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November 11, 2009

Results of Two Year Study of Liquid and Homemade Explosives Detection

Over the past two years, Reveal Imaging Technologies, Inc., in collaboration with US and international security regulators and explosives experts from four different countries, has collected extensive data specifically regarding Liquid and Homemade Explosives (HME). This report presents the results of this extensive study, focusing on detection of these defined threats in real world operational environments, scanning over 8,000 international bags. Our work with international regulators has provided us access to sample explosives in a wide variety of configurations. The explosive mixtures represent a cross section of configurations, including various fillers and stabilizers, based on intelligence from around the globe. Hundreds of samples of liquid and homemade explosives have been scanned to create the single most comprehensive database of its kind. This data has enabled Reveal to develop an algorithm on the Reveal CT-80 EDS platform capable of non-intrusively detecting the full range of threats highlighted by this study, including liquids, precursor components and homemade explosives in passenger checked and carry-on baggage.

Reveal’s TSA-certified CT-80 family of Dual Energy CT scanners accurately measures both density and effective atomic number of every object in a passenger’s bag. Testing data demonstrates the CT-80’s ability to reliably detect a very wide range of liquid and homemade explosives, in conjunction with the more traditional military and commercial explosives, with a low false alarm rate and without opening passenger bags.Allowing liquids through the checkpoint and scanning laptops while still in their case offers the potential for a welcome improvement in passenger service. Passenger bags containing any amount of liquid, cleared by any member of Reveal’s CT-80 EDS family, can be safely and confidently carried aboard aircraft. In addition, because CT scanners collect data from 360 degrees around a bag, laptop computers and other electronics can be left in the bag during the scanning process. Reveal’s high throughput and low false alarm rate provide operational benefits while reducing airport operational cost.The attached report describes the liquid and HME challenge in more detail, along with the following:  

• An overview of available technologies
• Reveal’s extensive HME and Liquids database and analysis performed to date
• Detection performance for HME, precursor and Liquid explosives
• Operational impact of reliable HME and Liquids detection
• Proposed passenger checkpoint configurations
• False alarms

Reveal is pleased to offer supporting information.  We will contact you to arrange a restricted one-on-one briefing to discuss specific detection results, operational benefits and other aspects important to our stakeholders.

For a more comprehensive overview, please download the Liquid and HME White Paper.

Please feel free to view and download any of the following documents:

• Liquid and HME White Paper