airline passengers for the presence of and optical filters, this allows direct “...either we ought to
concealed explosive devices. Unlike imaging of explosive residue. Once
many body scanners, the Guardian the explosive residue is detected ban Brazil nuts or start
ETP does not invade the personal the system activates automatically
privacy of the travelling public. . It also and alerts an operator to a positive deploying transmission
inspects shoes for the presence of IED’s, identification. It does not rely on
allowing passengers the convenience people watching a TV screen and unlike X-ray to screen the
of leaving their shoes on during the sniffer dogs that operate by detecting
screening process. Additionally, it is a particles present in the air, this system passengers we have
fully automated system which can be can be very specific and accurate.
operated by existing checkpoint staff Terahertz light also has the ability to real concerns about...”
and eliminates the subjectivity of human identify different types of explosives
image analysis. through clothing, including PETN, identify an explosive, and distinguish it
The drawback is that portals can the explosive which Abdulmutallab from clothing or other inert materials.
only identify explosives that are in the successfully carried onto an aircraft Because clothing is transparent at
system’s library, and can only detect undetected. One company, TeraView, Terahertz frequencies, the Terahertz
a bomb when there is explosive is manufacturing a technology that can light can pass through several layers,
residue present on the person being ‘see’ through different types of clothing including common garments and shoes.
screened. Then again, isn’t that what and has the capacity to detect and TeraView’s technology is currently
we do with trace detection systems identify hidden explosives materials in being evaluated by the US Navy and
for luggage screening?! an automated fashion without operator other US government laboratories,
interpretation. The technology works and trials involving US and European
Alternative Technologies by passing Terahertz light, which lies agencies are scheduled for mid 2010.
Ultimately, one hopes that we will be between radio and light waves in the Terahertz has several advantages over
able to screen people on the move, per- electromagnetic spectrum, through an other body scanning technologies; it is
haps without their knowledge. A new explosive. Explosive materials absorb sensitive to the presence of explosives
device developed by Loughborough this light strongly at certain Terahertz and, unlike X-Rays, Terahertz does not
University in the United Kingdom that frequencies but not at others, and this use ionising radiation. The ability to
can identify tiny amounts of explosive ‘Terahertz fingerprint’ can be used to use software to automatically recognise
particles, invisible to the naked eye,
could provide the solution to better
protecting the travelling public from
acts of terrorism without impeding their
flow through airports.
The University’s Explosive Residue
Detection system can remotely scan
crowded areas automatically alerting
an operator if it detects traces of
explosives. The system is non-invasive,
works in real time, causes no delays
to passengers and is fully automated,
ruling out human error, and the images
produced are no more controversial
than those generated by CCTV.
Created by Professor John Tyrer
from the University’s Wolfson School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, along with colleagues
from the Department of Chemistry, the
device is currently undergoing field trials
at a number of undisclosed locations
across the United Kingdom.
Explosive Residue Detection uses
the latest generation of pulsed lasers
and video camera techniques. It
combines them to produce a large- Adani's Conpass images. Above: a prosthetic limb.
area, fluorescent, lifetime imaging Right: a woman with silicon breast implants. Transmission
system. By controlling the laser timing X-ray addresses threats contained internally.
February 2010 Aviationsecurityinternational www.asi-mag.com 17
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