Explosive Detection Technology - The Impetus

There has always been a need to detect the presence of threats. The classical threats from smuggled weapons and poisons remain, but new threats from explosives as well as from chemical and biological agents must also be considered. Threat must be defined rather broadly, to include both immediate threats, for example, a bomb on an airplane, and longer term threats, for example, smuggled drugs. To prevent explosions requires the detection of bombs, bomb makers, and bomb placers. 

The functional components of a bomb are a control system, detonator, booster, and a main charge. Such threats can often be recognized from their shape. These can be viewed as bulk detection issues, historically addressed by imaging techniques such as sight or touch. Other threats may take no particular physical form and can only be recognized by their chemical composition. These are often trace detection issues, historically detected by the sense of taste or smell. 

Aspects of Explosives Detection M. Marshall andJ.C. Oxley (Editors) 

1996 Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia 7000 kg bomb 19 Hundreds 

1998 US Embassies in Kenya Tanzania 1000kg bombs 224 Thousands 

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