LIBS Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, is a sensitive technique that provides information on the elemental composition of the analyses, and has demonstrated its capability to identify micrograms of explosives over a surface at standoff distances of more than 30 metres. However it requires a quite complex signal and data processing to minimise the influence of surrounding air and other confusing factors.

This technology measures directly the characteristic vibrational spectrum of the sample under investigation. This molecular specific fingerprint allows direct identification of the substance under investigation. Standoff measurement of solids has been shown on a distance of up to 50m. Difficulties arise from the weakness of the Raman signal as well as from competing processes such as elastic scattering (Rayleigh) and fluorescence.

Infrared Absorption (IR) spectroscopy, has demonstrated to be a very sensitive and selective technology and its capability to be used as a standoff technology. However, it has not been used up to now for standoff detection of explosives at distances of more than 6 metres.

The integration of LIBS, RAMAN and IR Technologies on a single platform, besides hardware similarities between them, will be possible thanks to the enabling technologies.