Safety and security research

Security research can be broadly and not always clearly divided into civil and military approaches. The latter has become significantly more important in recent years, as security policy requirements, the development of weapons and other technologies, and society's expectations of security research and the state have undergone a rebalancing.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT is the only German research institute that works with explosives across the entire development spectrum, from the laboratory to the technical centre to the system. Security research at the institute is embedded in national and international cooperation projects. Current research focuses on the detection and characterisation of hazardous chemicals and explosives. 

Other areas of research at Fraunhofer ICT in the field of security research include fire and flame protection, gas generators and rapid rescue systems.

Explosives have often played and continue to play a central role in terrorist attacks. They enable attackers to seriously injure or even kill people while causing immense damage to buildings, infrastructure and institutions. Preventing such scenarios requires the timely, reliable and efficient detection of explosives.

Detecting even the smallest traces of explosives, both in the gas phase and on surfaces, is only possible with extremely sensitive methods: nanoporous materials, for example, accumulate explosives or hazardous substances from the gas phase. Detection systems based on this technology offer increased selectivity and sensitivity.

The requirements for sensors are high: they must be fast and specific, detect many substances and allow reliable identification of the threat. Since no single sensor can cover all explosives and scenarios, multiple sensors are used depending on the substance and scenario.

If, despite all preventive measures, an explosive attack has been carried out, the analysis of the substances found at the scene of the crime provides clues for identifying the explosive used. This knowledge allows conclusions to be drawn about the perpetrator or perpetrators. In cooperation with national and international security forces, Fraunhofer ICT regularly contributes its expertise in the field of explosives to such and similar scenarios.

The reliable selection of suitable detection methods and sensors requires a standardized test whose results allow a direct, objective performance comparison of different systems. Important parameters for such a test are a precisely defined methodology, clearly defined criteria for evaluation and assessment, and a standardised range of real samples and reference materials on substrates where not only the mass loading but also its distribution over the surface can be defined.

Detection systems, which have become increasingly powerful in recent years, must be evaluated in terms of detection limits, range of application, false alarm rate and suitability for use. Fraunhofer ICT is developing evaluation methods for detection systems that can serve as a basis for future certification activities.

In the strictly regulated field of aviation security, scenario-based and accepted test routines are available for the evaluation of various types of detection systems. However, despite intensive research worldwide, there are still no technical solutions for the early and reliable detection of hidden explosive devices, for example on suicide bombers, from a greater distance. Such test routines are therefore not yet available for scenarios such as security checks at major events.