Air Cargo Scanning
A full-scale prototype system was
constructed at Brisbane International
Airport and a lengthy trial of the scanner
was completed last year. This trial
illustrated the strengths of the new
technology, as well as identifying some
areas for improvement
On 25 March 2008 a collaborative joint
venture between CSIRO and the leading
Chinese security equipment manufacturer
Nuctech Company Ltd was announced. This
venture will marry CSIRO’s neutron technology
with Nuctech’s proven expertise in high-
resolution imaging and their latest dual-view,
binocular stereoscopic X-ray scanning system.
The collaboration aims to demonstrate the
Composition information appears as different colours ranging from first prototype of the ‘Mark-II’ neutron scanner
blue (metals) to red (organic materials) in Beijing at the end of 2008.
The closest conventional security tool to down and identify materials in suspect
the CSIRO neutron scanner is a dual- areas, even electronically ‘stripping’ away
energy X-ray system. However, unlike the under- or overlying items to get a better James Tickner is a senior research at
traditional blue-green-orange display of view of the item in question. The high CSIRO, specialising in developing nuclear
metallic, mixed and organic materials penetrating power of neutrons also means analysis methods for the minerals and
available from existing dual-energy X-ray that material discrimination capabilities security industries. He currently heads the
systems, the neutron scanner images use are retained even for very dense cargos. CSIRO team collaborating with Chinese
the full gamut of hues to display a much Conventional dual-energy pallet scanning industry leader Nuctech Company Ltd to
wider range of materials. Additional tools systems material identification is limited to develop a commercial neutron-based air
available to operators allow them to drill fairly light objects. cargo scanner.
Aviationsecurityinternational April 2008 www.asi-mag.com 21
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