Physical geolocation system

Abstract

A real-time system for determining the geographic movements of an individual or object by sampling particulates contained thereon. The system includes particle collection, sample preparations, and sample analysis using three primary modes of detecting certain particulates. The first mode involves the imaging of pollen, spores, or other biological material which are visible through a light microscope when properly stained or prepared. The second mode involves the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction to amplify and detect target nucleic acid sequences. The third mode involves the use of X-ray diffraction to identify mineral particles. The results from any mode, or any combination of modes, are analyzed by comparison to a reference database containing geographic information and the results are compiled by a controller for visual display.

1 . A system for determining the geographic history of a target, comprising: 
 a sample preparation module for preparing particles collected from a target for analysis;    at least one analysis module interconnected to said sample preparation module for collecting information about said particles and identifying said particles based on said collected information; and    a controller interconnected to said at least one analysis module for determining the geographic history of said target based on the identity of said particles.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a particle collection module for collecting particles from said target.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said particle collection module comprises a high volume air sampler.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said particle collection module comprises a swab for collecting particles from said target.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said high volume air sampler generates an aqueous suspension of said particles.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sample preparation module comprises an automated sample preparation workstation.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a fluid handler for robotically distributing an aqueous suspension of said particles to said sample preparation module.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said sample preparation module comprises means for dividing said aqueous suspension into sub-samples.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one analysis module comprises a DNA analysis module.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one analysis module comprises an image analysis module.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one image analysis module comprises an automated microscopic imaging system.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said automated microscopic imaging system comprises: 
 a microscope for viewing said particles;    an automated stage for receiving said particles from said sample preparation module and positioning said particles for viewing by said microscope; and    a CCD camera interconnected to said microscope for capturing an image of said particles.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one analysis module comprises a DNA analysis module.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said DNA analysis module comprises a real-time polymerase chain reaction for amplifying genetic material contained in said particles.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one analysis module comprises an XRD module.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said x-ray diffraction module comprises a COTS scanning device for generating high-definition diffraction spacings of said particles.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database interconnected to said at least one analysis module and said controller, wherein said database contains identifying information about said particles and geographic information about said particles.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one analysis module compares said particles to said data and determines the identity of said particles.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said controller determines the geographic history of said target by retrieving geographic information about said particles from said database.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one analysis module comprises: 
 an automated microscopic imaging system;    a DNA analysis system; and    an x-ray diffraction system.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display interconnected to said controller for displaying a map of the geographic history of said target.  
   
   
       22 . A system for monitoring a predetermined geographic location for the appearance of a foreign particle, comprising: 
 a particle collection module for collecting a sample from said geographic location;    a sample preparation module interconnected to said particle collection module for receiving said sample and preparing said sample for analysis; and    at least one analysis module interconnected to said sample preparation module for collecting information about said sample and comparing said collected information against a database to determine the identity of particles in said sample; and    a controller for determining whether said particles are foreign said geographic location.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a transmitter interconnected to controller for transmitting the identity of particles in said sample to a central controller.  
   
   
       24 . A method of determining the geographic history of a target, comprising the steps of: 
 collecting a sample of particles from said target;    identifying at least one particle in said sample; and    determining the geographic history of said target based on said identification of said at least one particle.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said step of collecting a sample of particles from said target comprises taking a high volume air sample and forming an aqueous suspension of said particles.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said step of collecting a sample of particles from said target comprises swabbing said target to collect said particles and transferring said particles to an aqueous solution.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of identifying at least one particle in said sample comprises the steps of: 
 dividing said aqueous sample into a plurality of sub-samples;    collecting information about each said sub-sample; and    comparing said collected information to a database containing information about said at least one particle to identify said at least one particle.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of collecting information about each said sub-sample comprises the steps of: 
 imaging any stainable structures in said particles in at least one sub-sample;    amplifying any genetic material in said particles in at least one sub-sample; and    performing an x-ray diffraction of at least one sub-sample.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of comparing said collected information to a database containing information about said at least one particle to identify said at least one particle, comprises the steps of: 
 compiling said collected information from each at least one sub-sample;    retrieving identifying information from said database; and    matching said identifying information to said collected information to identify said at least one particle in said aqueous sample.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of determining the geographic history of said target based on said identification of said at least one particle comprises the steps of: 
 cross-referencing the identity of each said at least one particle with a database containing geographic information about each said at least one particle; and    calculating the geographic history of said target based on the geographic information of each said at least one particle identified in said aqueous sample.