The New Detectives
New detection tools increase border control, customs officers' capabilities to find contraband
- By Dana Strawser, Troy Techau
- Apr 01, 2010
Customs and border officials are an important component of national
security, protecting the nation from the entry of illegal,
dangerous or biologically disruptive goods. Until now, customs
officials have had to rely on traditional screening technologies that
are ill-suited for the customs mission and have produced mixed
results. Now, advanced imaging technology in the form of millimeter wave imagers
and other devices are emerging as the newest tools in a customs officer's toolkit.
Smugglers often hide items such as currency, narcotics and even live animals on
their bodies to evade law enforcement. And these evasive tactics will continue to increase
as efforts against laundering become more effective. Analysts not only warn
that international smuggling is a method used by terrorist elements to move funds,
but also caution that smuggling provides the funding for the terrorism itself.
A Unique Challenge
In November 2009, the World Customs Organization and the Department of
Homeland Security announced the success of Operation Atlas, a multinational effort
that yielded seizures of more than $3.5 million of narcotics over a five-day
period. The announcement coincided with the WCO's first-ever Technology and Innovation
Summit, which highlighted several advanced screening technologies to the
assembled customs delegates. Live demonstrations of Brijot Imaging Systems' MobileScan
millimeter wave screening technology aptly demonstrated that currency
and narcotics could be detected in real time using advanced imaging technology.
The WCO recognizes that the use of advanced imaging technology will be
critical to the future success of customs organizations worldwide. As new tools
and techniques become available, sharing techniques and information regarding
the application of emerging capabilities to the customs application is of paramount
importance.
Customs officials, tasked with detecting and deterring smuggling, face unique
challenges to support commerce with rapid, uncomplicated screening procedures.
Long lines, vast screening checkpoints and 100-percent screening is not an economically
or politically feasible option for most customs organizations.
Current screening technologies, such as walkthrough metal detectors, cannot
detect items without metallic content, leaving a substantial gap in the effectiveness
of screening technologies. Advanced imaging technology already in use in some
nations provides the capability to quickly locate items hidden on the body, without
violating individual privacy or slowing travelers.
The Up-and-Comers
Multiple new technologies hold great promise for the customs screening application.
Millimeter wave imagers—essentially a technology that can see objects hidden
on the human body—are perhaps the most significant advanced detection
technology to emerge in the past few years.
Millimeter wave imaging devices
can be divided into two classes: active
and passive. Each class of technology
has relative strengths and unique characteristics
that tailor their application
to various situations. In general, active
millimeter wave devices generate energy
that is projected onto the body and refl
ected back into sensors, while passive
millimeter wave imagers simply collect
the energy naturally emitted by the human
body. In both types of devices,
objects hidden on the body appear differently
than the human body and are
visible to the screener.
Active millimeter wave systems operate
by sending waves of energy onto
the human body, which reflect back to
the system's sensors. Typically, human
skin and hidden objects reflect differing
amounts of energy, yielding a detailed
image of the body on the operator's
screen. These systems can locate small
objects, such as coins, or other objects
in pockets or underneath clothing, as
the clothing itself is normally transparent
to the imaging system.
Privacy advocates have declared
these naked images as unacceptable
in most uses; however, opinions tend
to vary by culture and as our perceptions
of world security change in relation
to terrorist events. Generally, active
millimeter wave systems are large
and placed in fixed locations such as
airport security screening checkpoints.
As an emitter of energy onto the human
body, active systems usually require
regulatory approval for health
and human safety in each nation where
they are deployed.
Passive millimeter wave systems do
not emit energy and receive energy naturally
emitted by the human body. In
a real-time, high-throughput screening
environment, passive millimeter wave
imagers are typically employed to find
larger objects such as currency, narcotics
or bombs. Passive devices usually
do not require regulatory approval as
needed for human imaging, and the operator's
image does not display an image
of the body with enough resolution
to distinguish anatomical details. Without
the need for high-powered sources
to emit millimeter wave energy onto the
body, some passive millimeter wave devices
can be operated on battery power.
This characteristic, along with small
form factors, makes mobile operations
with a passive sensor an easy way to
move within a customs venue.
Some advanced technologies also
can automatically analyze and locate
objects on a person's image. This capability
can reduce operator training,
increase the probability of detection
and reduce false alarms. This detection
assistance helps an imaging systems
operator focus on areas where
there is a potential for hidden items.
