Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MESMERISE (Multi-Energy High Resolution Modular Scan System for Internal and External Concealed Commodities)

Teaser

Most people are familiarized with the inconvenience of having to go through a “hand search o pat down” in airports check points. Apart from being invasive and privacy disruptive, the whole procedure significantly slows down the flow of passengers, which means even longer...

Summary

Most people are familiarized with the inconvenience of having to go through a “hand search o pat down” in airports check points. Apart from being invasive and privacy disruptive, the whole procedure significantly slows down the flow of passengers, which means even longer waiting queues. Additionally, in the case of wave body scanners the use of sexually explicit images that have to be interpreted by an agent arises some concerns about user’s privacy and dignity.

The main challenge of MESMERISE is to develop a new scanning technology improving the respect for intimacy and privacy rights as well as the efficiency and reliability. In order to achieve this, the project first objective is to develop a high-resolution non-intrusive scanner able to automatically detect and identify both internal and external concealed prohibited or restricted commodities sought by customs such as drugs or explosives and to discern them from natural body tissues, food waste or benign materials.

Mesmerise proposes two complementary technologies to fill the current gaps: ultra-low dose Multispectral X-ray transmission and Infrasonic interrogation. Both systems have the goals of improving privacy, convenience, sensitivity and reliability posing no risk for users, providing automatic identification or classification and assuring that no human operator needs to watch privacy-breaking images. The combination of both systems would represent a significant improvement in security and convenience of the actual airport scanning systems.

Work performed

MESMERISE has progressed according to the work plan developing a new X-ray body scanner for the automatic detection of concealed goods and a first prototype of Z-MESMERISE based on sound reflection for the detection of external concealed goods.
After defining a list of concealed goods to be detected –based on the likelihood and impact associated- preliminary designs were created and approved. Prototypes of X-MESMERISE and local pat-down Z-MESMERISE have been manufactured. Tests will start in the second RP.
Theoretical/computational models for both technologies have been developed for both technologies. The team is developing Automatic recognition algorithms for both techniques.

Final results

MESMERISE looks set to exceed the capability of current technologies being used by Customs Administrations in some member states and Associated Countries.
X-MESMERISE potentially exceeds the capabilities of other X-Ray transmission systems because of sensitivity and the use of an ultra-low dose of ionizing radiation.
Z- MESMERISE provides a non-contact pat-down respectful technology. The absence of explicit images improves privacy while keeping security.
Additionally, both X and Z MESMERISE are intended for a non-divest and non-contact condition, preserving privacy and dignity. This is a clear step forward with respect to a traditional manual pat-down.

Website & more info

More info: http://h2020mesmerise.eu/.