Challenge: Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Hazard Detection and Planning

Challenge Statement

The Department of National Defence (DND) is looking for innovative solutions and technologies for the persistent surveillance of CBR threats that allows rapid detection, early warning, and effective monitoring of CBR releases.

Background and Context

The CBR detection challenge may include surface or airborne contamination in theatres of operation or complex urban environments, and may involve fixed-site detectors and/or detectors on mobile platforms. A capability made of people, sensors and data (both existing and acquired) that enables timely and accurate decision-making is desirable to address this problem. This could be achieved through the combination of people, technology (i.e. sensors) and data realized by way of the: optimal positioning of sensors in what may be complex and hostile environments; managing, in real-time, alternative potential courses of action from the moment an alarm is triggered to the moment a CBR threat is confirmed or denied; and real-time integrating of sensing outputs to generate a consolidated threat representation.

Outcomes and Considerations

The desired outcome of this research effort is to identify, assess and enable technologies and solutions for the detection and mitigation of CBR threats. Advanced, rapid detection capabilities that are deployable, reliable and improve the management of information for decision making are desired. In addition, user friendliness, ability to address real-time airborne release, and proximal detection of contaminated surfaces at sensitivity levels below those which would cause adverse physiological effects should be considered. To enable rapid and efficient use of data being collected from complex environments the use of a learning capability for the analysis and threat assessment needs to be considered.