The military and loss prevention community
have used this capability to
trigger external devices when a detection
event occurs, such as initiating an
automated lockdown, as well as notifying
security authorities.
Factors normally considered when
evaluating various millimeter wave
technologies include detection capability,
privacy, throughput, convenience,
portability and operational cost. Customs
agencies should look for advanced technologies that fit the unique requirements
of the customs model.
Detection capability. Normally expressed
as probability of detection
(Pd) and false alarm rate, these figures
express a technology's capability to detect
a given test item under controlled
conditions and how often the technology
will indicate a detection event when
there isn't actually an item present.
Privacy. Often a subjective factor
that varies from culture to culture, the
amount of privacy and dignity afforded
to the traveling public is
a critical factor in the implementation
of advanced
imaging technologies.
Throughput. Usually expressed
as a theoretical rate
per hour of how many people
can be screened if all factors
perform as expected. Actual
throughput rates are usually
lower as a result of human
factors, such as a subject who
doesn't understand screening
instructions.
Convenience. A critical
factor for customs applications,
as customs officials
most often are not willing
or permitted to impose the
strict protocols typically
found in post-9/11 aviation
security screening. That
type of screening typically
requires full divestiture of
coats, jackets and items in
pockets and even removal
of shoes. Many customs
agencies desire screening
technology that can expediently
screen travelers as
they transit the customs
area. In this usage, the advanced
screening technology
serves to assist in the
selection of travelers with suspicious
hidden objects for secondary screening,
minimizing the need for customs
officials to resort to controversial and
inconsistent tactics such as profiling or
random screening.
Portability. To maximize the ability
to place technology at the most effective
location, customs agencies typically
desire advanced imaging systems
that are portable and can be relocated
as needed.
Operational cost. In addition to the
expense of acquiring and maintaining
advanced imaging technology, customs
agencies can minimize operational costs
if minimal training is required.
Integration and Sensor Fusion
As the adoption of advanced imaging
technologies becomes more widespread,
the detection industry will continue
to offer additional capabilities to
customs officials.
The fusion of multiple sensors into
integrated sensor suites will increase
detection capability and automated
detection and simplify the application
of disparate technologies to the contraband
detection task. For example,
the simple integration of a metal detector
and advanced imaging technology
could yield valuable information
about a hidden object, helping to determine
its location and composition.
Integration of imaging sensors at infrared
and other frequencies, as well as
the integration of devices such as laser
spectrometers, also is a topic of discussion
in scientific circles. Spectrometers
show promise in yielding information
on the specific composition of a hidden
object, which would be useful to a
customs official scanning a traveler for
contraband items.
Increasingly, the output from those
advanced sensors also will be integrated
into command and control suites that
improve coordination and alignment of
limited customs resources to the most
critical tasks. The military term "common
operating picture" is often used to
describe the aggregation and assimilation
of disparate sensor information
onto integrated displays, providing operators
unparalleled situational awareness
and intelligence analysis capabilities.
Current screening technologies tend to
be operated in isolation, but visionary
companies and government agencies are
developing initial requirements to guide
development of this critical capability
for security management.
Some work in both of these areas
has already begun. DHS has initiated
the Standoff Explosives Detection
Technology Demonstration Program,
a multi-year research and development
effort to accelerate the development
of integrated systems, concepts of
employment and deployment scenarios
to improve public safety and increase
law enforcement's detection capabilities.
The program has begun evaluating
the applicability of video analytics,
command and control software and
various detection technologies.
Customs agencies are not likely
to have significant research and development
budgets, and most product
development will likely occur as
manufacturers and governments invest
precious funding in pursuit of technology
suited for the aviation
security checkpoint market.
While the SOTDP program
and the efforts of the World
Customs Organization are
laudable, it is critical that
customs officials clearly
define and articulate the
unique requirements of
the customs application to
government and the private
sector if suitable products
are to be developed over the
next few years.
Another advancement
on the development horizon
is imaging sensors with
greater detection capabilities
and ranges. These next-generation
sensors will enable
screening for hidden bombs
and contraband at signifi-
cantly longer ranges.
The forward-looking customs
agencies already engaged
with today's technology
stand to gain the most
from these advances. The lessons
learned and operational
experiences gained through
the use of available advanced
imaging technology will serve
as a foundation for agencies
to spring ahead and rapidly
implement new technology as soon as it
becomes available.