London is trialling a smart sensor system to provide early warning of terrorist attacks using chemical, biological or nuclear agents. The London trials are part of a collaboration between the United Kingdom and the US Government to find means to better defend large urban centres from attack in North America, Europe and other allied regions.

The new system employs mass sensor deployments, real-time data collection and AI to provide immediate alerts to Government and civil defence leaders. The UK Government has said that developments in industrial technology, including rapid prototyping, are a reason that terrorist groups are increasing as a threat to urban centres. At the same time, increased tensions in Europe and the Asia Pacific region also contribute to heightened threat levels from state directed or sponsored actors.

The London trial comes as the UK is developing a nationwide warning system using smartphone alerts, with the first countrywide trials having taken place in April. The UK national alert system is being widely linked to increased threat levels to UK urban centres as a result of the Ukraine war.

The UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) led the trial on behalf of the UK Home Office and the Department for Transport. The trial took place at a number of sites across London testing a range of state-of-the-art chemical and biological sensors. The trial contributes towards the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) led SIGMA+ programme.

The SIGMA+ programme aims to see if the sensors can detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats in a city environment. Vapours and tiny particles are detected that can alert authorities to the presence of materials of concern that are in the sensor library. Alarm systems for the sensors are being developed that could provide early warning protection for UK cities and major events.

SIGMA+ uses a cloud-based system to host, fuse and visualise sensor data. This system, named DTECT, provides an interface to receive sensor data, store it, and then present sensor locations, outputs and alarms to users on a map-based interface.

Dstl’s project lead said: “The collaboration with DARPA and their project partners is incredibly valuable as it provides the UK with access to emerging technology developments. Dstl has been able to share its technical expertise to help shape the development of the system and provide an independent assessment of its readiness through testing. This provides the UK with key information that could help to shape future policy and next steps in development and exploitation.

“As well as detection of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats in a city environment, the system could be used to provide protection for events, such as major games, and other high value locations.”

The technologies used cover sensors operating using:

• Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) – to detect chemicals.
• Conductive polymer sensors – to detect chemicals.
• Mass Spectrometry – to detect and identify chemicals.
• Raman Spectroscopy – to detect bacteria and viruses.
• Rapid sequencing – to detect and identify bacteria and viruses.

Partners involved include:

• Physical Sciences Inc. (Andover, MA, USA) – IMS technologies and DTECT data fusion
• Smiths Detection (Watford, UK) – Advanced IMS (AIMS) sensor, IMS technologies
• Bayspec Inc. (San Jose, CA, USA) – Continuity Mass Spectrometer
• University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT, USA) – ChemAirU conducting polymer sensors
• Battelle (Columbus, OH, USA) – REBS+ Raman Spectrometer
• Kromek (Sedgefield, UK) – Rapid sequencing
• TwoSix (Arlington, VA, USA) – DTECT data visualisation