Research produces security technologies
The CSIRO’s Secure Australia program is having commercial success with its security technology research and development.
The Secure Australia Program aims to develop technologies which are deployable within three to five years, and which help protect the country from terrorist, criminal, natural and accidental threats.
Specific research areas include detection, sensor and sensor network development, biosecurity, materials science and infrastructure protection.
One of the recent success stories is DataTraceDNA, a unique chemical substance that can be incorporated into the structure of a product to identify and authenticate it in a manner similar to a barcode.
Developed under a Research Agreement between the CSIRO and Sydney-based company DataDot Technology Limited, the technology has resulted in the formation of a joint venture between the two groups to produce and market the product.
DataTraceDNA won the Australian and New Zealand Du Pont Innovation Award in 2008, and has been used recently to prevent the theft of copper and other cabling from public utility infrastructure.
Many of the technologies developed under the Secure Australia program have multi-purpose outcomes.
A new air cargo scanner, developed in partnership with Chinese security inspection specialist Nuctech Company Ltd, grew out of research originally undertaken to assist the mining industry.
The scanner combines neutron and x-ray scanning to create material-specific images of the contents of air cargo containers, where conventional x-ray scanners can only provide shape and density information.
The move to commercialise the product follows the successful trial of a prototype air cargo scanner at a purpose-built commercial-scale facility at Brisbane International Airport.
During the trial, conducted in conjunction with the Australian Customs Service, the technology demonstrated good detection rates for a wide range of threat items.
Nuctech and CSIRO are working to manufacture the first commercial unit in Beijing, and a detailed program of trials will be undertaken at the end of this year to demonstrate the technology.
The emergency management sector also stands to benefit from emerging research.
The CSIRO has signed a $1 million agreement to develop a high-accuracy terrestrial localisation system in conjunction with Emergency Management Australia (EMA), the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, and the National Security Science and Technology Branch within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Previously commercialised for use in tracking race horses and cars, in partnership with Sydney company Trantek Systems, the technology could be used to track emergency service works in hazardous situations.
The localisation system uses radio frequency tracking technologies, and consist of a network of wireless nodes which can be combined with sensors to enable monitoring of environmental variables.
In an emergency management application, the sensors could be used to monitor the heart rate and temperature of emergency personnel, as well as gas and radiation levels in their environment.