It is a unique, highly sensitive camera capable of detecting objects concealed under clothing so you can spot a suicide bomber from a range of up to 10 meters or identify a drug smuggler at a busy border crossing.
The passenger screening process is one of the most crucial aspects of ensuring security at airports.
Digital Barriers offers an interesting solution that is noninvasive, compact and mobile for this. Called ThruVis, it is a unique, highly sensitive camera capable of detecting objects concealed under clothing so you can spot a suicide bomber from a range of up to 10 meters or identify a drug smuggler at a busy border crossing.
“A recent report by the Homeland Security Committee has warned that employee screening processes at many airports are sub-standard and that ‘insider threats’ to aviation are on the rise,” Kevin Gramer, VP of Digital Barriers said. “We've also witnessed a number of incidents of terrorists carrying out attacks inside airport terminal buildings just before passengers would be required to go through any formal security screening processes.”
“Therefore the major recent innovations are those that counter these evolving threats and allow for a more layered system of defense,” Gramer continued. “Our passive body-scanning technology Thruvis can be used to discreetly screen employees and passengers in the lobby and at key checkpoints. It augments the existing security processes that are already in place and is fully mobile, mobile – meaning it can be deployed at whichever point is currently considered to be of greatest concern.”
ThruVis can be operated remotely to screen crowds at places of large gathering. It is basically a different approach to screening. The company employs Terahertz camera technology, which was originally developed in the U.K. for space research, to detect objects made of almost any materials, from metals, to ceramics, plastics, liquids, gels and powders even under multiple layers of clothing. Critically, it offers ample privacy protection as even though the camera can detect objects in a distance, it does not reveal invasive anatomical details.
The camera uses varying levels of natural Terahertz energy emitted by people, objects and their surrounding environment to highlight any concealed objects, the company explains on its website. Reflected energy from the body is able to pass through clothing. However, any object between a person and the camera is shown in contrast. These differences, in contrast, are clearly visible to operators – and an operator-assist utility can be employed to support detection because it uses an entirely passive sensor system. ThruVis units are completely safe in their operation as they are as harmless as a normal video camera.