Chemical Weapons Detectors Tested at Ballpark

Sandia National Laboratories researchers this summer tested chemical weapons detectors at McAfee Coliseum in California, home to the Oakland A’s Major League Baseball team (see GSN, Jan. 31).

The Rapidly Deployable Chemical Detection System can be put in place locally within 24 hours for high-profile events that could face a terrorist threat, according to a Sandia press release. It would use live video and various sensor equipment capable of detecting more than 40 chemical warfare agents and industrial toxins.

Other sensors, such as those used to detect radiological material, could also be placed on the system platform.

The intent of the “detect-to-warn” system is to provide early notification of a chemical release so that authorities can quickly begin evacuations, according to project manager Ben Wu.

“The beauty of this system is that it can be packaged and set up at a venue within a day’s notice, without having to sacrifice any of the robustness or features required by such a sophisticated system,” Wu said in the release. “The bottom line is that it can help emergency responders save more lives in the event of a terrorist attack” (Sandia National Laboratories release, Aug. 15).

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