ESA see-through security in worldwide service

Start-up company ThruVision, with the help of ESA's Technology Transfer Programme Office, transferred space-based ESA developed terahertz imaging technology into their security device T5000 which makes it possible to screen people for concealed objects without them even noticing.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ESA_see_through_security_in_worldwide_service_999.html

The odds are high that you have already interacted with one of ESA's most-far-reaching inventions without realising it. Terahertz security cameras - currently employed in 18 countries including many major airports and the LA Metro - scan passengers for concealed weapons or contraband in their clothing from up to 10 metres away, operating on an entirely passive, non-invasive basis.

There is no need to step into a dedicated machine, as with X-ray scanners - you just walk on by. No radiation is emitted by the imager; instead it works by detecting the extremely high-frequency 'terahertz' waves emitted by anything that is warm, including the human body, and highlighting anything blocking these emissions. The scanning resolution is low enough that no anatomical details are revealed.

"Our imagers are looking at the thermal contrast between the temperature of the body and any items concealed around the body," explains Colin Evans, CEO of the Thruvision company, licensing the terahertz imaging technology from co-patent holders ESA and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK.

"Because they are passive sensors, emitting no harmful energy, then their operation is covered by standard CCTV legislation. It's like looking at someone with night vision goggles, except at higher frequency."

The technology dates back to the start of this century, and an ambitious ESA-RAL research effort. This was the first of the ESA-led 'StarTiger' projects, gathering together top experts at a single site to work on a single, top priority project.

"Terahertz and sub-millimetre waves are used in space quite often," explains Peter de Maagt, head of ESA's Antennas and Sub-mm Waves Section, and co-author of the patent on the ESA side. "For instance to track early galactic evolution, or to perform temperature and humidity sounding for weather forecasting and atmospheric research.

"But the devices back then were really bulky, built up from unintegrated blocks, and multi-frequency real-time imaging was still a problem. What we did was to completely integrate everything into a very small credit-card-like unit.

"The whole basis of StarTiger is that, at the end, we have to produce working hardware, not just a report. So we targeted a camera capable of photographing the human hand in terahertz waves. We harnessed micro-machining technology used for mobile phone technology to make it work, achieving several technical world firsts in the process."

Dr Chris Mann led the work from the RAL side, and is the other patent co-author: "Every single element in the detector had to be hand-crafted using milling machines. We had to redesign all the optics because we weren't radio-astronomers looking at light years distant but wanting to image something just a few metres away.

"The challenge really captured people's imagination, and this was where the StarTiger approach came into its own, because we achieved in a few months what otherwise might have taken years."

Dr Mann went on to establish Thruvision, today serving as the company's Chief Scientific Advisor. He holds the same role in another company, SubTeraNDT, applying the same ESA-RAL patent for oil and gas infrastructure inspection.

"It has been a long process, but today Thruvision is well-established," adds Colin Evans. "Based over the road from RAL, our core sensor is manufactured here. And we've worked hard to build up a full supply chain for our extremely high-precision components, which operate at 250 Ghz, way above standard.

"We're very proud of our pioneering ESA and RAL technological heritage, and that absolutely cuts the mustard on the world stage - giving us a very strong pedigree."

The terahertz technology is part of ESA's intellectual property rights portfolio, consisting of around 450 patents on space innovations, available for licensing by European companies for both space and terrestrial applications.

REVENUES ON THE UP AT THRUVISION

Laurence Kilgannon

https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-east/revenues-on-the-up-at-thruvision

Revenues have climbed at listed people-screening technology specialist Thruvision.

Using patented passive terahertz technology, Thruvision is capable of detecting metallic and non-metallic threats including weapons, explosives and contraband items that are hidden under clothing, at distances up to 10 metres. The Abdingdon-headquartered company's scanners are being used to help tackle knife crime in the capital.

In an update on trading for the six months to 30 September 2019, Thruvision said it had continued to drive "good commercial momentum" during the period.

Revenues increased by 50 per cent to £4.8m after Thruvision delivered 64 units to customers including a greater proportion of high-end machines, helping to generate stronger revenues and gross margins than in prior years.

