Scanners at airports will undress passengers anonymously

[НСК-СБ]

November 16th
The European Commission has adopted new rules for the operation of "undressing scanners": now the operators of these devices will have to be in a separate room and will not be able to contact with passengers, reports The Register.

"Undressing scanners" or, as they are sometimes called, "pornoscanners" are gradually being put into operation around the world. In Europe, these translucent devices are already in use in the UK, France, Germany and Finland. It is believed that such scanners help detect weapons or other prohibited items without resorting to traditional searches.

However, in practice, these devices cause more and more discontent and often quite justified. Many, for example, remember the scandal when many photos taken by a scanner in the Florida courtroom leaked to the Internet. It has also been noted more than once that such scanners cannot give a full guarantee of the detection of prohibited items.

“Scanners are not a panacea,” confirms the Estonian Transport Commissioner, Estonian Siim Kallas. “However, they provide a real opportunity to enhance passenger safety.”

The new rules for using such scanners, first of all, provide for anonymity. An employee viewing images of passengers naked by the scanner will have to be in a separate room, while he will not be able to compare the “naked photo” with a specific person. It is also forbidden to save, copy and print photos received by the device.

Passengers' consent to such an interrogation must be informed. In addition, everyone should be given the opportunity to abandon this procedure in favor of other, more traditional search methods - although it is easy to guess that these same "traditional methods" can be much more unpleasant.

As Kallas notes, each of the EU countries and each individual airport has the right to independently decide on the need to install such scanners, but if they are introduced, the new rules will have to be observed.

News source: webplanet.ru

 

[ТИМУР]

Thank you, Andrey. That's it, basta, now you cannot carry fat on your own plane! : lol:

 

[Частный детектив. Владивосток.]

Thank you, Andrey. That's it, basta, now you cannot carry fat on your own plane! : lol:

Did you bring it before? : lol:

 

[Детективное агентство. Москва. Арбат.]

I believe that at the present stage of modern development they can be used only online, without using photo storage on storage media and in conjunction with traditional screening.

 

[Плотников Юрий Михайлович]

Andrey, thanks!

 

[Витаутас. Частный детектив г. Вильнюс. Литва]

