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Spotlight on S&T - October 2005
PSTP Collaboration Opportunities Explored at CBRNE Workshop
The fuel-air capability demonstration during the PSTP CBRNE workshop at DRDC Suffield.
In July, DRDC Suffield hosted a three-day workshop to discuss S&T solutions to Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) threats, one of four Mission Areas determined under the U.S./Canada Public Security Technical Program (PSTP).
Ms Sonia Heikkila, at the time Acting Director PSTP, and her U.S. counterpart Holly Dockery opened the workshop held 6-8 July with a briefing on the history, structure and objectives of the PSTP. Both reminded the participants of the mission of this bi-national program, established in October 2003, to collaboratively deliver proactive S&T solutions in order to advance national capabilities to prevent, respond to and recover from high-consequence Public Safety and Security events. In addition to CBRNE, the program includes three other Mission Areas: Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP); Disruption and Interdiction (DI); Systems Integration; and Standards, and Analysis (SISA).
Proactive S&T
"The workshop provided the opportunity to exchange current knowledge and experience, and to further explore project collaborations," said Alain Goudreau, PSTP Explosives Portfolio Manager, who coordinated the Volumetric Explosives sessions. "It has generated a number of recommendations that should translate into better targeted S&T investments under both the Canadian and Canada-U.S. PSTP collaborations," he added.
The workshop was the third PSTP CBRNE Mission Area meeting to be held over the last 18 months and was dedicated to discussing two aspects of the CBRNE Mission Area: CBRN Decontamination and Restoration and Volumetric Explosives Technology. Two breakout groups comprised of Canadian and American representatives were formed to address various issues related to each aspect and to present a report on their work at the end of the workshop.
Participants in the CBRN Decontamination and Restoration group discussed various approaches and techniques for decontamination and restoration after a CBRN attack, neutralization, responders' protection, simulation, assessment and mitigation of threats and consequences, as well as the treatment and disposal of Radioactive Waste. Dr. Garfield Purdon (DRDC Suffield) gave a presentation on the Canadian military decontamination techniques, and Mr. Tom Brooks, the UK representative, presented the participants with an overview of his country's CBRNE efforts. A review of on-going CRTI projects was also presented.
In the area of explosives, the workshop represented the first formal meeting of the PSTP explosives expert communities from both countries. Discussions focused mainly on the unique challenges presented by Volumetric explosives and included an overview of technologies and techniques to detect and neutralize explosives and the medical side of blast effects. Participants also worked on a proposal for a way ahead and their work should result in a future white paper addressing S&T joint investment priorities in this field.
Live demonstrations
Two capability demonstrations were also organized and were considered by many participants as the event's highlights: The first demonstration, staged at DRDC Suffield's Counter Terrorism Technology Centre (CTTC), involved a CB (mustard on vehicle) decontamination. For the second demonstration, participants traveled to DRDC Suffield ranges where a fuel container detonation and a fuel-air attack scenario were simulated.
The CBRNE Mission Area has already initiated approximately 15 Project Summaries for collaborative work in many areas. At a meeting held in Washington in March 2005, it was decided that CBRN Decontamination and Restoration and Volumetric Explosions should be the subject of a dedicated workshop. DRDC Suffield was selected to host this meeting because it houses the new CTTC and is one of the lead laboratories in Canada in CB Decontamination and Explosives technologies.
More information on the PSTP, its CBRNE component and the CRTI can be found on:
