Finding dangerous materials in transit

The inspection of cargo is paramount to keeping society safe. The distribution of goods across the world is an important way of keeping international trade going and supplying countries with necessary products. However, it also increases the possibility of dangerous materials being moved from one place to another. Inspections by human beings will always have their faults. That’s why many companies are creating innovations for cargo inspection systems. By automating the searches, a higher percentage of shipping containers can be inspected quickly and efficiently. Here are some examples of how this can be done.

Search automation features

Containers that are transported by plane, train, ship, or truck can be quickly scanned using systems that include advanced automation features. For example, digital radiography, computed tomography, backscatter imaging, deep learning algorithms and x-ray imaging. These are just a few examples of innovative technology for scanning containers and transport vehicles. Of course, this doesn’t need to be restricted to cargo. People can also be scanned to make sure they aren’t carrying any dangerous materials through certain areas. Radioactivity can be detected using a radiation monitoring system. These systems are already very common in airports and at security checkpoints. X-ray and millimeter wave scanners are also used in airports and buildings where important documentation, personnel, and modes of transportation are kept and used.

Equipment with inspection systems

One of the biggest problems with using these inspection systems was where to put them. Larger pieces of equipment had to be built to incorporate them. The process has become so much more efficient since the creation of these systems. Relocatable scanners have particularly revolutionized the industry. Engineers can use a mobile cargo inspection system to scan containers anywhere in a given area. For example, a port that holds tens of thousands of containers at any time. Mobile x-ray vehicles and relocatable vehicle and container scanners can be moved around at any time. This way, areas of a transportation hub that have more traffic at a certain time can receive an increase in systems to distribute the workload to several scanners. Having a selection of various systems can also lead to more efficient searches, because not all dangerous materials will be located by using the same technology.

Materials that scanning systems can detect

All of these systems can work together to find materials like explosives, narcotics, weapons, radioactive substances, toxins, chemicals, and so much more. They can even be used to find something as safe as a bottle of water being brought through an airport.