something about airport security

Foreign experts told in which areas of the airports it is easy to carry out a terrorist attack
The explosion at an international airport near Moscow exposed the vulnerability of airports around the world, writes USA Today magazine, citing the views of several security experts.
"Terrorists have long sought to harm aviation by hijacking and explosions," the article says, the content of which is quoted by InoPressa.ru. Many of the recent attempts have failed in part due to increased security measures, but experts argue that terrorists may well strike at unprotected areas of airports, such as baggage claim areas, ticket desks, security checkpoints and driveways near the airport building used for boarding and disembarking passengers using cars and buses.
The situation in the United States is even more dangerous than in Domodedovo, says Ketal Flynn, who led the US air security agency from 1993 to 2000. Anyone can enter the baggage claim area, which at rush hour turns into a chaotic sea of travelers and their belongings, the specialist admits.
According to Flynn, he was concerned about the possibility of attacking airports long before the hijacking of aircraft on September 11, 2001, and took a number of steps to improve airport security. But, in his opinion, much more needs to be done.
Police should be trained in the prevention and detection of such terrorist attacks, said Associate Aviation Professor Jeffrey Price of Denver. Even the merely visible presence of police at airports can serve as a preventive measure for attacks, he said.
Domodedovo and Ben Gurion - Israel shares experience
Despite the fact that American experts consider their airports less secure than Moscow, Russians still have something to learn. Thus, the editorial board of the NEWSru Israel website reported on some security measures that have been taken at the main international airport in Israel, but which are absent at Domodedovo Airport.
First of all, the entry of vehicles into the territory of Domodedovo Airport, unlike Ben Gurion, is practically not controlled by security services. Cars drive up to the barrier, the driver automatically receives a ticket and ends up at the airport without any verification. Thus, until recently, a mined car could drive into the Domodedovo territory, which could be blown up in the immediate vicinity of the glass walls of the airport building.
At the entrance to Ben Gurion, the first checkpoint with armed guards was installed a few kilometers from the airport building. Security officers working at this checkpoint are trained to recognize potentially dangerous cars, drivers and passengers - suspicious cars are checked.
Such a checkpoint can be installed on the highway leading to Domodedovo. However, this will inevitably lead to the formation of huge lines, if not to expand the route and not create additional “gates” for the passage of vehicles.
The passenger’s path with luggage from a taxi or the parking lot at Ben Gurion is much longer than at Domodedovo, and security officers can control the passenger and his accompanying passengers, who can stop suspicious persons for checking. The guard may require that any citizen go through the metal detector frame. Queues are not formed.
Domodedovo has a significantly larger flow of passengers. Checking baggage and passengers at the entrance to the airport building is carried out selectively or not at all, so as not to create a long queue. Accompanying and meeting, as a rule (until recently), did not pass any verification. Obviously, the conditions for checking at the entrance to the airport can be tightened - this will lead to the formation of long lines, which in themselves are a potential target for terrorists.
The solution to this problem may be to increase the size of the passage area for passengers with baggage and the number of “gates” with metal detectors.
At the Domodedovo airport itself, the movement of citizens is poorly controlled, cases of suspicious behavior are not monitored, unwanted persons are not removed from the airport building. All this creates an additional threat.
In Ben Gurion, passengers in the departure hall, before receiving a boarding pass, go through a multi-level verification system - they are monitored by security officers, who then talk with each passenger and identify potentially dangerous citizens. All baggage (including bulk carry-on baggage) is shown through, in some cases additional manual baggage inspection is carried out.
In "Domodedovo" (if the luggage did not pass the check through the metal detector at the entrance), you can go to the landing practically without inspection. The exception is the departure area of the passengers of the Israeli airline El Al. In the queue of passengers awaiting receipt of a boarding pass, there may be a passenger with a dangerous cargo.
The baggage claim room at Ben Gurion Airport is much more spacious than the similar hall at Domodedovo Airport. The exit area after baggage claim is also more spacious in Ben Gurion, and those who meet are located at a considerable distance from the doors through which passengers exit. This allows you to better control what is happening.
If we talk about the American experience, the so-called "stripping scanners" have allowed to reduce the scan time in recent years. Domodedovo uses several such scanners. So far, only one such scanner has been installed in Ben Gurion - and it is used by customs officers at the exit, and not by security personnel at the entrance.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in an interview with the newspaper Vedomosti cited Israel and the United States as an example when he spoke about the protection of international airports. "Israel can be cited as an example, the United States of America," said the head of state.
And at an enlarged meeting of the FSB collegium, the Kremlin’s press service reports, Medvedev said: “Let's remember how the relevant activities were organized in the same United States of America or in Israel. There are a lot of check points. The check is thorough - both passengers and baggage "I’ve taken out my whole soul. The threat level is regularly raised, after which a total search is introduced."

