Scanner'killer' komt er al aan

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Het lot van elk technische snufje, een beperkte gebruiksduur ;)

Groet / Cees

PS. Het commentaar over alle kosten die aan dit soort maatregelen zou
véél meer gewicht in de schaal moeten leggen.

http://smarteconomy.typepad.com/smart_economy/2010/01/smart-sensor-sniffs-out-bombs-and-terrorists-3.html
Smart sensor sniffs out bombs and terrorists
Life just got harder for the bad guys but more costly for the good guys.

With terrorism back in the news (Pakistan, Iran, Amsterdam, Detroit,
Yemen etc), it's some comfort to see that scientists at the Fraunhofer
Institute in Germany have designed a new intelligent prototype system
to help identify terrorists carrying explosives. A network of sensitive
electronic noses capture the smell of the explosives; the system
processes the  acquired data, correlates it with individuals’ movements
… and ultimately tracks down the  suspects.

It's a better idea then a terra-hertz fully body scanner-which is still
dependent on error-prone subjective human judgement and can't
distingished between an ordinary shirt or jacket lining or one soaked in
explosive chemicals-a new  tactic that could be easily used by clever
savvy future terrorists.

(I've always wondered when someone would design such a "smart nose"
system, since all the individual components have been around for a
while--I'm pleased to see that it was developed by Fraunhofer Institute,
which at this point in time, has to be one of the coolest science
institutes on the planet-one that I would love to visit one day--Walter
Derzko)

Imagine the following scenario (from the press release):
" Literally hundreds of people are hurrying through the long airport
corridor between Terminals A and B. Among them are two terrorists,
who’ve hidden themselves in the crowd.They’re carrying small containers
of chemicals in their jacket pockets, individual components for an
explosive. But there’s something the criminals don’t know. As well as
being observed by security cameras, they’re also being “sniffed out” by
chemical noses hidden in the corridor wall. The smell sensors sound the
alarm when the terrorists walk past, alerting an airport security guard
who notes the problem on his monitoring equipment. At this point in
time, he can’t tell precisely who is carrying hazardous  chemicals – but
he knows the sensor network will continue to “sniff out” and track down
the suspects.....  (presumably the same can be applied toward baggage,
both carry-on and checked, hopefully reducing long security lineups
before flights--Walter Derzko)"

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information
Processing and Ergonomics FKIE in Wachtberg have built a prototype
security system to replicate just such a scenario. They’ve named it
HAMLeT, which stands for Hazardous  Material Localization and Person
Tracking. “HAMLeT will alert security personnel to suspicious
individuals,” says head of department Dr. Wolfgang Koch from the FKIE.
The system involves a network of highly-sensitive smell sensors which
follow an explosive’s
trail. There are oscillating crystals on the sensor chips, and whenever
the electronic noses capture chemical molecules, their oscillation
frequency changes. The precise nature of the change is different for
different substances. A further component in the system – the sensor’s
data fusion function – traces the explosive’s path and ferrets out the
carrier. A second sensor network is needed to track the route the
individual takes; for this, the researchers have used laser scanners.
“HAMLeT’s real achievement is its ability to collate all the data and
convert it into a clear and accurate overall picture,” says Koch. The
sensor data fusion process employs complex algorithms which allow HAMLeT
to build up a precise image of pedestrian flows and connect a particular
smell with a specific individual.

In a trial involving the German Armed Forces, researchers at the FKIE
proved the system’s ability to track down five “terrorists” carrying
hidden explosives. The scientists are now working to refine the
prototype’s algorithms in order to reduce the false alarm rate.

ETA: prototype stage-1-5 years before we see it in airports and possibly
other high security venues.

See press release here

But don't rejoice for to long....and sit back smug and complacent. Now
terrorists will just switch to something more deadly -cyberterrorism,
possibly  joining up with hackers from the Russian mafia.

N.B. If Bin Laden's strategy is to bankrupt the west, then he is on
track. Even a failed bomb attack will trigger an anticipated  kneejerk
reaction from authorities and "some new program" which will ultimately
cost everyone much more money and time.

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