[Dusty] So we are going to start off with some basic questions and then as we
get some comments we will try to answer your questions during the video.
So just to get started let's cover some very basic questions, what is checked baggage
and what is checked baggage detection? [Sharene] So checked baggage
is the luggage you would check at the airport at the counter. They would take and
put in a hold cargo area of the plane, so underneath the plane.
Not anything you would carry on the plane at all, things you would relinquish before going
going through security. [Dusty] Right, because we are all used to going through with our carry-ons, so this is
stuff that happens to those bags that are going under the plane. [Sharene] Normally the larger bags,
odd items, things above 50 pounds.
[Dusty] So what is detection when we are looking at checked baggage. You know what's the process like?
[Sharene] So the process is
a series of what you would call like tunnels in the background of the airport
is called the baggage handling system and the baggage
is moved through these tunnels and it ultimately goes through a scanning process. [Dusty] Okay.
[Sharene] The machines scan from the beginning to the end of the bag and
if they find anything that could be potentially a threat
those bags are diverted to another area to continue to be evaluated.
[Dusty] Okay, and so what do travelers need to be aware of as far
as how do they factor into this detection process what should they keep in mind?
[Sharene] Be patient with the process, arrive early
to the airport and try not to pack anything that
would be considered an object that has been classified
as do not bring to the airport or don't t send it. Otherwise you will get to your destination and you won't have it.
[Dusty] So there are some basic things, like obviously TSA has some great guidance
on their website about what to pack and what's appropriate. [Sharene] Absolutely.
[Dusty] How does checked baggage detection and screening,
how does it fit into the full spectrum of security operations at an airport?
[Sharene] So it's a large part of the security operations at the airport.
We're working toward trying to connect the bag
to the person so that we make sure that the person and the bag get
on the same flight 100% of the time.[Dusty] Right. [Sharene] It doesn't always happen that way,
but the screening process goes on, again why
arriving early is good so that your baggage makes it through the screening process especially if
if there are issues with bags, your bag, a bag on your flight
that that process gets taken care of and everything meets together on the same
flight to get to your destination. [Dusty] So there are a lot of components that are being figured out at the same
time as far as matching luggage, making sure that there is nothing
dangerous getting on these flights and that's all happening simultaneously behind the scenes. [Sharene] Correct.
Ah and so can you briefly describe what's happening
when officers are looking at these checked bags. So usually
that would occur after, I mean their watching as
bags go through the tunnels, but after the machines have
scanned the bags and the bag is diverted to for further
inspection, they would open the bag and look in the area in which
there may be an area of concern. [Dusty] Gotcha and it sounds like there's always a human element
present during the screening process. [Sharene] Yes, to make sure
the shoots aren't throwing bags in the wrong direction, everything is working according to
how it's supposed to be. It's a checks and balance a quality assurance so to speak back there.
[Dusty] And then can you give us a sort of understanding or an overview of like
the different technologies that are involved with that? Is it all one type of
a scanning a machine? You know we're all kind of familiar of like an X-Ray scanner.
Are there different types of technologies that are working back there to screen the checked bags?
So for the most part it's an X-Ray technology, which is currently in the field.
Currently S&T is working on more of the cutting edge
of the different ways of scanning the bags outside of traditional transmission
X-Ray as an opportunity to improve
our detection capability. [Dusty] Can you talk about what some of those additional capabilities or technologies
might be, if you can. [Sharene] I don't believe I can. [Dusty] Okay, no worries.
Okay, so stay tuned for future updates.
What's something that maybe people take for granted about the screening process?
[Sharene] The time it takes to
develop a new technology to be
put into operational
into the current CONOP. [Dusty] Yeah, because I mean what kind of decisions are made
or what information or what considerations need to go
into making that decision about what goes out there into the field? [Sharene] The infrastructure
is the huge thing. Airport infrastructure is very difficult to change because the cost.
So we have to keep in mind when S&T is developing new
technologies how well, in terms of time for
scanning, cost, power consumption,
foot print. These things can fit in the current concept of operations.
[Dusty] I mean so airports are very distinct and
there's not a one size fit all. [Sharene] No, there are different
vendors in different airports based on their need.