Security systems at Domodedovo and Ben-Gurion airports. Differences and Threats
After the terrorist attack at Domodedovo Airport, Russian media and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev drew attention to the experience of security at the Israeli Ben-Gurion international airport. In an interview with the Vedomosti newspaper, the Russian president also noted the high level of security at US airports.
It should be emphasized that for airports in different countries and cities, optimal security schemes are not the same. For example, the US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, who recently visited Israel, after reviewing the security system at Ben Gurion Airport, said that this system is not suitable for America. She drew attention to the fact that the basis of the Ben-Gurion security system is monitoring of suspicious behavior of passengers, as well as meeting and seeing off citizens - which is effective in the case of such a small country as Israel, which has only one large international airport, but impossible in the USA, where there are 450 major airports.
Nevertheless, there are several points in the security system of Ben-Gurion Airport, which are quite applicable for the security system of Domodedovo Airport.
First of all, the entry of vehicles into the territory of Domodedovo Airport, unlike Ben Gurion, is practically not controlled by security services. Cars drive up to the barrier, the driver automatically receives a ticket and ends up at the airport without any verification. Thus, until recently, a mined car could drive into the Domodedovo territory, which could be blown up in the immediate vicinity of the glass walls of the airport building.
At the entrance to Ben Gurion, the first checkpoint with armed guards was installed a few kilometers from the airport building. Security officers working at this checkpoint are trained to recognize potentially dangerous cars, drivers and passengers - suspicious cars are checked.
Such a checkpoint can be installed on the highway leading to Domodedovo. However, this will inevitably lead to the formation of huge lines, if not to expand the route and not create additional “gates” for the passage of vehicles.
The passenger’s path with luggage from a taxi or the parking lot at Ben Gurion is much longer than at Domodedovo, and security officers can control the passenger and his accompanying passengers, who can stop suspicious persons for checking. The guard may require that any citizen go through the metal detector frame. Queues are not formed.
Domodedovo has a significantly larger flow of passengers. Checking baggage and passengers at the entrance to the airport building is carried out selectively or not at all, so as not to create a long queue. Accompanying and meeting, as a rule (until recently), did not pass any verification. Obviously, the conditions for checking at the entrance to the airport can be tightened - this will lead to the formation of long lines, which in themselves are a potential target of terrorists.
The solution to this problem may be to increase the size of the passage area for passengers with baggage and the number of “gates” with metal detectors.
At the Domodedovo airport itself, the movement of citizens is poorly controlled, cases of suspicious behavior are not monitored, unwanted persons are not removed from the airport building. All this creates an additional threat.
In Ben Gurion, passengers in the departure hall, before receiving a boarding pass, go through a multi-level verification system - they are monitored by security officers, who then talk with each passenger and identify potentially dangerous citizens. All baggage (including bulk carry-on baggage) is shown through, in some cases additional manual baggage inspection is carried out.
In "Domodedovo" (if the luggage did not pass the check through the metal detector at the entrance), you can go to the landing practically without inspection. The exception is the departure area of the passengers of the Israeli airline El Al. In the queue of passengers awaiting receipt of a boarding pass, there may be a passenger with a dangerous cargo.
The baggage claim room at Ben Gurion Airport is much more spacious than the similar hall at Domodedovo Airport. The exit area after baggage claim is also more spacious in Ben Gurion, and those who meet are located at a considerable distance from the doors through which passengers exit. This allows you to better control what is happening.
If we talk about the American experience, the so-called "stripping scanners" have allowed to reduce the scan time in recent years. Domodedovo uses several such scanners. So far, only one such scanner has been installed in Ben Gurion - and it is used by customs officers at the exit, and not by security personnel at the entrance.
Note that in recent years, the Domodedovo airport has created a fairly reliable flight safety system. After passing through passport control, passengers are subjected to rigorous checks. However, in the passenger exit area and in the check-in area, security measures are clearly inadequate.

