This report assesses the configuration-management and performance-verification options for the development and regulation of commercially available Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) and other systems designed for detection of explosives. In particular, the panel authoring this report (1) assessed the advantages and disadvantages of methods used for configuration management and performance verification relative to the FAA's needs for explosives-detection equipment regulation, (2) outlined a "quality management program" that the FAA can follow that includes configuration management and performance verification and that will encourage commercial development and improvement of explosives-detection equipment while ensuring that such systems are manufactured to meet FAA certification requirements, and (3) outlined a performance-verification strategy that the FAA can follow to ensure that EDSs continue to perform at certification specifications in the airport environment.

C. Amting Directorate General Information Society, European Commission, Brussels th Under the 4 Framework of European Research, the European Systems and Soft ware Initiative (ESSI) was part of the ESPRIT Programme. This initiative funded more than 470 projects in the area of software and system process improvements. The majority of these projects were process improvement experiments carrying out and taking up new development processes, methods and technology within the software development process of a company. In addition, nodes (centres of exper tise), European networks (organisations managing local activities), training and dissemination actions complemented the process improvement experiments. ESSI aimed at improving the software development capabilities of European enterprises. It focused on best practice and helped European companies to develop world class skills and associated technologies to build the increasingly complex and varied systems needed to compete in the marketplace. The dissemination activities were designed to build a forum, at European level, to exchange information and knowledge gained within process improvement ex periments. Their major objective was to spread the message and the results of experiments to a wider audience, through a variety ofdifferent channels. The European Experience Exchange (tUR~X) project has been one ofthese dis semination activities within the European Systems and Software Initiative.~UR~X has collected the results of practitioner reports from numerous workshops in Europe and presents, in this series of books, the results of Best Practice achieve ments in European Companies over the last few years.

Field Detection Technologies For Explosives Explosives are historically the weapons that have been most frequently used against civilians by terrorist organisations. In the past few years, the use of explosives by terrorist groups has cost the lives of more people than the combination of all other attacks, including the use of weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological and nuclear weapons). Early detection of these substances is one of the most effective ways to prevent attacks using explosives from occurring. Fast and reliable equipment to detect the presence of explosives and explosive devices is critical to fighting terrorism. Written in a style that makes complicated technologies easy to understand, this book covers the principles, instrumentation and applications of current technologies used to detect explosives in the field. Both trace detection technologies and bulk detection technologies are discussed. The section on trace detection technologies includes chapters on ion mobility spectrometry, piezoelectric sensors, chemiluminescence-based detectors, polymer-based technologies and mass spectrometry. It also discusses detection requirements, methodologies used for detector evaluation, and sampling technologies. The section on bulk detection contains chapters on x-ray, millimeter wave imaging, neutron and nuclear quadrupoie resonance technologies. This volume introduces the basic concepts of commonly used explosives detection technologies and is an essential resource for novice or more experienced personnel working in the explosives detection field as well as those with a general interest in this important subject. Features Discusses all aspects of commonly used field detection technologies. Reviews detection requirements and explosives sampling methods. Describes specific instruments used for field detection applications, such as at airports, harbours and border crossings. Includes a summary of common explosives and their important properties for easy reference. Provides an introduction to data fusion and receiver operating characteristic methods, both of which have recently received significant attention in the field of explosives detection. Book jacket.

Terrorism seems to have developed as a world-wide virus causing harm and destruction where ever it turns up and turning up at unexpected places as no doubt all viruses are intended to do. The attackers seek weaknesses in the target countries and the target countries seek defences and deterrents against the attackers. This new book highlights some of the anti-terrorist actions underway.

Recognizing that alcohol and drug use in the workplace is a significant social and economic problem, various forms of drug testing have been branded as the solutions to a safer and more productive work environment. In this determined drive to find a userfriendly and accurate substance use detection strategy, a variety of drug testing procedures have been developed and used with varying consistently across industry groups. One such method, trace detection technology, however, has been employed in spite of the paucity of empirical evidence to validate its use as a stand-alone screening system for drug detection. Furthermore, research on the impact of false positive results of trace detection technology is extremely limited amidst a climate in many locales in which it is regularly used. With trace detection technology being used extensively in both the private and public sectors for drug screening purposes, the objectives of this research were twofold: To examine the efficacy of trace detection technology as a stand alone method of drug testing by exploring the lived experiences of commercial truck drivers who have experienced false-positive drug test results firsthand; and to explore the emotional and physical impact of false-positive test results generated by this technology on the individual commercial truck driver. The results from this research have broad implications for general workforces subject to periodic or scheduled drug screening, for law enforcement professionals who rely on a detection strategy that can produce false positive outcomes, for the legal community seeking understanding of this technology application, and for social science professionals who seek to pursue a provocative research topic.

A major goal of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and now the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is the development of technologies for detecting explosives and illegal drugs in freight cargo and passenger luggage. One such technology is pulsed fast neutron analysis (PFNA). This technology is based on detection of signature radiation (gamma rays) induced in material scanned by a beam of neutrons. While PFNA may have the potential to meet TSA goals, it has many limitations. Because of these issues, the government asked the National Research Council to evaluate the potential of PFNA for airport use and compare it with current and future x-ray technology. The results of this survey are presented in "Assessment of the Practicality of Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis for Aviation Security." A broad range of detection methods and test results are covered in this report. Tests conducted as of October 2000 showed that the PFNA system was unable to meet the stringent federal aviation requirements for explosive detection in air cargo containers. PFNA systems did, however, demonstrate some superior characteristics compared to existing x-ray systems in detecting explosives in cargo containers, though neither system performed entirely satisfactorily. Substantial improvements are needed in the PFNA detection algorithms to allow it to meet aviation detection standards for explosives in cargo and passenger baggage. The PFNA system currently requires a long scan time (an average of 90 minutes per container in the prototype testing in October 2000), needs considerable radiation shielding, is significantly larger than current x-ray systems, and has high implementation costs. These factors are likely to limit installation at airports, even if the detection capability is improved. Nevertheless, because PFNA has the best potential of any known technology for detecting explosives in cargo and luggage, this book discusses how continued research to improve detection capabilities and system design can best be applied for the airport environment.