Cannabis News
  Spectral Camera Spots Marijuana Plants
Posted by FoM on June 07, 2000 at 12:33:48 PT
Pot-buster Technology To Detect Marijuana 
Source: BUSINESS WIRE 

surveillance Orincon Demos "Pot-buster" Technology To Detect Appalachia's "New Moonshine"

ORINCON Corp., the leading provider of innovative solutions and diversified intelligent systems technology for the information age, has announced that it will demonstrate with the West Virginia State Police this summer a new method for the automatic detection of marijuana crops using an aircraft-mounted sensor.

This represents a tremendous advance over current visual inspection methods.

Law enforcement typically relies on ground raids, which are prone to human limitations. ORINCON's spectral camera technology provides a much more thorough, rapid and cost-effective means of truncating the burgeoning marijuana trade, since it can identify crops which are often cultivated in dense forests, and other hard-to-reach areas.

Last summer the West Virginia State Police allowed ORINCON to test the ability of hyperspectral optical technology to locate crops of marijuana. Given the success of that test, ORINCON has been invited to participate in this summer's interdiction effort to further validate the technology and demonstrate a more advanced detection unit.

The tests will be conducted in an area of the country where the illegal cultivation of marijuana has exploded over the past few decades, eclipsing the region's traditional illegal commodity, "moonshine." Approximately 40 percent of the nation's marijuana plants come from West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky, causing local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to proclaim this 65-county region the Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The local marijuana is so high in THC (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol) content, the psychoactive substance, that it is being traded for cocaine and "crystal meth," which bring in societal problems associated with more urban areas.

Based on a Hyperspectral Sensor System, which ORINCON developed with Rancho Bernardo, Calif.-based Surface Optics Corporation, the new "pot-buster" camera can detect marijuana plants from an elevation of 5,000 feet, and from several hundred yards on the ground, against a backdrop of heavy vegetation. This sophisticated technology can even differentiate a marijuana plant from hemp, a similar, but legal plant used to make rope and clothing. This technology can also be used to detect environmental pollution.

"We have developed powerful software techniques and digitally enhanced high-resolution images to provide law enforcement officials and environmental agencies with an edge," said Dr. Dan Alspach, President and CEO of ORINCON. "This is a sophisticated, clever tool that has far-reaching uses. We plan to use our expertise in digital signal processing and data fusion to further enhance the capability of this system."

The Hyperspectral Sensor System works by breaking portions of the optical spectrum into as many as 30 unique colors at a rate of 30 times per second. First, the instrument quantifies the spectral energy in each image and then uses this to build a matched filter "tuned' to the specific target. For marijuana detection, the image is processed further to yield a clear feature identification of the illegal activity.

Preliminary tests indicate that the same techniques used for detecting local marijuana crops may also be appropriate for identifying coca, opium poppy fields, and various types of pollution, including oil spills and acid mine drainage. ORINCON plans to offer this technology through an imaging analysis service available to federal, state and local government agencies around the world.

About ORINCON:

ORINCON, founded in 1973, is the leading provider of innovative solutions and diversified intelligent systems technology for the information age. For over two decades, ORINCON has helped solve complex defense challenges by developing and enhancing systems and technologies involving signals, images, information and computers. The company's engineering expertise and diverse portfolio of expert capabilities and reusable software is widely recognized within the defense sector.

Company technologies include data fusion, data mining, database tools, expert systems, image processing, intelligent agents, Internet tools, neural networks, signal processing and SW development tools. These technologies are now being applied to new markets such as transportation, life sciences, machinery monitoring, e-commerce, and financial services, in addition to their traditional defense applications. The company is headquartered in San Diego, Calif.

For further information on ORINCON, visit the company Web site at: http://www.orincon.com/

Contact: ORINCON: Arthur Garner, 858/455-5530 x238 agarner@orincon.com or At TSI Communications: Jillian Ambroz, 212/320-2266 jambroz@tsicomm.com Sanuber Bilguvar, 212/320-2239 sanuber@tsicomm.com

Updated 8:32 AM ET June 7, 2000
San Diego (BUSINESS WIRE)
Copyright © 2000 At Home Corporation.

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Comment #14 posted by mfmoore79 on January 23, 2002 at 14:21:24 PT:

The Weed in WV is some powerful shit.!!
I Live in WV, and we have the strongest pot I've ever smoked. I went to amsterdam in Dec. 2001 and it didn't even compare. I was dissappointed. I smoked a white widow joint and didn't even get high. I did find some that had some effect but it was the shops' most potent strains. And on the growing of hemp. Marijuana, hemp and Cannabis are all considered noxious weeds in Wv. Along with Multiflora Rose. It is illegal to grow it, and your supposed to destroy it if you find, it ,, won't happen here. This law was adopted years ago in the 60's, It grows like wild fire here. you can throw seeds out of a car window and it will grow.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #13 posted by sushiboy on September 22, 2001 at 11:02:23 PT
safe
relieved you're ok.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #9 posted by Skunkbud on July 04, 2001 at 00:37:37 PT:

crap
Stop beating around the bush.