Sales momentum was particularly strong in Thruvision's customs market segment, with the business hailing the ability of its technology to reliably detect non-metallic items like drugs and bank notes.

During the period Macau Customs and US Customs and Border Protection became the group's seventh and eighth customers respectively, while Hong Kong Customs and the US State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs both returned to purchase additional units in the period.

Thruvision added that good strategic progress was continuing to be made in its aviation division. Los Angeles International Airport is deploying the company's products for employee screening purposes, and further technical progress is being made toward being approved for use in passenger screening in US airports by the TSA's Innovation Task Force.

In loss prevention, Morrisons has became an important new customer in the grocery sector.

Thruvision to Develop User Interface to Enable Deployment at US Airports

https://apnews.com/Business%20Wire/6a7aaeccc403403c9eee6baa1028e5a1

ASHBURN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2019--

Thruvision, the provider of fast, safe and respectful people security screening solutions, today announced it has won a contract from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop new user interface software for its passive terahertz people-screening technology. The contract is intended ensure Thruvision compliance with federal regulation 49 CFR 1540.107(d), part of FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which mandates standards for all people-screening technology used at U.S. airport checkpoints.

“Thruvision security screening equipment has been deployed internationally for years because of the tremendous privacy and safety benefit of its passive terahertz technology,” said Kevin Gramer, Vice President of Thruvision, Americas. “Our technology is now a candidate for use at U.S. airports specifically because of those benefits. Thruvision provides fast, safe and respectful screening for all travelers including women, children, men, the elderly, mobility challenged, and transgender individuals. Our aim is to reduce queues and remove the need for physical searches in U.S. airports and we look forward to working with the TSA to help achieve this.”

Thruvision’s people screening technology can quickly and unobtrusively screen passengers at distances up to 25 feet using passive terahertz technology to measure thermal energy coming from the body. Items such as a suicide bomb vest or a gun block these heat emissions, allowing them to be seen against the warmth of the ‘green ghost’ thermal outline for which Thruvision has become known. This means that, unlike existing airport body scanners, Thruvision does not need to capture or record any anatomical detail in order to operate.

For more information, please visit www.thruvision.com

TSA says an airport full-body scanner must add a filter to protect travelers' privacy

This image shows how the Thruvision scanner can scan multiple travelers at an airport to help speed up the security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration says the Thruvision scanner needs "enhanced privacy software." (Hero Images Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo)

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tsa-body-scanner-20190429-story.html

By HUGO MARTIN

A full-body scanner that the Transportation Security Administration hopes can speed up airport security checkpoints must go back to the drawing board for software to protect the privacy of travelers being scanned.

The scanner, built by British firm Thruvision, was promoted as being able to simultaneously screen multiple airport passengers from a distance of up to 25 feet away. The TSA began trying out the device last year at an Arlington, Va., testing facility before planning to use it on a trial basis at U.S. airports.

But now the federal agency is requiring the scanner to add a “privacy filter” before the TSA can test the scanner “in a live environment,” according to a TSA document.

The March 26 document was posted on a public website, but many details were redacted, including the name of the manufacturer and the cost of adding the privacy filter.

In a statement, Thruvision confirmed that the TSA document referred to the Thruvision scanner, which is currently being used at some Los Angeles subway and light-rail stations.

TSA and Thruvision said the software is being added to comply with a federal law passed in the wake of a 2013 controversy involving body scanners that may have shown too much.

The scanner doesn’t violate travelers’ privacy or show details of a person’s anatomy, Thruvision Americas Vice President Kevin Gramer said.

Images provided by Thruvision show that the scanner creates a fuzzy, green image depicting a traveler’s body with a dark outline of potential weapons or explosives that are hidden under their clothes.

“A piece of narrowly drawn legislation from several years ago created a requirement that all people-screening technologies used at U.S. airport checkpoints have a privacy filter regardless of the image displayed,” Gramer said in a statement. “Thruvision screening equipment has been deployed internationally for years because of the tremendous privacy and safety benefit of its passive terahertz technology and it is a candidate for use at U.S. airports specifically because of those benefits.”

In 2013, the TSA removed about 200 full-body scanners after protests because the scanners used low levels of radiation to create what resembles a nude image of screened passengers. Critics called the device the “nudie scanner” before the TSA ended its contract with the manufacturer.

