Rome, Dec. 4. (ADNKRONOS) - They can "see" explosives and "capture" the presence of biological weapons: from small particles to dangerous bacteria. They are the new sophisticated sensors or opto-electronic systems based on micro-technology, developed by a team of scientists belonging to ENEA, in cooperation with a think-tank of Cnr, Centro Laser, Centro Sviluppo Materiali, Centro Ricerche Fiat, Itc- Irst and Quanta System, and some Italian university departments.
Such devices are innovative, particularly sophisticated, developed and partly ready for finding their own application to the territory.
Their presentation took place during the workshop "Miao project” Optical micro-systems for hostile environments", held in the premises of ENEA.
"Any sensor device we are developing can be applied to territory. These micro-sensor devices are suitable for sophisticated detection as well as can be resorted even to fight against terrorism, since it allows a survey of explosives, gases and pollutants being used.
These technologies may be employed for surveying materials and tools which can be used in terrorist acts," said Enea’s President Luigi Paganetto to the Italian Press Agency ADNKRONOS, who introduced the workshop, on which occasion the results of FIRB project "Miao" were reported; similar results were achieved thanks to the funds for Basic Research (FIRB).
"ENEA can provide such equipment to the government even for the security of the territories. Such technologies are ready to be used and partly have already been industrialized.
These systems are suited for detecting explosives and bacterial particles, which may also find applications to airports, gates where passengers are checked on, underground or vulnerable sites by road" as Roberta Fantoni, the scientist and coordinator of Miao project explains, Manager of Laser Application Unit of ENEA FIM Department.
As the scientist of ENEA keeps on explaining "These technologies, applied to security, meet the requirements for the tender of the European Union, which closes today its call for research projects to be financed, whose target is security of the territories; in addition they are capable of detecting traces of explosives on the hands of those who have prepared for a bomb, or on their clothes or in their pockets."
However Italian scientists have already envisaged a further development of these very innovative sensors.
"We are developing - says Fantoni - a “sniffer”, or a technology that can either “sniff” substances, or be sensitive to the most volatile explosives often used by terrorists." Security, but that is not all! These sensors can also be used to intercept illegal, harmful waste dumps, because - Fantoni adds - they are capable to "verify the release in the soil of toxic and polluting materials."
There are in addition many other applications of ENEA optoelectronic systems; to start with, they may be used in extremely hostile environments, where great cold or heat can be perceived, as beneath the glaciers or in the excessively hot production lines of some industries. "In the industrial field – Fantoni says – similar sensor devices can work for quality control in the production lines. But that is not all! If these micro-technologies are installed in the converter of a car, they can i.e. assess the level of nitrogen oxide produced."
(Adnkronos) - Special sensors may be used for environmental monitoring too, such-as the remote sensing of marine waters: these forefront sensors developed under the “Miao project” in cooperation with CNR, Centro Laser, Centro Sviluppo Materiali, Centro Ricerche Fiat, Itc - Irst and Quanta System, may detect the growth of marine algae or large oil spills. Applications may also work to fight fires or to control volcanic eruptions.
According to the ENEA’s scientist, as cutting-edge nanotechnologies, these sophisticated sensors may find their application in the aerospace field, in particular in satellite-on board sensor devices.