A Neutron Interrogation Based Vehicle Borne IED Detection System for Checkpoint Security

Critical infrastructure such as ports, bridges, event sites, and tunnels are at risk to large vehicular-borne improvised explosive devices. One United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission is to protect these locations by deploying detection technologies that provide high detection performance while not impeding the flow of commerce. Rapiscan Systems has developed a neutron-based inspection system that allows a sensitive inspection of the vehicle's cargo hold while maintaining a low radiation dose to the vehicle's driver. These were made possible by employing source spectra tailoring, shielding, and enhancing detection sensitivity via a data acquisition system that allowed for multiple time windows for energy spectrum collection. A multi-tiered discriminant algorithm calibrated on a wide variety of cargoes and a few explosive threats provided excellent performance for significant vehicular explosive threats to infrastructure.