Three years later, Congress adopted legislation requiring that all full-body scanners used at U.S. airports include privacy software filters that keep the devices from showing details of a traveler’s body on the screens monitored by the TSA.

The full-body scanners used at the nation’s airport create a generic human avatar of each traveler that appears on TSA screens. Weapons or explosives hidden under the traveler’s clothes are shown as yellow squares on the screen.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles began using Thruvision scanners last year. An MTA spokesman said the transportation agency bought a handful of Thruvision devices but did not add privacy software because the images created by the device don’t show details of a commuter’s anatomy but instead depict each person as a “green blob.”

A full-body scanner with privacy software installed is used at Ontario International Airport. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Thruvision scanner is one of several new technologies being tested under the TSA’s “Innovation Task Force” as part of an effort to improve screening and speed up the queues at airport security checkpoints.

The task force’s efforts included the 2016 launch of a new conveyor belt system to move luggage and passengers through a security checkpoint faster.

Innovation lanes, now used at several terminals at Los Angeles International Airport, are designed to move travelers and carry-on bags through the security checkpoint faster (Hugo Martin / Los Angeles Times)

Under the full-body scanning program, the TSA purchased several Thruvision devices to begin testing in November 2018.

The existing full-body scanners used at U.S. airports bounce millimeter waves off passengers to spot objects hidden under their clothes. But Gramer said the Thruvision device uses a passive terahertz technology that reads the energy emitted by a person, similar to thermal imaging used in night-vision goggles.

Thruvision has promoted its scanning devices as being able to screen up to 2,000 people in an hour and detect a concealed weapon at a distance of up to 25 feet.

The screening device was used in 2017 to scan people attending a tribute concert organized by U.S. singer Ariana Grande after her May 22, 2017, concert in Manchester, England, ended in a suicide bombing that killed 23 people and wounded 139 others.

Will L.A.’s Anti-Terrorist Subway Scanners Be Adopted Everywhere?

Terahertz millimeter-wave technology will screen passengers for bombs and suicide vests from 10 meters distance as they rush to make the next train

An arriving passenger to Union Station in Los Angeles is seen on the ThruVision technology that reveals suspicious objects on people during a Transportation Security Administration demonstration on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Credit: Richard Vogel AP Photo

• By Wendy M. Grossman 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/will-l-a-s-anti-terrorist-subway-scanners-be-adopted-everywhere/

In mid-August the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Transportation Security Administration announced Metro has paid $100,000 each for several TSA-approved portable terahertz millimeter-wave screening devices. Made by the U.K.-based company ThruVision, the devices will be deployed within the city's metro rail system to detect at a distance weapons capable of causing mass casualties.

The reality of mass screening in a public-transit system immediately stirred a sense of unease. Soon after the announcement, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California filed a public records request seeking more information about the devices. The Los Angeles rollout follows tests by the TSA there, in New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal and at Union Station in Washington, D.C.

Essentially, these terahertz devices are fancy cameras that image heat shed from the human body. They are called “terahertz” because instead of visible light they “see” at .25 trillion hertz. Unlike airport scanners, which require passengers to stop individually and wait while the scanners actively bounce radiation off their bodies and measure the reflections, these devices are intended to scan passengers at a distance of 10 meters while up to 2,000 passengers an hour flow toward them—for example, down an escalator. The operator looks for solid, dark patches in the passengers’ images that indicate a large concealed object. “When there is an anomaly,” says Dave Sotero, a communications manager for LA Metro, “then there is a law enforcement component and a bomb-sniffing dog. They will be pulled to one side, and the dog will run by, and if it doesn't smell anything the person goes on their way."

Cops-as-voyeur worries are apparently unfounded. The devices see through clothes, but “we see no anatomical detail,” says Colin Evans, ThruVision's managing director. “Just a hot or cold pixel, and that’s what we’re displaying.” Warmer objects show up as brighter; cooler ones as dark. Evans notes a concealed weapon heated to human bodily temperature would disappear from the image, but suggests such a temperature match would be hard to achieve, and even harder to maintain. The systems being deployed in LA are intended to scan more than 2,000 passengers per hour at a distance of 30 feet.

