washington metro

TSA, Washington Metro Test Out New System That Can Detect Explosive Devices on Passengers

The non-invasive system has been implemented by more transportation authorities around the world to address threats of terrorism in public spaces.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Dec 19, 2019

Security officials from the TSA and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which oversees the Metro train and bus services in the nation’s capital, are teaming up to test new security technology, the agencies announced on Tuesday.

This week, both agencies are testing a “next-generation system” that aims to detect explosive devices and other potentially dangerous items before a person can enter the transit system. The technology can detect if a person is concealing an improvised explosive device (IED), including a suicide vest.

In addition, the system may identify other objects, metallic or not, that are hidden on a person’s body. Agents were seen testing the technology, the first of its kind for the transportation authority, at the Pentagon City Metrorail Station.

The passive detection system does not emit radiation, display personal anatomical details or require a person passing through to be examined by an employee. Rather, Metro customers will just walk past the equipment and operators will look for blank or cold spots on the green image of the person, known as a “green ghost.”

Equipment that evaluates passengers for potential IEDs has become more popular among public transportation officials as terrorists continue to target public spaces. One prominent example of terrorists targeting public transporation systems is the 2005 suicide bombings in London, which killed 39 people and injured more than 700 people over the course of just a few hours.

The system tested by the Metro, provided by London-based Thruvision People Screening, has already been tried out by transportation officials in New York and New Jersey. In the days before the Thanksgiving holiday, Washington travelers who rode with Amtrak at D.C.’s Union Station were also part of testing the equipment.

Metropolitan Transit Police Chief Ronald Pavlik said on Tuesday that he is interested in purchasing at least one of the systems, which cost about $90,000. For now, the city plans to borrow the systems from the TSA for major events such as the presidential inauguration, according to The Washington Post.

“The fact that it’s mobile and portable speaks for itself,” Pavlik told the Post. “We want to see how it reacts in this environment.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities