The main goal of the project is to conduct feasibility study of a system concept to continuously monitor urban air for traces of dangerous chemicals and signatures of illicit activities such as production of narcotics and home made explosives. In a nutshell, Urban Chemical Threat Detection and Identification (or UCTIL) is a novel approach to address existing and emerging security risks related to criminal and terrorist activities in modern urban areas. Terrorist attacks and illicit drug distribution networks have caused significant damage to European society and direct harm to its citizens, the UCTIL approach promotes the preventive approach to address those threats - where security if focused on locating criminal activities on the stages of production and preparation. Other benefit to society can be seen in complex monitoring of chemical composition of the urban air: this has potential to allow for better understanding of air quality and more comprehensive monitoring capabilities for toxic industrial chemicals and atmospheric pollutants. Thus, the benefit to society is twofold: 1) direct benefit from enhanced security of European urban areas, and 2) environmental benefits from better data on chemical composition of urban air. The overall objectives of the project are: 1) to conduct technical feasibility study, proving that the concept is viable in theory, 2) IPR and commercial feasibility study, supporting the idea of economic benefits of the concept, 3) plan for further development and exploitation of the results. The work has been concluded successfully, UCTIL concept has proven feasible both technically and economically. As the result of the action Karsa and their consortium partners have submitted a project proposal for the research and innovation action under H2020 Secure societies programme.