[Dusty] Wow, okay so when we are developing new technologies, new screening capabilities
S&T, how are we weighing
things like detecting certain properties? Are we
weighing the time it takes to screen for something? What kind of factors do we look at as we
are developing new technologies. [Sharene] Time is huge,
but also the ability to increase detection
capability overall without trading off anything else.
So there's always sort of a balancing act. You don't want to trade off
one element for something else. [Dusty] Right, so it's constantly having to figure out
how do we increase the efficiency of both. Never sacrificing anything.
[Sharene] Absolutely, as much as possible. [Dusty] Right. [Sharene] Including the cost of the instrument
[Dusty] So these machines their detecting or
their looking for explosives. Their looking you said for like threat objects.
You know if you can, what other
items might they detect or what else could they be used to detect? [Sharene] They could be used
to detect some types of drugs [[Dusty] Oh okay.] for instance
we are working currently, at least the explosives division
is working with another division within S&T to explore
the option of using the same technology at different types of checkpoints. [Dusty] Oh wow.
Well that raises an interesting question too of you know is this technology something that could
apply to different transportation systems? [Sharene] Yes, I believe it can.
The issue probably would be cost and size.
It really depends on the flow of traffic, if you look at a stadium
you know maybe it's good for a certain type of stadium maybe not because it slows down
the process of people entering and exiting. Right?
So it really comes down to logistics and the concept of operations for that venue. [Dusty] Yeah, making sure
throughput is sustainable and leaves people happy and moving efficiently. [Sharene] Correct.
[Dusty] That's all good stuff to keep in mind. As we move
on we want to talk about partnership opportunities or ways
that people can get involved. Do you have any advice for anybody who is maybe on the industry
side and they want to get involved? Any advice for them?
[Sharene] So the Long-Range BAA has reopened.
That's always a possibility we are looking for
cutting edge basic research to TR level
two to three, up to four
and also on the other end
applicable applied research
that we could transition also into the operational
venue. We also work on targeted BAAs,
which we hope to have a new one coming out
in FY19 we'll see, but that would be more of the basic
research of the TR level of two to three, so the cutting edge stuff, the novel approach is to
X-Ray detection that's different than what we already have
or any other ways to detect
explosives or threat items.
[Dusty] So the Long-Range BAA the LR BAA that's
the information is available on our website if you go to the business opportunities page and then we can
stay tuned for any targeted BAAs that might come out. Great. [Sharene] Which should also be on our website.
[Dusty] Excellent, so go visit our website. A couple of more questions.
You talked about the next opportunity for industry to apply
what have you learned from partnering with industry on this
effort about maybe the role of public and private partnerships and how it can
drive innovation? [Sharene] It definitely drives innovation.
We started a way of doing something with our targeted BAA, which is
these collaboration meetings, where we basically have everybody who’s won an award
in the room presenting about
twice a year. This has driven sort of a competition
as well as the technology, when you have all these people
in the room and they have to present to each other and they want to present a good product to the government
who's also stakeholders from all over and present in the room.
As well as competitors and universities.
People end up partnering that you didn't think would end up partnering [[Dusty] Oh wow] and we end
up with a much better product at the end of the day that our stakeholders are interested in
in the transition. [Dusty] So that competition really drives that innovation, that spirit of
I bet we have a good solution for this and I bet if we partner together we could make a really cool thing
that would be really good.[Sharene] Right, ultimately it is about the traveling public
and we want to keep everybody safe. [Dusty] Absolutely.
Is there anything else that you wanted to leave people with? Any take always that you
want people to know about the check baggage protection program? [ Sharene] We are really looking for
cutting edge technology solutions. Something that
could solve any
upcoming things that we haven't thought of yet. We want to
be very proactive in our current mission space, so if you
have an idea, please submit to the Long-Range BAA. It's a
great way to get in contact with us and stay tuned for the
targeted BAA FY19 maybe 20. [Dusty] Alright.
And we remind you once again, more of this information is available on our website
and we will put up the email address. If you have any specific questions or if you want to send in any
comments we will put that email address at the bottom of the video. Thank you all so much for
tuning in today and we will see you at the next Tech Talk. [SandT.Explosives@hq.dhs.gov]