"Undressing scanners" in Israel and the USA.
Today, November 24th, has been declared the day in the United States against the so-called "stripping scanners." Hundreds of such devices have already been installed at American airports, the purpose of which is to combat the terrorist threat. They are able to “take off” clothes from a person, allowing the employees conducting the inspection to see his intimate parts.
Thanksgiving Wednesday is one of the busiest days for the US transportation system. The organizers of the Say No to Scanners campaign understand that a massive rejection of the search will cause long lines and recommend that passengers arrive at the airport in advance. They urge the protesters to remain calm and use their legal right to refuse to pass through the scanner.
Those who follow their advice will have an even more humiliating procedure. According to recently introduced rules, employees of the Transport Safety Administration during personal searches are allowed to touch intimate parts of the body, and this instruction also applies to children.
According to many independent experts, personal searches are extremely tough in order to force passengers to use scanners. Recently, at a San Diego airport, a young man named John Tyner refused to go through a scanner or through a personal search. He got into a fight with a security officer, and now he faces a charge of disturbing public order and a fine of $ 11,000.
During the inspection, Tyner was indignant at the invasion of his private life and received the answer: "If you are not comfortable, we will help you leave the airport building." When the young man asked why sexual harassment became a condition of flight, he was told: "Having bought a ticket, you have waived many rights."
A video of the skirmish at the San Diego airport has already hit the Internet, and Tyner’s phrase “Don’t touch my gizmo” has turned into a slogan for fighters against tightening airport screening (John used the slang word “junk”, including male genitalia). Indeed, in addition to invading privacy, new scanners pose a threat to the health of those. who passes through them.
Specialists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (USA) believe that the use of "strip" scanners increases the likelihood of skin cancer. Those who use air transport regularly are at risk, despite the fact that each time they are exposed to very weak x-rays.
According to data submitted to the U.S. Congress by the Center for Radiology at Columbia University, the Transportation Safety Authority has underestimated the risk of skin cancer by 20 times. Thus, the chance of getting sick almost equaled the danger of being captured by terrorists. The findings of the doctors forced the two largest unions of American pilots to recommend pilots to refrain from passing the test.
Our editorial team tried to find out what is the situation with “stripping scanners” in Israel in the Federation of Trade Unions of Israel, which represents the interests of workers at El Al, Arkiya airlines, as well as Israire stewards. According to a NEWSru.co.il correspondent. Histadrut's spokeswoman Eyal Melma, representatives of the flight crew did not contact the union on this occasion. "Obviously, this situation does not scare workers," he added.
The editors of NEWSru.co.il sought clarification from all the leading Israeli airlines, but by the time the material was published, an answer was received only from El Al. "This issue is the responsibility of the airport and police department. It has nothing to do with our company and its passengers," it was stated in response to our request.
Judging by the available data, the only one who has really suffered from the “undressing scanner” was Riccardo Negrin, an employee of the US Transportation Safety Administration. During the development of the new device, management workers trained on each other, as a result of which colleagues learned that Riccardo’s male dignity is quite modest in size. Due to endless ridicule Negrin was forced to quit.
According to recent polls, 80% of Americans are willing to accept an invasion of privacy to ensure flight safety. They are not afraid of the danger of exposure, nor even the likelihood of their "naked" images appearing on the Internet.
In October 2010, the first scanner was installed at Ben Gurion Airport. But if the main purpose of scanning at American airports is to prevent armed terrorists from getting on board, then in Israel the device is installed at the airport exit. It does not protect against terrorists, but prevents smuggling into the country.
Israeli experts have previously expressed doubts that the new system will be an effective means to combat the seizure of aircraft. Specialists note that the terrorists are also not sitting idle, but are coming up with new ways to circumvent the security service.
A striking example of this is an attempt to smuggle explosives hidden in print cartridges from Yemen to the United States. Al Qaeda failed to blow up synagogues in Chicago just because an informant promptly informed the terrorists about the plan. Previously, attackers managed to get on board the aircraft, hiding mini-bombs in shoes or underpants.
According to Israeli security experts, the fight against smuggling is the best use for an expensive "undressing scanner." But, one way or another, there remains the danger of radiation when passing through the device and there is a potential possibility of penetrating the secret of personal life. A NEWSru.co.il correspondent sought clarification on this issue from the Israel Tax Authority, which manages the customs station at Ben Gurion Airport.
As the press service of the administration told us, the scanner installed in Israel uses a technology that does not use x-ray radiation (there are two technologies: using weak X-ray radiation (AIT) and millimeter waves - Ed.). “The device was approved by the Ministry of Ecology for radiation exposure. Thus, even after passing through the scanner repeatedly, there is no danger to health,” the tax department told us (US security agencies usually use another argument: they say passing through the scanner, with from the point of view of ionizing radiation, not more dangerous than two minutes of flight in an airplane).
"The device is designed to combat the smuggling of drugs, ammunition and money laundering. Only passengers who have suspected customs officers are checked. You can refuse to scan, in this case, a personal search will be carried out," the tax department commented.
We were also informed that the installation of scanners was authorized by the legal adviser of the government, according to which the images are subject to immediate destruction. Therefore, there is no danger of their use for other purposes.
However, lawyer Avner Pinchuk, a representative of the Civil Rights Protection Association, points out that the decision to install a “stripping scanner” was made by officials secretly, without any public discussion. He states that when it comes to a new cut in the right to privacy, this is a normal procedure. The human rights activist was particularly indignant at the utilitarian use of the scanner. Pinchuk believes that the security needs could explain, under certain conditions, the validity of a gross invasion of a person’s personal space, but customs officers could get along with other methods.