In 2002 Rutherford Appleton Labs in the U.K. developed the terahertz technology as part of the European Space Agency program to allow satellites to look for holes in the ozone layer. Over the last 15 years the U.S., U.K. and several waves of private owners have collectively invested $50 million in developing it further. ThruVision hand-builds all its systems at its Oxfordshire, England, headquarters, but is setting up an assembly facility in Cape Canaveral, Fla. In the three years since it reached commercial production, Evans says the company has manufactured approximately 300 units, which have been sold to 18 countries. The largest single deployment is in Asia, where customs authorities have bought about 40 units to look for smuggled cash and drugs.

The heart of the device is a block of electronics about the size of a 1990s tower personal computer. It comes housed in a musician’s black case, akin to the one Spinal Tap might use on tour. At the front: a large, square white plate, the terahertz camera and, just above it, an ordinary closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera. Mounted on a shelf inside the case is a laptop that displays the CCTV image and the blobby terahertz image side by side.

An operator compares the two images as people flow past, looking for unexplained dark areas that could represent firearms or suicide vests. Most images that might be mistaken for a weapon—backpacks or a big patch of sweat on the back of a person's shirt—are easily evaluated by observing the terahertz image alongside an unaltered video picture of the passenger.

It is up to the operator—in LA’s case, presumably a transport police officer—to query people when dark areas on the terahertz image suggest concealed large weapons or suicide vests. The device cannot see inside bodies, backpacks or shoes. “If you look at previous incidents on public transit systems, this technology would have detected those,” Sotero says, noting LA Metro worked “closely” with the TSA for over a year to test this and other technologies. “It definitely has the backing of TSA.”

How the technology works in practice depends heavily on the operator’s training. According to Evans, “A lot of tradecraft goes into understanding where the threat item is likely to be on the body.” He sees the crucial role played by the operator as giving back control to security guards and allowing them to use their common sense.

Because the detector operates passively at a distance—unlike airport scanners—and doesn’t display anatomical details, both the company and Sotero say the system respects personal privacy. For Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the ACLU, however, “It's still a search.” Also, Stanley raises the possibility of racial profiling in interpreting ambiguities: Operators may perceive the dark blob around a person's middle as a money belt on a white person but explosives on a person of color.

In a demonstration of the system at ThruVision's offices, the operator immediately spotted the large bunch of keys in my back left pocket but didn’t notice the closed medium-size Swiss Army knife in my back right pocket until told it was there. He was unsurprised: the knife is about the smallest size they expect to be detectable at that distance and resolution, and it is not among the items LA Metro wants to detect.

This raises the question of future development. Security expert Bruce Schneier argues if the costs of such systems drop the way they have with other electronics devices, we could see them proliferate the way CCTV cameras have, driven by “cost and fear.” Even if resolution improves only slowly, it is easy to imagine the technology being gradually improved to detect all sorts of things that are currently too small, particularly in the U.K. where carrying knives is restricted.

Evans believes, however, we will not see that happen because the precision required to manufacture these systems makes them expensive to build. Inside their front-end modules a scanning mirror directs the incoming body heat through eight sensor channels. At the back of each channel resides more electronics that amplify the terahertz signal and feed it into the video-processing engine that paints the picture on the laptop screen. Increasing the resolution involves adding more channels, and, he notes, these channels account for the bulk of the machine's cost—and the cost goes up with the number of channels. He adds, though, fewer mainstream off-the-shelf components are available for this part of the spectrum compared with lower frequencies with shorter wavelengths such as military radar. Systems that operate at lower frequencies, he says, are “inferior because they’re more prone to interference from marble floors, glass walls and warm air.”

Los Angeles to use body scanners on metro riders

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2018/08/20/los-angeles-to-use-body-scanners-on-metro-riders/

by Lisa Vaas

Los Angeles has become the first US city to buy body scanners to screen metro riders, in an effort to catch suicide bombers or other security threats.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Metro and the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a joint press release about the technology, which the agencies say “will help detect weapon and explosive device security threats on the county’s transit system.”

An LA Metro spokesman told NPR that the transit system has ordered several units, costing about $100,000 each. The portable body scanners are Thruvision TAC-TS4 portable terahertz millimeter wave passenger screening devices: devices that can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, including concealed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other weapons intended to cause mass casualties.

