies. In particular, new spectroscopic modalities would be very welcome to work alongside established techniques. This is not only because new spectroscopic techniques may provide more sensitive or faster analytical tools, or be able to identify substances of interest which are invisible to existing techniques, or the ability to deliver undisputable evidence to court, but also because new technology is less likely to be circumvented by ingenious criminals, particularly if it requires sophisticated apparatus.This proposal is a collaboration between researchers at the Universities of Leeds and Bradford (the Institute for Microwaves and Photonics, and the Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, respectively). We will develop the complementary technologies of Raman and terahertz spectroscopy and sensing, to provide non-contact, high-sensitivity sample screening with wide spectroscopic coverage. Specific objectives of this programme include establishing procedures to identify explosives, drugs of abuse, and ivories, together with instrument development for use in the field. The identification of prohibited and dangerous materials that have been deliberately concealed is a particular focus.
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Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.brad.ac.uk