The technologies being examined and tested in PARSEC have the capability to be more specific about material discrimination, than conventional devices and in some cases technology can identify a substance.
It is accepted that the vast majority of consignments are regular, legitimate traffic. Therefore the goal is to be able to only select risky consignments without interfering with the bulk of them. In order to facilitate the flows, as well as ensuring that customs physically inspect the highest risk items, the tools that PARSEC is developing are intelligence-focussed. Data-driven risk management tools will select what should be selected and the consignment will be directed to the first line technology. If this technology determines that there is no risk, then the consignment will be released back to the flows. However, if it either determines there is a known threat, or it identified there is still something it is not happy with, then the consignment will be referred to the next technology, which has the ability to spectrally discriminate and identify compounds. If that device agrees there is an illicit material, or it believes it cannot clear the risk, then the consignment is sent for physical inspection. If the second device determines that the risk can be resolved and is not of interest to customs, then the consignment will be returned to the commercial flows.
PARSEC is making use of multi-energy x-ray and diffraction x-ray (XRD). XRD is usually seen in labs in a bench-top device, or is starting to be seen supporting aviation security applications for alarm resolution. It is rather unique to use this combination for customs applications. During some of our data capture work, we have evidenced that some of the drugs profiles created from pharmaceutical grade examples, worked when applied to illicit samples and an explosive was successfully identified during an in-house demonstration.
The indicators show that that technology can play a role and deliver to customs technology that is beyond-state-of-the-art. Although reporting period 1 only has brief glimpses of a successful future, the work taking place next will link those strands together.
Although the technologies are being geared towards the postal and courier express domains, the individual devices, or system, will have application in other customs areas too, such as screening of bags. What this development could deliver is an increased assurance in how the border is protected without impacting vast number of the goods and travellers.