New scanner for airports recognizing bottle contents created
British scientists have created a scanner that can distinguish harmless liquids from explosive substances, reports The Daily Telegraph. In addition, it can read barcodes from bottles and compare them with a database. This function allows you to determine what was in the bottle at the time of sale and whether its contents were replaced with another.
The technology developed by British researchers is approved for use at all airports in EU countries.
New scanners can be installed at UK airports as early as April 2011. This measure will put an end to the ban on the transport of bottled liquids to aircraft, introduced in August 2006. Then the British police managed to stop the criminals who were planning to blow up 7 passenger aircraft using explosives disguised as bottles with drinks.
The fight against terrorism forces scientists to constantly work on improving the inspection system at airports, but the world community does not always approve of their inventions, writes BFM.ru.
So, in the summer of 2008, scanners appeared at airports in the United States and other countries that could see through human clothing through and through. The devices used low X-ray energy and showed everything that was under the clothes of a person, including intimate parts of the body.
The recreated three-dimensional image was so realistic that the employees of the airports where the scanners were tested had to retouch the faces of undressed passengers. The use of these devices caused a storm of protests from human rights defenders, who feared that intelligence bases would be replenished with images of completely naked passengers.
As NEWSru.co.il reported, about 2 weeks ago, a scanner capable of delivering high-quality images of the human body without clothes began working at the airport. Ben Gurion. However, if in other countries such devices are used to ensure flight safety and to search for weapons or explosives hidden under clothing, in Israel the scanner is installed in the arrivals area to "shine through" the arriving passengers.
The scanner is designed to help customs officers more effectively deal with the smuggling of weapons, drugs and money, while it saves passengers from a humiliating search. It was purchased about three years ago and cost 800 thousand dollars. The scanner began to work only after the customs service was convinced that its use does not contradict Israeli and international laws.

At the Israeli airport earned a scanner, "undressing" passengers
At the airport to them. Ben-Gurion began working on a scanner capable of delivering high-quality images of the human body without clothes. Similar scanners are available at other airports in the world, however, if in Europe and the USA these devices are used to ensure flight safety and to search for weapons or explosives hidden under clothing, then in Israel the scanner is installed in the arrivals area and they plan to “shine through” the arriving passengers . The scanner transmits to the screens of the customs officers an image of the checked passenger without clothes. The scanner is designed to help customs officers more effectively deal with the smuggling of weapons, drugs and money, while it saves passengers from a humiliating search. The device, worth 800 thousand dollars, was purchased about three years ago. However, he began to work only after the customs service was convinced that the use of the scanner does not contradict Israeli and international laws. Also, permission to use the scanner was obtained from the legal adviser to the government of Yehuda Weinstein. Customs took time to train staff in handling new equipment. When working with passengers, special measures will be taken that, according to the customs officers, will help to avoid embarrassing situations during the scanning procedure. As previously advised by the chief Ashkenazi rabbi, Jona Metzger, only women will be checked for the observance of the religious modesty of women, and men will be checked. At the same time, the scanner operator receiving the image of the passenger is in a separate room where access is prohibited to strangers. He does not see the person being checked, he will not receive personal data of the passenger. Thus, the passenger remains for the inspector "anonymous." And finally, a real-time scanner does not store captured images. After the check, all pictures of the passenger are destroyed. Yesterday, the customs officers using the scanner checked the first 20 passengers. In an interview with the newspaper Maariv, an official representative of the customs service emphasized that the passenger has the right to refuse to pass the check using a scanner, and then he will undergo a search "in the old manner", which will require more time.

 

[Орлан]

Use backscattered ionizing radiation to control objects.

The article discusses some types of inspection technology, the principle of which is based on the use of ionizing radiation reflected from smuggled items, called back-scattered ionizing radiation. This principle allows you to obtain information about the internal content of the controlled object during its inspection on the one hand.

In practice, there are often situations when monitoring objects using transmitted ionizing radiation is extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, for several reasons. In this case, they resort to the method of one-way control, which uses backscattered X-ray and gamma quanta and neutrons to obtain information about the internal content of the controlled object (KO). Backscattered radiation (ARI) is also used along with penetrating radiation (PI) to increase the information content of the control. Information about QoS is presented to the operator either in digital form or as an image on a monitor screen. Control equipment using ARI is manufactured in stationary, mobile and portable versions. The principle of its action is based on the effects of the interaction of quanta and particles with atoms of matter, so it makes sense to briefly recall some of them related to the equipment under consideration.