The scanners are similar to those used at airports, but they don’t release radiation. Rather, they detect radiation – as in, body heat. When objects are concealed, the radiation waves are blocked. The Thruvision scanners detect such blockage and render it as either a black spot on the body or in a color overlay.

Those visual indicators are rendered on top of a generic avatar: one that doesn’t display anatomical details and hence doesn’t make the process feel like people are being ogled via x-rays that see through their clothes.

The Thruvision scanners also differ from airport scanners in that passengers don’t need to line up to pass through one by one. Metro passengers can just walk through stations the same way they always do.

Polly Hanson, the director of security and emergency management at the American Public Transportation Association, told NPR that passive scanners like these are better suited for metro systems than those used at airports, not just because they can more easily handle the sheer volume of mass transit riders, but also because it means the system can move far faster:

At an airport, you’re funneled through one specific location. Mass transit, there are multiple fare gates [and] some systems are barrierless… it just currently doesn’t lend itself to the kind of security that’s in an airport.

It’s not clear when the devices will be put into use. However, when they do go into general use, they won’t be used on every rider on any given day. Rather, LA Metro will place the new devices at only a few locations in the system. But given that they’re portable, they can be moved around, either randomly or to respond to specific concerns.

Port Authority tests new security tech that scans passersby

Port Authority officers test out new technology that can scan passersby. (Robert Miller)

By Allie Griffin

https://nypost.com/2018/08/14/port-authority-tests-new-security-tech-that-scans-passersby/

Port Authority officers on Tuesday tested new technology that can scan passersby – and possibly head off a gun-toting or bomb-carrying terrorist.

Cops at the Port Authority Bus Terminal had eyes glued to their laptops, keeping tabs on green millimeter wave and red terahertz images captured by camera-like devices made by UK-based Thruvision Group.

Port Authority officials said they have high hopes for these gadgets because it can spot someone carrying suspicious items under their clothes from 10 meters away.

“This is another level of security,” said PA police Superintendent Edward Cetnar.

Officers tested the Thruvision equipment Monday and Tuesday and are set to employ it again on Wednesday.

The PA wouldn’t commit to buying the equipment or say when it could be fully installed.

Authorities said this kind of technology could be crucial in fighting terrorists – like ISIS-inspired Akayed Ullah, who tried to blow himself up at the Port Authority Bus Terminal this past Dec. 11.

Link to An Interesting Powerpoint- by THRUVISION Co-Founder Chris Mann on the life and death of THRUVISION

http://www.teknolojitransferi.gov.tr/TeknolojiTransferPlatformu/resources/temp/19FEDC20-5909-4EE5-8F70-89482D596636.pdf;jsessionid=ECE62F06E43504FC93C8588A442A70C3

Abstract-New way for both quality enhancement of THz images and detection of concealed objects

Vyacheslav A. Trofimov; Vladislav V. Trofimov
http://spie.org/Publications/Proceedings/Paper/10.1117/12.2189299

As it is well-known, the passive THz camera allows seeing concealed object without contact with a person and this camera is non-dangerous for a person. Obviously, efficiency of using the passive THz camera depends on its temperature resolution. This characteristic specifies possibilities of the detection for concealed object: minimal size of the object; maximal distance of the detection; image quality. Computer processing of the THz image may lead to many times improving of the image quality without any additional engineering efforts. Therefore, developing of modern novel computer code for its application to THz images is urgent problem. Using appropriate new methods one may expect such temperature resolution which will allow to see banknote in pocket of a person without any real contact. Modern algorithms for computer processing of THz images allow also to see object inside the human body using a temperature trace on the human skin. This circumstance enhances essentially opportunity of passive THz camera applications for counterterrorism problems.

We developed new real-time algorithm, based on the correlation function, for the detection of cancelled objects by using computer processing of the passive THz images without their viewing. This algorithm allows us to make a conclusion about presence of forbidden objects on the human body. To see this object with high quality we propose one more algorithm which allows to increase the image quality. Current approach for computer processing of the THz images differs from approaches developed by us early.

