Sensor Networks for NBC Threats

Nerdsville writes "Planet Analog have an article describing research into a nationwide sensor network that could provide a real-time early-warning system for chemical, biological and nuclear threats across the US. Researchers plan to use microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology to create accurate biological and chemical sensors. Linked in an Internet-like peer-to-peer network spanning wireless, wired and satellite links."

NBC?

[binaryDigit]

a real-time early-warning system for chemical, biological and nuclear threats

Next time they should order the words the same as in the acronym (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) so those of us who are not terrorism experts can stop wondering why the peacock network poses such a threat to our well being.

i wouldn't worry.....

[Anonymous Coward]

it doesn't work. it's more of a powerpoint idea. best and worst thing about government work.. you don't ever have to do anything.

A tool for us or them?

[oilisgood]

It seems to me that a terrorist could use this system to cause panic without ever using the agents on a large scale. They could just get some agents to deploy a very small amount at different sensors they identified throughout a metro area and that would cause enough panic to disrupt what they want to disrupt.
How do they plan on concealing this?

They'll use something else

[dorfsmay]

Terrorist will use use something else that governments aren't looking for. For example the US was ready for an invasion by planes missiles etc... but on Sept. 11, the terrorists used something nobody expected.

I think the different governments should spend more money on trying to understand the causes of terrorism, and try to eliminate it at the source (which one could argue they already do with the war on terrorism).

You'll notice the article only mentions airborne threat... What about water ?

Spoofing those sensor IP's for fun

[192939495969798999]

I can see it now: the 10 o'clock news reports that we've had the 3rd false nuclear threat, as sensors read a 69.69% jump in radiation levels at 4:20 this afternoon.... yeah, right!

No money for health or education, then?

[ChessHacker]

a nationwide sensor network that could provide a real-time early-warning system for chemical, biological and nuclear threats across the US.

How much is it going to cost? How many attacks have there been in the US since 9/11? None. Nada. Zip.

While the Federal government spends billions of dollars on anti-terrorism, homeland security, tax-cuts-for-the-rich (TM) and un-necessary wars, ordinary people are losing their jobs, have no decent health care and are suffering for inadequate funding of schools. This is progrsss?

Right

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure, create a lot of warning systems and defence systems. Everyone feels safe.

Than continue with stupid foreign policy.

Everybody happy, including the no-brainers in politics.

Re:Cause of terrorism already identified

[Anonymous Coward]

So, you're saying that a group of radicals with weapons are dangerous? Were you expecting a fucking medal for that blinding flash of the obvious?

I submit that religion is besides the point, that some people are ready to die for anything, that religion is not the problem, merely the excuse. It is the focus of idiocy, both from radicals like Osama to idiots like GW Bush.

Re:Cause of terrorism already identified

[Anonymous Coward]

I have to post this as AC because the american audience here will murder my karma! American christian fundamentalists have the same insane beliefs, and bloodlust for infidels. As do Israeli Jewish fundamentalists. The only difference is that Islamic militaries are considered terrorists by americans, and american and israeli terrorists are considered millitaries by americans. It is all perspective. And yes Israeli soldiers and American soldiers quite often kill civillians without apology. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not defending terrorist actions(on any side) , I am quite against all these warlard puritans and zealots.

What's the goal of terrorist attacks?

[Rogerborg]

As September 11 2000 showed us, the most effective way of killing people is large and obvious amounts of energy (kinetic, potential, chemical). The NBC available to terrorists - dirty rather than fission, agents that can effect only a small area and number of people - are minor in comparison. Their primary effect is to create panic out of proportion to the actual effect.

Sure, release Sarin in a subway station, you'll kill some people. But have a detector that screams "Sarin attack! Sarin attack!" and you'll kill just as many, perhaps more, in the stampede to get out.

And if it turns out that the sensor was triggered by a new type of cologne? Well, we've just done the terrorists' job for them.

As a further thought, how do you field test these things? Test them in the lab with real agents, sure. Test them in the field with harmless agents that produce the same effect (and hope that nobody finds out what those are), but how do you know with any confidence that you can actually detect a genuine attack in the field? False positives in a military situation aren't so bad - all that will happen is that the grunts will turn on the overpressure systems or put on their NBC suits, but in a civilian situation? We've seen what happens when large numbers of people panic in a small area. Deploying these in cities seems to me like a big gamble to take, for little potential reward, when the costs of false positives are so high.

I'm not suggesting that we do nothing, but I am suggesting that reaction (which includes "preemptive strikes" against people that already hate us) isn't the way to go. Perhaps we could devote some of this energy to dealing with the causes of terrorism rather than the symptoms.

Re:Cause of terrorism already identified

[Daniel Dvorkin]

The worst and third worst terrorist attacks in recent American history were carried out by radical Islamic fundamentalists, yes. The second and fourth worst ... well, I don't think Timothy McVeigh or Eric Rudolph had spent much time listening to the imams. Pretty much all fundamentalism is bad, mmmkay?

Sept 11, 2000???

[Anonymous Coward]

What specifically happened on September 11th in the year 2000?
I know something really big happened one year later on Sept 11 2001, but I'm not aware of what happened in 2000

Stupid

[JahToasted]

Its just a PR gimmick so the politicians can say "Look we are doing something". A terrorist will never attack in a way that is unexpected.

You want to know what the next terrorist will be like? Read up about the DC sniper case a few months back. Now imagine 20 snipers armed with rifles, and RPGs fanning out accross the nation. Yeah, eventually they'll be found and shot (martyred), but the terror it would cause both before and after (how do you know there aren't more?) would be immeasurable. How can you prevent it from happening? Well you can't, but that won't stop your leaders from turning the US into a police state because of it.

Re:Cause of terrorism already identified

[Halthar]

I didn't realize that abortion clinic bombings were carried out by Islamic fundamentalists. Did they also organize the Oklahoma City bombing?

Terrorists come in all shapes, sizes, and colors (the purple ones are tasty). Unless that is recognized and dealt with this so called "War on Terrorism" is going to be just another buzzword-laden travesty of what it should be, much like the "War on Drugs".

It is very important to understand the cause of the problem so that in trying to solve it, we dont create a larger one. My gut feeling based on my reading is that, unfortunately, the seeds of a larger problem have already been planted.