Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats (ALERT)
ALERT seeks to conduct transformational research, technology, and educational development for effective characterization, detection, mitigation, and response to the explosives-related threats facing the country and the world.
ALERT is an Emeritus Center of Excellence and was funded by the Department of Homeland Security.
Researchers in this partnership bring strengths in advanced sensor design, standoff weak-target detection, signal processing, sensor integration, explosives characterization, improvised explosive device (IED) detonator signatures, shock physics, and material science.
This expertise, combined with resources from national lab affiliates and other industrial and government partners, form a team capable of carrying out the daunting ALERT mission.
The ALERT research program is driven by inspiring challenges, providing ultra-reliable screening, improving the ability to detect explosives at a distance, and providing a seamless transition of research to the field are among the real-world challenges the center looks to impact. These challenges have defined our four core fundamental science research thrusts:
- Characterization & Elimination of Illicit Explosives (Thrust 1)
- Trace & Vapor Sensors (Thrust 2)
- Bulk Sensors & Sensor Systems (Thrust 3)
- Video Analytics & Signature Analysis (Thrust 4)
For more information contact:
rappaport@ece.northeastern.edu
Electromagnetics, antennas, computational modeling, imaging radar hardware and alogorithms, bioelectromagnetic sensing and treatment
Recent News
SENTRY Spotlight: Mahshid Asri
Mahshid Asri, PhD’24, electrical engineering, who as a student was a researcher at SENTRY and ALERT research centers, is a new postdoctoral research associate in SENTRY’s Advanced Sensing Technologies research area, working on the Stationary and Aerial Based Radio Frequency/Radar Detection of Drones and Concealed Threats project.
Exploring Silevitch’s Northeastern Legacy
For more than 40 years, Michael B. Silevitch, Robert D. Black ECE Distinguished Professor, has had a profound impact at Northeastern as an innovative leader of several groundbreaking initiatives such as SENTRY and ALERT, and as an inspiration to faculty, students, alumni, and members of industry.