We apply new algorithms with success to the images captured by passive THz camera TS4 manufactured by ThruVision Inc. The distance between the camera and person is changed from 4 to 10 metres.

Digital Barriers acquires ThruVision Systems

http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4325675/Digital-Barriers-acquires-ThruVision-Systems.html
StockMarketWire.com - Digital Barriers has acquired the assets, intellectual property and customer contracts of ThruVision Systems.

ThruVision designs and manufactures standoff passive TeraHertz screening products that can detect objects under a person's clothes, such as weapons, explosives or smuggled contraband.

ThruVision's products incorporate proprietary passive sensing technology that detect concealed objects safely using natural energy.

ThruVision's products have been deployed around the world for a variety of screening applications including border security, law enforcement, defence and loss prevention.

Focus on ThruVision and passive terahertz scanning

My Note: With the recent news about the use of THz, by the NYPD, (and with my sources telling me, this is most likely a ThruVision system, I thought it was time to focus on passive terahertz scanning. ThruVision, as you will see is developing a number of problem specific products).

http://www.thruvision.com/index.html

Safe technology

ThruVision Systems' technology is passive. Like CCTV cameras our products do not emit energy onto the people being screened. Some other body scanning technologies emit X-rays and other types of 'active' radiation during the screening process. Our products operate by receiving natural TeraHertz energy from all people and objects.

Our safe people screening systems can be used to screen women during pregnancy. As our products are completely passive people can be screened an unlimited amount of times with absolutely no risk to their health.

Respectful technology

It is important to find the right balance between security and civil liberties. Our products are often referred to as non-invasive as they do not image intimate body details. This allows the respectful screening of all people with no requirement for same gender operators.

Indoor and outdoor operation

ThruVision Systems' passive detection technology is the only commercially available non-invasive people screening technology that operates both indoors and outdoors. Our TeraHertz based detection systems use the natural energy from the surrounding environment to detect concealments.

Stand-off detection

All of our stand-off detection products incorporate an advanced approach to the focusing of the received TeraHertz energy. This novel approach enables our customers to detect concealments across a range of stand-off distances of up to 30m. This enables our products to be used to screen people without requiring them to stop specifically to be screened.

The TS4 is the world's most advanced compact passive concealed object detection system. Delivering unparalleled best in class image quality it sets the standard for all other compact passive screening systems.

With a detection distance between 3m and 15m the TS4 can be used for a variety of people screening applications including both indoor and outdoor operations. It is currently being used for border security, critical infrastructure protection, law enforcement and VIP protection applications. The TS4 is being operated in both fixed installations and mobile configurations around the world.

Like all of ThruVision Systems' detection products the TS4 operates by receiving natural energy radiated from the people and objects being imaged. The TS4 is the perfect body scanning solution when security and privacy are both important as no intimate body information is captured or displayed.
The TS5 is the world's premier safe and non-invasive increased distance detection system. For any security screening application that requires an increased stand-off distance the TS5 is the solution. The TS5 provides our customers with a suitably compact detection solution that meets real world operational requirements.

Enabling standoff screening for larger concealments at distances of up to 30m it continues to resolve smaller items at distances of up to 10m. A full range of accessories is available for the TS5 making it suitable for both permanent installations and mobile deployments. The TS5 offers its defence and law enforcement customers standoff detection capability in challenging situations.
With an environmetal rating of IP65 the TS5 is available in a variety of colours and is suitable for permanent outdoor installation at both military and corporate facilities.

Like all of our detection products the TS5 operates by receiving natural energy from the surrounding environment. Incorporating ThruVision Systems' latest technology the TS5 is the perfect passive concealed object detection solution for the most demanding applications as it enables detection at increased distance.

The T8000 detects small objects concealed under a person’s clothing. It is an overt screening system that requires compliance by the person being screened and is suited to applications that require secondary screening such as transportation security, border security, law enforcement and loss prevention.

Like all of ThruVision Systems' products the T8000 is a safe and non-invasive detection system. This means that it does not capture or display intimate body details thereby removing the need for ‘modesty filtering’ or same gender operators. Incorporating our advanced passive sensing technology the T8000 is perfectly safe for all persons as there are no X-rays or other types of active radiation emitted as part of the screening process. Some other body scanning technologies do emit potentially harmful radiation in order to screen passengers.