The interaction of ionizing radiation with matter

X-ray and gamma radiation have the same nature (this is short-wave electromagnetic radiation) and obey the same laws when interacting with matter. The fundamental difference between these two types of radiation lies in the mechanism of their occurrence: X-ray radiation of extra-nuclear origin and occurs when high-energy electrons are braked in matter; gamma radiation is the product of the transition of an atomic nucleus from one energy state to another. In the energy range up to hundreds of kiloelectron-volts (keV), commonly used in inspection equipment, X-ray and gamma-rays (hereinafter simply referred to as quanta), when passing through matter, interact with the electrons of the atomic shells, being absorbed (photoelectric effect) or scattered (the so-called Compton scattering ) During scattering, a quantum transfers part of its energy to an electron, tearing it out of the atom and changing the direction of its initial motion. Changing the direction of movement can occur in the range of angles from 0 to 180 degrees. Quantums scattered through angles close to 180 degrees are called backscattered and carry information about the content of organic matter. Once in the detector, they produce electrical signals in it, which are electronically processed and presented to the operator in the form of an image or a number. The intensity of backscattered radiation for substances with a lower density and lower atomic number (such as paper, explosives, drugs and other substances of organic origin) is higher than for substances with a higher density and higher atomic number (for example, steel, brass, lead and other). This fact is the fundamental principle of operation of the corresponding equipment.

Neutrons with zero electric charge, when propagating in a material medium, interact mainly with the nuclei of atoms of substances. One of the essential types of such interaction is elastic collision processes, as a result of which neutrons, transmitting part of their kinetic energy to atomic nuclei, slow down and scatter, including at angles close to 180 degrees. Slowing down neutrons is a very important process, since usually neutron sources produce particles of rather high energies - on the order of several megaelectron-volts (MeV). The best moderators are the nuclei of light elements (for example, hydrogen, carbon, etc.), which are part of organic substances, including explosives (explosives). Substances consisting of elements with a large atomic number (for example, iron, copper, lead, etc.) slow down and scatter neutrons much worse, so that they easily penetrate thick metal barriers. Thus, organic matter placed behind a metal barrier will be a “reflector” of neutrons and the number of backscattered neutrons can be used to judge the presence of anomalies in this place (hidden paper, explosives, drugs, etc.). This principle underlies the operation of neutron inspection devices.

Portable appliances

Campbell Security Equipment Company (CSECO), an American company, developed and mass-produced a portable contraband detector K 910 V Buster. The principle of its operation is based on the registration of gamma-quanta of a barium-133 radioactive source reflected from the examined surface. The activity of the source in different versions of devices ranges from 100 to 500 microcuries. Backscattered radiation is detected by a solid state detector made of cadmium telluride. The device is designed to detect hidden drugs, explosives, currency, and other contraband beyond obstacles made of metal, wood, plastic, fabric. With its help, cars, trucks and vans, container walls, fuel tanks, car tires, boats and ships, etc., can be searched for cache hiding. To operate the device is very simple. At the beginning of the examination, it is automatically calibrated on the examined surface, after which the device manually moves along the surface and signals a change in the intensity of the reflected quanta. Indications are displayed in digital form on the liquid crystal display, and when a cache is detected, an audible alarm sounds. The device is equipped with headphones for working in conditions of loud noise. With dimensions of 140x64x64mm, it weighs 1.1kg. Power is supplied by rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries.

A similar device for the same purpose has the name “SEARCHER” and is offered to consumers by the company “Folien-Vogel”. It has slightly larger, compared with the “Buster”, weight and size characteristics (the mass of the sensor probe is 2 kg, a separate electronic unit has dimensions 170x120x50mm) and signals the presence of caches with smuggling by an audible signal. The device is quite sensitive and allows you to detect a small amount of ammonium nitrate behind the barrier. Power is supplied from 9V alkaline batteries, providing continuous operation of the system for 8 hours.

A representative representative of portable neutron devices designed to detect smuggled caches behind obstacles is the CINDI detector (Compact Integrated Narcotics Detection Instrument), developed by the American company NOVA R&D, Inc.. It contains a California-252 fast neutron source with an activity of about 50 microcuries. Backscattered neutrons are recorded by a scintillation detector system, digital information is displayed on a liquid crystal display; there is a threshold sound indicator signaling the presence of anomalies in the examined object. The objects of the survey are containers, tanks, vans, cars, ships, etc. The device has autonomous battery power and is equipped with an automatic calibration system before starting measurements. The procedure for conducting an examination operation is the same as for gamma detectors, i.e. scanning the working part of the device on the surface of the TO. A positive feature of the device is its ability to detect packages of drugs located behind the wall of both empty and filled with hydrogen-containing substances (gasoline, motor oil, etc.) containers. For an empty tank (fuel tank, barrel), the detector signal at the location of smuggling will increase, for a filled tank, it will decrease, since the content of the main dispersing element - hydrogen in drugs is less than in these liquids. Tests of the device with the use of an impromptu drug simulator - sugar showed that it is confidently detected behind barriers of lead and iron. The device complies with radiation safety standards in force in the USA.

