Air cargo screening for stowaway detection: Carbon dioxide monitors and Heartbeat Monitor assessment and qualification

Developing technologies to enhance air cargo transportation security is of paramount importance to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the air cargo transportation industry. The ability of terrorists to breach air cargo or conveyances to plant weapons of mass destruction or seek stowaway for entry into the United States illegally is a risk that TSA and industry must mitigate. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology directorate, TSA sister organization demonstrated the feasibility of using Carbon-dioxide monitor (CO2) and Heartbeat Monitor to detect stowaways in the air cargo industry during an air cargo pilot study. This paper details the results of the follow-on air cargo pilot activities conducted to determine the effectiveness of the CO2 technology for detecting stowaways and its qualification efforts. The paper also discusses the qualification process used that entailed development of performance based specifications and associated information for placement of the technology on a Qualified Technology List. Heartbeat Monitor was assessed and future plans to qualify this technology for stowaway detection will be detailed. Comprehensive pilot testing at various airports resulted in successful application of the technology for screening. A pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility of applying the two technologies for air cargo stowaway detection. Based on the promising results of this study, a follow-on CO2 Monitor was field tested to qualify this technology for operational use, resulting in two vendors being qualified. Heartbeat Monitor was assessed for its feasibility in a pilot study both in the laboratory and operational environment with promising results. A comprehensive assessment and qualification of this type of technology is underway and is expected to be completed by end of 2013 fiscal year. The paper will also detail the current use of qualified CO2 monitor and lessons learned for screening for stowaway in the air cargo industry world-wide operations. Life Cycle costs for this technology application, as determined in the congressionally mandated Air Cargo Cost Estimated study, will also be addressed in the paper to demonstrate its cost effectiveness for the intended application.