Would sensor technologies help to reduce the risk of occupant exposure following an attack with a biological weapon?
Sensors to identify the release of a biological agent could be helpful in alerting building operators of an attack so that preventive measures such as a ventilation system shutdown or outdoor air purge could be taken.15 As noted in the section on Reducing Risk, both of these responses to a biological attack require timely situational awareness—building operators need to know when and where an attack has occurred to implement the proper response. Absent actionable situational awareness, implementation of either of these measures has the potential to increase exposure rather than decrease it if implemented at the wrong time.