The T8000 has been designed to enhance existing security infrastructure and operations. The system can be used as an effective stand alone solution but also to complement the use of ThruVision Systems’ standoff products as a secondary screening system.

The materials that can be detected by the T8000 include weapons, explosives, liquids, gels, ceramics and narcotics.

                           The operator screen displaying front and back threat detection images

                                             The ThruPORT operator viewing station

ThruPORT is the leading single integrated people and baggage screening solution. It is a modular and scalable system that is deployed by our customers in some of the world most challenging environmental and sociopolitical climates. A fully operational and fully contained unit ThruPORT represents a rapidly deployable effective security checkpoint that maintains operator safety in areas of limited infrastructure.

The standard ThruPORT screening cabin is constructed from an ISO 40 sea freight container. This enables easy transport to anywhere in the world and ensures the rapid securing of facilities and checkpoints. ThruPORT equips security personnel with a range of benefits that include:

• Detecting threat items including weapons, explosives, liquids, gels and narcotics.

• A short screening time to facilitate practical deployment with high throughput.

• High levels of operator safety as they can be located remotely from the screening cabin.

The effectiveness of the ThruPORT solution is increased by the addition of the optional blast proof search room and operator control room.

The standard screening cabin contains 2 concealed TS4 passive screening systems, an X-ray baggage screening system and a ‘walk-through’ metal detector. The cabin is fitted with one entrance door and two exits. Using the built in intercom system the remote operator instructs the person to a specific exit depending on the outcome of the screening process. One exit allows the person to leave the container and continue on their journey. The second exit directs them to the next phase of the security process, which could be the optional blast proof search room.

Transparency above all

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/02/surveillance-technology

Surveillance technology

Transparency above all

Feb 3rd 2012, 13:10 by C.F. | BONN

SECURITY types and privacy watchdogs rarely agree on anything. They do, however, both concede the importance of transparency. The rub is that whereas for human-rights advocates this means no underhand shenanigans impinging on citizens' civil liberties, security experts think of the ability literally to see through people and detect whether they are carrying any potentially threatening implements. The latest spat erupted in January when Raymond Kelly, New York's police commissioner, declared that his force is working with America's defence department to have so-called T-ray scanners mounted on squad cars. Mr Kelly said that the technology offers "a great deal of promise" in detecting concealed weapons without a physical search.

Terahertz radiation, to give T-rays their less jazzy name, makes up a band of the electromagnetic spectrum squeezed in between microwaves and infrared, equivalent to frequencies of 300 billion-3 trillion cycles per second. Everything with a temperature of 10 degrees above absolute zero or more emits T-rays. What is more, different substances sport characteristic terahertz tags. Scientists have had some success in using T-rays to distinguish similar substances and hope one day to be able to tell, say, cancerous tissue from healthy one, or benign plastic from plastic explosives. Today's terahertz scanners are, however, clever enough to tell a human body, which emits copious amounts of the stuff, from, say, a metal handgun, which produces much less. And they can do this from a distance, without shining a beam on its target first, as is the case with X-rays.

Since 2004 ThruVision, a spin-out from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, a national research facility in Oxfordshire, has been building scanners which it claims can do just that. Three years ago the company rolled out a device the size of a big loudspeaker, called T5000, which it has since sold to the Dubai Mercantile Exchange and London's second financial centre, Canary Wharf, among others, where it aims to pick out biggish concealed objects non-invasively as far away as 25 metres. Last year it announcedthat the United States Air Force purchased an upgraded version of the T5000, the TS5, whose range stretches up to 30 meters for large objects.

Predictably, the idea has civil libertarians up in arms. The New York Civil Liberties Union, an advocacy group, told the New York Times that "the public needs more information about this technology, how it works and the dangers it presents." It may draw comfort from legal precedents. In 2001 the Supreme Court ruled that the police need a warrant to deploy a thermal-imaging systems to detect high-intensity lamps of the sort used to grow marijuana. Earlier this year it handed down a decision forbidding law enforcement agencies to track suspects using GPS without a judicial thumbs-up. Terahertz scanners will no doubt spur similar legal wrangles.

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