Baggage scanners and metal detectors & walkthrough gates are very important ecosystem for any high security zone or whatever assignment where security is extremely essential. Handheld metal detectors are generally used by security staff for sniffing while as walkthrough metal detectors or sometimes called as walkthrough gates are used for detecting the pedestrian entering or leaving any location. The baggage scanners are used to scan the luggages or baggages or any item carried by passers.
As soon as we step in the airport, we are sniffed by the security guards using handheld metal detectors; handheld metal detectors are of two types with alarm and without alarms. In the same time once we reach the counters, our luggage is tagged with name label and passed via the baggage scanners to scan it against the presence of any un approved & restricted items at the airport be it weapons or any suspicious items. Then we enter the airport zone while walking through security gates. The security gates usually available are from six zones to multiple zones as required. In the latest walkthrough gate technology, the gates are networked together and are viewed in the centralised software. The scenario mentioned is for high risk areas where search starts at any point.
So the combination of handheld metal detectors, walkthrough gates and baggage scanners are used in synchronous mode for a very intelligent and perfect security ecosystem.
The classification of the equipments for the above ecosystem consists as below tabel 1
SECURITY EQUIPMENT | TYPE | LEVEL |
Baggage scanners | Based on tunnel size & detection type | Baggage detection |
Walkthrough gates | Based on zones, standalone and networked | Non physical detection mode |
Handheld metal detectors | Handheld battery operated, with & without alarm | Physical manned search |
Summarising the above, the basic explanation
Handheld metal detectors are used to find concealed knives and weapons, foil wrapped drugs and other concealed metallic objects. It’s important to understand that they are motion detectors, which means that they will not raise an alarm if held stationer. Usually the metal detectors can detect objects about 4-8ʺ (10 – 20 cm) deep. In ideal conditions, a mid-range metal detector can reach 12~18ʺ (30-45 cm) underground while as specialized detectors from Hawkberg can go as deep as 65” (20 m).
Walkthrough gates are used for the quick and accurate analysis of all parts of the body of pedestrians in the transit. In general, the walkthrough gates comply with the requirements of the NIJ0601.02 standard hence used at the top-security checkpoints with full discrimination with strong electrical and mechanical.
Baggage scanners, once you check luggage in, the baggage passes over the conveyor belt, and the baggage is screened by an x ray machine and also often with chemical sniffers. If any doubtful or suspicious item is detected about the bag, the bag is taken off for physical check by security staff.