The people lost control of this country a long time ago.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #8 posted by dddd on June 08, 2000 at 01:15:40 PT
harvest
The only green harvest Orincon can really detect,is the billions of green dollars,...The green billions being harvested out of the WosDs,by hundreds of companies like Orincon,whose profits off these questionable contracts with the government,are obscene.If you are interested in becoming awed by some disturbing facts,go to the federal GAO website.You will marvel at how they account for huge sums of money,by simply saying the name of some company.and how many millions they were awarded.And then when you find out that it has been made basically illegal to disclose to the public,what these companies do,,,you will be mortified,and freaking out when you realize the scandalous depth of this artfully managed scheme to bilk and embezzleall these billions of taxes,,..

Perhaps the most disturbing part of this phony war,is the fact that we are paying taxes to finance a war in which we are the enemy,,in other words,you are forced to pay to have youself hunted down.and locked up............dddd

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #7 posted by CongressmanSuet on June 07, 2000 at 20:03:40 PT:

High content? Im in tears...
Anyone who has had the great pleasure of acquiring this "high grade" stuff grown in these states knows that it is essentially dirt. Sure, there are growers with the sophistication to create high yield, potent strains, but not on a consistant basis. Some backward hick who drops alot of seeds without the proper culling techniques produces, yes, you guessed it, dirt. But, what the hell, it sells, and you can still make more on it than planting tomatoes. Yes, we should all be worried, before you know it WV Dirt Bud will surpass BC Bud in taste and quality....NOT.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #6 posted by Morgan on June 07, 2000 at 14:55:24 PT
Hemp is legal?

"This sophisticated technology can even differentiate a
marijuana plant from hemp, a similar, but legal plant used
to make rope and clothing."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't hemp still illegal to
grow here in the states? Or is it legal in West Virginia?

And isn't the reason often given for keeping it illegal, is
that police have a hard time telling the two apart? Well, I
guess this nifty little device is going to kill that excuse.
Farmers, get ready to grow some


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #5 posted by Morgan on June 07, 2000 at 13:32:15 PT
Hemp is legal?
"This sophisticated technology can even differentiate a
marijuana plant from hemp, a similar, but legal plant used
to make rope and clothing."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't hemp still illegal? And
the basic reason government gives for keeping it illegal is
because cops have a hard time differentiating between the
two?

Well, I guess this nifty little device will do away with
that reason. All you farmers in West Virginia get ready to
grow some hemp! Bwahahahahahahahaha! Give the
prohibitionists enough rope, and they'll eventually hang
thems


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #4 posted by Morgan on June 07, 2000 at 13:31:40 PT
Hemp is legal?
"This sophisticated technology can even differentiate a
marijuana plant from hemp, a similar, but legal plant used
to make rope and clothing."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't hemp still illegal? And
the basic reason government gives for keeping it illegal is
because cops have a hard time differentiating between the
two?

Well, I guess this nifty little device will do away with
that reason. All you farmers in West Virginia get ready to
grow some hemp! Bwahahahahahahahaha! Give the
prohibitionists enough rope, and they'll eventually hang
th


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #3 posted by JohnnyPotseed on June 07, 2000 at 13:26:31 PT
sow it everywhere!!!

"Make the most of the Indian Hemp Seed and sow it everywhere." (George Washington)

Ol' George had it right!!! Now more than ever we need to sow Indian hemp seed *everywhere*.

Ya mon.


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by CD1 on June 07, 2000 at 13:05:39 PT
Check out the web site
Check out ORINCON's web site, and you see where the true allegence lies. This is basically a company built around the "spy business". Pretty unsavory. I tried to contact the company through the web site, with no luck. I still want to know the source of information concerning the "local marijuana ...so high in THC content...that is being traded for cocaine and crystal meth." That must be some powerful pot. Still I have seen no evidence from any medical research (sponsored by the government or not) that leads me to believe that more potent marijuana is dangerous to the body. I have seen research studies that tell me that marijuana may decrease brain tumors, fight nausea caused by radiation and drug treatments, and combats pressure in glaucoma victims. I still am puzzled why such a useful plant is illegal, but a plant proven to kill, such as tobacco is not only legal, but advertised in nearly every magazine. Just goes to show you what the power of money can do.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by CD1 on June 07, 2000 at 12:54:58 PT
WHAT???
"The local marijuana is so high in THC...that it is being traded for cocaine and crystal meth."?????? What??? Do you mean to tell me that West Virginia pot is so potent that people are trading cocain and crystal meth for it? I would love to know the source of this "information". ORINCON seems very proud of their new product. Of course, ORINCON is one of the few beneficiaries from the "War on Drugs" (or "War on Personal Freedoms", as I like to call it. It isn't bad enough that West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the union. Now, the residents have to put up with aircraft zooming around at low altitudes, looking for marijuana plants. If you want to know the reason why marijuana is still illegal, look no further than companies like ORINCON, who finance politicians to prolong the War on our freedom, in order to line their pockets with the tax money from the very people they are targeting.

[ Post Comment ]

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