3D imaging, picture-perfect technology for policing

Chennai

OF late terror threats have surged all over the world. Public places have become the favourite terror purlieu of the terrorists. Mass shootings have become a perpetual phenomenon; we have had more than 1,700 mass shootings worldwide since 2015 because of the spurt in terrorism, increased tumult and unrest, and easy access to weapons. The main goal of law enforcement in responding to a critical incident like a mass shooting would be to identify as quickly as possible those people carrying a gun.

Police are finding it challenging to abort such onslaughts because of lack of advanced weapon detection systems particularly in public areas susceptible to terror attacks. Therefore, unobtrusive detection of hidden weapons on persons or in abandoned bags by harnessing a cutting-edge technology could arm the law enforcement machinery with a powerful tool to concentrate resources and increase traffic throughput in high-risk situations.

To meet this long-felt need, a new form of technology which bases on 3D radar imaging, and artificial intelligence is currently under development. The technique of 3D imaging is patterned on the stereography of the human eyes that forges the illusion of depth in an image. Despite 3D imaging technology being around for decades, the exploitation of the technology for law enforcement has begun only recently.

This recently developed technology possesses the capability to identify and detect weapons among gigantic crowds in actual time without disrupting the movement of people in crowded areas. The new device is generating a tremendous buzz and excitement as we can deploy the technology both under indoor and outdoor settings having numerous exits and entrances. Further, it can also be clandestinely and overtly used to perform both traditional and automated security measures. The new revolutionary weapons active imaging detection (CWAID) technology not only eliminates the need for a pat-down search and frisking but also tracks weapons wherever and on whoever, it may be, at mind-boggling pace doing away with the need for queueing arrangements for a security check.

The elegance of this technology is that it is not only fast but also has capabilities to track a weapon when the armed intruder is in motion. Besides, it offers real-time high-speed 3D images, making it ideal for areas with high throughput. The new technology called ‘Hexwave’ is founded on the creation of 3D images detected on a person’s body rather than on the generation of the pictures of the person’s body.

The new technology can scrutinise both metallic and non-metallic objects, including guns and explosives. It discerns weapons concealed in clothing or baggage by spewing radio signals using low power radar energy. The streaming radio signals encountering an object either metallic or non-metallic get reflected. The deflected rays are used to construct a precise 3D image which unveils the size, depth and shape of the object. The new gadget has a detection range of 5-8 feet. It is deployable in a covert manner if there is a necessity of screening the public unobtrusively. This system not only exposes weapons but also discloses persons carrying narcotics, explosives, alcohol and other prohibited contraband.

The University of Wisconsin Police Department campus is beta testing the new concealed weapon detection technology ‘Hexwave’ this year. The testing is being done in affiliation with Liberty Defense Holdings, the company that owns the licence to Hexwave. Liberty Defense has also signed an MoU with FC Bayern München, a premier German soccer team to test ‘Hexwave’ in a live stadium environment, at Allianz Arena, the home of FC Bayern, which has a seating capacity of 75,000.

Further, the weapons and explosive detection systems available today are mainly 2D or chemical-based such as Tomographic EDS, X-Ray Screening systems, explosive trace detectors and metal detectors. They are not only cumbersome but also inconvenient and painfully slow.

Criminals today are exploiting technology to design and develop weapons which can elude the existing weapon and explosive detection systems. For instance, 3D printed guns made of plastic could sail through the security systems at some airports in the US without being detected.

Even today, 2D multi-view X-ray imaging technology is being widely used for screening baggage at most airports. However, some Indian airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar, Pune etc have installed 3D CT scanners. Conventional 2D X-ray scanners may not be able to detect sophisticated threats, as they do not provide a layered view of the bag’s contents. When the imaging is insufficient, an antisocial may be able to conceal bomb components as familiar objects with fewer detonators and insignificant quantities of explosives and evade detection. Unique technology based on 3D CT volumetric images provides operators with the mandatory clarity to make more informed decisions. New 3D CT technology incorporates auto-detection with high-resolution 360-degree imaging. It helps eliminate the human error by lending the screeners the second set of eyes without a second scan. One key benefit of 3D CT technology is that it addresses passenger comfort and eliminates the need to remove electronics, liquids and gels from bags. It also handles 1,800 bags per hour, thus boosting passenger throughput rates besides augmenting security.

Besides boosting security, 3D technology is proving to be immensely beneficial for crime investigation. Its adoption by police has led to greater efficiency and crime-solving capability by allowing hyper-realistic crime scene analysis. Police in the UK, and worldwide, have begun adopting 3D imaging for crime investigation. 3D scanning records each component of a crime scene in meticulous detail. A detective can revisit and reexamine the recorded crime scene at any point in time. It also assists the investigator to view the scene from multiple viewpoints enabling him to analyse probable interrelationships based on witness statements, victim accounts and suspect testimony.

3D scanning is also aiding investigators present evidence to the courts in precise detail. In western nations, 3D scanning technology is helping jurors to walk through the scene by allowing them to get into the shoes of suspects implicated in the crime. Several valuable estimations, including the deduction of bullet trajectories, mapping of bloodstain evidence and correlation of complicated weapons with impressions, are now being conducted within the 3D space. We are also able to uncover additional evidence through the reconstruction of complex crime scenes previously not possible. Modernising the police agencies with systems like 3D scanners would not only enable them to keep up with the times but also allow them to step ahead into the future.

Finally, our lives are a manifestation of images we bring, make, see and hold in our minds. Our outer 3D world is a reflection of the images we hold in our mind. According to mystic Neville Goddard, we can change the conditions of our outer 3D world by harnessing the spiritual tool of ‘fourth-dimensional focus’. If so, we are in reality creators of our universe!

— The author is director, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC)