Physics in Contraband Detection

Fri., Jan. 31, 2014 3:30 p.m. - Fri., Jan. 31, 2014 4:30 p.m.

Location: CL 232

The detection of concealed and smuggled contraband material is challenged by the fact most do not exhibit easily distinguishable characteristics, and do not generally have any particular geometric shape or pattern. This presentation will discuss how basic principles of physics are, or can be, utilized to characterize and detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) contraband materials. It will be shown how nonintrusively measuring basic physical properties can be used to detect such materials. The importance of detection-orthogonality will be emphasized. Existing detection techniques will be appraised, and methods recently developed for detecting indiscernible contraband will be presented. The presentation will also outline remaining challenges and research and development opportunities.

Speaker: Dr. Essam Hussein, Dean of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina

Bio: Esam Hussein is currently the Dean of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Regina. After completing his undergraduate studies and a master's degree in nuclear engineering at Alexandria University, Egypt, he earned a PhD in nuclear engineering from McMaster University, Canada. Prior to joining the University of New Brunswick in November 1984 as a faculty member, he was employed for four years as a Nuclear Design Engineer at Ontario Hydro. He led a research program that focused on the industrial and medical uses of nuclear and atomic radiation for non-destructive testing and imaging and for the detection of threat materials. He published numerous scientific papers and industrial reports, and is a holder of six patents, and the author of three books. Dr. Hussein is a recipient of the Canadian Nuclear Innovation Achievement Award in June 2003, and the Sylvia Fedoruk Award - 2000 of the College of Physicists in Medicine and the Canadian Organization of Medical Physics.