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Public safety

National Security Standards

Providing national security professionals with the innovative technical solutions and information they need to prevent and respond to terrorism

Exoskeleton composite image

Exoskeleton Technical Interchange Meeting: Jan 26-27, 2017
B-Temia Dermoskeleton

Robotic Exoskeletons: The Standards Gap
detector

New Spectrometry Standard for Handheld Chemical Detectors Aids First Responders

We work to improve public safety and security through science-based standards. We do this by promoting innovative technologies, fostering communications, and building enduring partnerships with federal, state, local, private sector, and international partners.

We focus on developing technical standards related to national security, including measurement science and standards for Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear/Explosive (CBRNE) detection, personal protective equipment (PPE), and physical infrastructure resilience and security.

Our efforts support the 2011 National Strategy for CBRNE Standards through improved interagency collaboration for standards development.

News and Updates

Projects and Programs

Personal Body Armor

Completed
To quantify the impact of mechanical degradation on ballistic fibers, NIST developed a novel device for controlled folding of yarns and woven fabrics. In addition, we developed test protocols that employ single fibers to assess the effect of folding using a recently developed modified single fiber

Sensing and Imaging of concealed objects

Ongoing
Threats to personal and collective safety abound in our society. The Security Technologies Group (STG) performs research to advance the technology and measurement science of security imaging and sensing. This work includes the establishment of test and evaluation tools, reference test beds, test
complex oxides

Measurements of Point-Defect Chemistry in Complex Oxides

Ongoing
Project Goal: To develop magnetic resonance, x-ray absorption, electron diffraction, and electrical conductivity measurements to better characterize dilute concentrations of point defects in oxide materials and effectively correlate electro-mechanical properties to measured defect chemistry. Oxide
Breathalyzer

Vapor Sampling in the Field

Ongoing
Breath sampling of cannabis users. Several versions of breath collection devices are being marketed for the detection of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in the breath of cannabis users. THC is not directly correlated to intoxication but may indicate recent smoking or vaping. THC and other

Publications

Field-Deployable Devices

Author(s)
Thomas P. Forbes, Raychelle Burks
Reductions in instrument size, weight, and power continue to facilitate the development and application of field-deployable devices for investigative purposes

Tools and Instruments

Large Aperture Scanner

Large Aperture Scanner

The Large Aperture Scanner (LAS) scans a radar transceiver over a 5 meter by 20 meter aperture. Image reconstruction techniques enable a three-dimensional
Smiths Detection_6046si

Cabinet x-ray system

The Smiths Detection 6046si cabinet x-ray system was designed for security screening of bags, parcels and other objects of similar size. The system runs at 160
X-ray backscatter systems

X-ray Backscatter Systems

X-ray backscatter systems are used for the screening of personnel for hidden weapons and other contraband. Unlike conventional radiographic x-ray systems