As an example of domestic devices of the class in question, the Cricket neutron search device can be cited. It is designed to detect hydrogen-containing bookmarks (explosives, drugs, etc.) behind obstacles made of metal, brick, concrete, etc. The operation of the device is based on a quantitative relationship between the detected flux of reflected neutron radiation and the mass of the substance in the control zone. The neutron source is the California-252 isotope with a flux of the order of 106 n / s. Power is supplied from nine elements of type 373 (or batteries) with a continuous service life of at least 30 hours. The curb weight of the device does not exceed 5 kg with the weight of the remote control 3,5 kg and the remote measuring unit with a bar 1,5 kg. The device is operated by one operator and complies with the radiation safety standards in force in Russia.

Foreign portable devices that use backscattered neutron and gamma radiation to control objects have shown their effectiveness in inspection practice; work is underway to create a combined device that uses both types of radiation simultaneously, which will expand the capabilities of portable search equipment.

Stationary and mobile equipment

The pioneer in the field of imaging KOs in backscattered X-rays is the American company American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E); she is the world leader in the design and manufacture of such equipment. In the process of acquiring an image, a CO moving past an x-ray source (on a conveyor belt or otherwise) is vertically scanned with a narrow x-ray (the so-called “pencil ray” or “flying spot” technology). A narrow beam is formed from a wide beam of x-ray radiation emanating from the anode of the x-ray tube, by passing it through rotating collimators, which are either a disk with a slot, or a wheel with narrow radial channels. The setup has two independent systems of detectors: an X-ray passing through the QO and quanta reflected from the QW. In this case, one system is located behind the CO, the other is in front of it. The signals from the detectors, subjected to computer processing according to a special program and in relation to the coordinate of the beam on the QoS, are the basis for the formation of black-and-white images in transmitted and backscattered x-rays on the screens of two monitors. Examples of such images are shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Image of the traveling bag in passing (a) and backscattered (b) x-ray radiation. The bright white rectangular spot in Fig. 1b - a simulator of a plastic explosive hidden in a radio receiver.

By analyzing them, the operator can detect a substance of organic origin hidden in the radio (in this case, a plastic explosive simulator). In a picture obtained in a transmitted beam, the image of this substance is obscured by denser layers, which absorb x-rays more strongly. Such a wide range of inspection equipment is installed at airports, customs and important facilities. According to radiation terminology, it is called “microdose”, since the dose load on CF in one session is 20 microroentgen (the normal natural radiation background is 10? 20 microroentgen per hour) and does not damage photographic materials.

Fig. 2. Appearance of the “101 Van” system.
To work in the field, the “101 Van” system was created. An X-ray inspection unit is mounted in a minivan, as shown in Fig. 2 The unit is equipped with a conveyor system and an operator panel, and power is supplied either from an on-board electric generator running on gasoline or liquefied gas, or from an external power supply network. The x-ray apparatus operates at two voltages on the x-ray tube, selected by the operator - 140 kV and 90 kV. The radiation penetration is 12mm in steel. Tests conducted using 1000 packages, some of which contained smuggling simulators, showed 83% of the correct analysis and 17% of the wrong (omissions and false “response” of the operator). The average analysis time for one package was 1min 7sec. For comparison, the test results of CTX 5000 SP X-ray tomography unit of the American company “In Vision” are given: when examining 864 packages in 90% of cases, the correct analyzes were obtained, in 10% - the wrong ones. The analysis time for one package was 1 min. 30 sec. That is, the control equipment using transmitted and backscattered X-ray radiation is comparable in its efficiency with the best of the existing, but much more complex and stationary system for a similar purpose.

