News Release
LANXESS at the ILA 2006 from May 16 to 21 on Stand 1205, Hall 1
The “Blue Miracle” makes manipulations to ground
surfaces visible and provides effective site
security.
A highly innovative product that reveals manipulations to ground
surfaces
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
Contact: Udo Erbstößer
Corporate Communications
Trade & Technical Press
51369 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone +49 214 30-54529
Fax +49 214 30-44865
[email protected]
Page 1 of 2
Leverkusen/Berlin – At the Berlin Air Show (ILA) that runs from May 16
to 21, 2006, LANXESS, in collaboration with security experts from
Security Services & Consulting (SCC) in Alzey and RECON Technology
in Königstein im Taunus, Germany, will be presenting an innovative site
security system that brings to light manipulations to ground surfaces .
The system, dubbed AGES (Air Supported Ground Emerge System)
enables laser-assisted monitoring from the air, using a luminescence
detector developed by LANXESS Textile Processing Chemicals
Business Unit that is applied to the ground directly, or from the air, at
sites requiring protection.
Employees of LANXESS have developed an luminescence indicator
which, when installed in a new surface surveillance system, helps to
effectively and reliably detect even small-area manipulations of ground
surfaces from the air.
The weather-resistant indicator is sprayed over the area under
surveillance. Under normal conditions, the substance is invisible to the
human eye on a treated surface. However, when exposed to the
radiation of a appropriate source of light it exhibits easily detectable
luminescence. Ground areas manipulated after marking are revealed
under this special light by non-luminescent blue spots caused by
unintentional movement of stones or soil.
The advantages of the new system are quite obvious: thanks to spray
application, even fairly large areas can be secured quickly, easily and
economically. Surveillance of the protected area is also inexpensive, but
no less effective: it can be performed day or night from a helicopter, for
example, using a fully automatic imaging software application developed
specifically for this purpose. The self-teaching software compares, in
real time, images of the area directly after spraying with current ones
taken during fly-over, and it can even detect ground changes the size of
a postcard from a height of some 100 meters. If a disturbance to an
area is registered during a routine surveillance flight, it can be
specifically examined by trained personnel, thus eliminating the need for
foot patrols, which are associated with a high error rate. Incidentally, the
software automatically classifies railroad construction work or wildlife
tracks as non-critical.
A key aspect of the system of course is the formulation of the weatherresistant indicator dispersion from LANXESS Deutschland GmbH. Its
components are only available from a few manufacturers and difficult to
obtain for purposes of unlawful use. Even subsequent spraying of a
manipulated spot on the ground would be reliably detected. In other
words, a recently re-sprayed area would reveal itself by higher-level
activity. It goes without saying that the components of the product have
passed in-depth ecotoxicological tests.
The new surface surveillance system has already proven its technical
readiness for full-scale use in trials. The new system is capable of
significantly enhancing the security not only of railway tracks and
pipelines, but also of power plants and airports.
Information for editors:
All our news releases can be found on the LANXESS homepage at
www.lanxess.com under the “Press” button. Any available visual
material can be download from there.
Leverkusen, May 16, 2006
erb
(2006-0102e)
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts
made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation,
development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
Contact: Udo Erbstößer
Corporate Communications
Trade & Technical Press
51369 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone +49 214 30-54529
Fax +49 214 30-44865
[email protected]
Page 2 of 2
liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or
developments.
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
Contact: Udo Erbstößer
Corporate Communications
Trade & Technical Press
51369 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone +49 214 30-54529
Fax +49 214 30-44865
[email protected]
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