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The passive standoff monitoring of vapor precursors emanating from a location under surveillance can provide relevant information on the nature of products fabrication. Defence Research & Development Canada Valcartier recently completed the development and field-validation of a novel R&D prototype, MoDDIFS (Multi-option Differential Detection and Imaging Fourier Spectrometer), to address this remote sensing application. The proposed methodology combines the clutter suppression efficiency of the differential detection approach with the high spatial resolution provided by the hyperspectral imaging approach. This consists of integrating a differential CATSI-type (Compact ATmospheric Sounding Interferometer) sensor with the imaging capability of the Hyper-Cam infrared imager. The MoDDIFS sensor includes two configuration options, one for remote gas detection, and the other for polarization sensing of surface contaminants. This paper focuses on the infrared spectral detection of gases. A series of measurements done with MoDDIFS on selected laboratory solvents in vapor form are analyzed and discussed.

The passive standoff detection of vapors from particular explosives and precursors emanating from a location under surveillance can provide early detection and warning of illicit explosives fabrication. DRDC Valcartier recently initiated the development and field-validation of a novel R&D prototype, MoDDIFS (Multi-Option Differential and Imaging Fourier Spectrometer) to address this security vulnerability. The proposed methodology combines the clutter suppression efficiency of the differential detection approach with the high spatial resolution provided by the hyperspectral imaging approach. This consists of integrating the imaging capability of the Hyper-Cam IR imager with a differential CATSI-type sensor. This paper presents the MoDDIFS sensor methodology and the first investigation results that were recently obtained.