Fig. 3. Appearance of the “MOBILSEARCH” system
To control large-sized objects (for example, cars and heavy-duty car trailers), both stationary and mobile systems have been developed. The stationary system, called “CARGOSEARCH”, can control heavy trailers with a length of 19.5 m, a width of 2.4 m, a height of 4.2 m and a weight of up to 36 tons. The system consists of two X-ray scanning units (450 kV, 10 mA) located on both sides of the truck in order to obtain the most complete information about CR; Images in transmitted and backscattered radiation are displayed on the screens of four monitors. The systems of emitters and detectors are located at an angle of 80 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to obtain an isometric image of KO. In this case, the presence of double walls with hidden smuggling between them, as well as goods and illegal immigrants not declared in the customs declaration, sheltered in the trailer van, are revealed. The radiation dose during the examination of KO does not exceed 2 milli roentgen. Three examination speeds are applied: 8; 4 and 1 meter per minute. Along with the stationary one, a mobile vehicle control system has also been developed (including heavy trailers), which operates only back-scattered radiation (“MOBILSEARCH”). The system is based on a truck (Fig. 3); mobility improves the efficiency of smuggling detection due to the effect of surprise when deployed in non-traditional places.

Fig. 4. Image of a passenger car in backscattered X-ray radiation, obtained using the “MOBILSEARCH” system.
The installation is equipped with a 450 kV X-ray emitter with a radial chopper, which provides a “flying spot” for scanning KOs, and a block of backscattered radiation detectors. Power is supplied from an autonomous diesel generator with a capacity of 22 kilowatts. Moving KO during scanning is provided using special electromechanical devices. The installation is serviced by three operators, one of which is a truck driver. Figure 4 shows the image of a car in backscattered X-rays; clearly visible drug-imitating packets of sugar hidden in the trunk of a car.

Fig. 5. Appearance of the “BODYSEARCH” system
Backscattered X-ray radiation is also used to detect smuggling and sabotage and terrorist means hidden under human clothing. For this, the “BODYSEARCH” installation was created (Fig. 5).

Fig. 6. The frontal image in the backscattered X-ray radiation of a dressed terrorist obtained using the “BODYSEARCH” system.
Fig. 6 shows a frontal demonstration image of a dressed “terrorist” obtained using the “BODYSEARCH” installation. In the middle part of the picture - a plastic explosive block under the right armpit, a 9 mm caliber Smith and Wesson automatic pistol in the perineum, a bunch of keys on the right thigh, a wallet on the left thigh; at the bottom of the picture is a folding Swiss army knife on the right ankle; the upper part of the picture is not suspicious.
Examination of a stationary subject is carried out by moving the x-ray scanning system; the operator analyzes the image received on the monitor screen, having the ability to control the brightness and contrast of the image, increase it by 2; 4 and 8 times and document if necessary. The examination time is 8-10 seconds, while the dose load does not exceed 5 micro-roentgen.

From the material presented in the article, the role of the operator clearly emerges in the analysis of the information that the backscattered ionizing radiation provides him during the examination of the QoS. Firstly, for the effective use of such equipment, despite all the measures taken to simplify its use, a qualified and well-trained operator who has undergone an internship in conditions as close as possible to real ones is needed. Secondly, the operator’s work efficiency will continuously increase as he acquires practical experience, so it is very important to create conditions for “fixing” such personnel and periodically training them with the aim of further training. It is in this aspect that the “human factor” is considered by specialists related to the fight against smuggling and terrorism.

Source: Special Technique Magazine

 

[Матушкин Андрей Николаевич]

US authorities abandoned stripping scanners at airports

US authorities abandoned stripping scanners at airports.

The US Transportation Safety Administration announced on January 18 that it was refusing to use undressing scanners at the country's airports. About this writes USA Today.

By June 2013, as reported in the department, all scanners will be completely dismantled. The reason for this decision in the department said that the manufacturer of scanning devices, Rapiscan Systems, could not make changes to the software, which provided images of the "naked" bodies of passengers.

Earlier, the US Congress demanded a change in software, which considered the use of such scanners a violation of the human right to privacy. In addition, members of Congress were doubted by the fact that the scanners used X-ray radiation, which could adversely affect human health.

According to the Transport Security Administration, airports will continue to use conventional scanning devices that provide images of the body without physiological details.

Undressing scanners first appeared at US airports in 2007. At present, the country has about 800 devices located at 200 airports.

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