Project description
Improved scans to catch traffickers
X-ray screening during border or customs inspections – used for 20 years – has become limited in terms of detecting today’s diversity and novelty in trafficking tools, methods and materials. To step up from the current 2D scanning methods, the EU-funded MULTISCAN 3D project will explore how to foresee the use of high-energy X-ray for addressing volumetric inspection of large dimension cargo. The ambition is to develop a 3D high energy X-ray tomograph compatible with fast customs processes. The project will focus on the following work areas: new electron acceleration technologies for X-rays production, 3D reconstruction for multi-view configurations, data processing, detectors and X-rays source monitoring.
Objective
Within the field of security, Customs and Border inspection have not had breakthrough technological developments in the last 20 years, since the introduction of X-ray screening. The limits of these current technologies are accentuated by the increasing diversity and novelty in trafficking materials, tools and methods. These limitations combined with the growing needs of inspection and control call for a disruptive innovative solution.
Wanting to move a step up from the existing planar scanning methods with limited material identification results, several studies have identified potential solutions focused on:
- High energy 3D X-ray tomography
- Neutron interrogation/photofission
- Nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRR)
While these show good results and performances, they also have several important drawbacks, which limits their possible uses. Moreover, these solutions do not have common technological bricks meaning they can only lead to separate disposals.
The proposed MULTISCAN3D investigates a new all-in-one system whose purpose is to become simultaneously a user-friendly, flexible, relocatable solution offering high-quality information for:
- Fast high energy 3D X-rays tomography (as first line)
- Neutron interrogation/photofission (as second line)
- Narrow gamma ray beam based NRR (as second line)
MULTISCAN3D will start by investigating and defining needs and requirements, in a technologically-neutral way, with Europe’s most prominent Customs Authorities which will be translated to technical specifications. The main body of the research will be focused on three parts, following which, lab validations and real-environment demonstration will be carried out. These three work areas are:
- Laser-plasma based accelerators as X-ray sources
- 3D reconstruction for multi-view configurations and data processing
- Detectors and source monitoring
At the same time complementary techniques with chemical and SNM identification capabilities will be investigated.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
75015 PARIS 15
France
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Participants (18)
4026 Debrecen
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1030 Bruxelles / Brussel
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FI-90590 Oulu
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2511CW S-Gravenhage
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02300 Vilnius
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06410 Biot
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75794 Paris
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
91128 Palaiseau Cedex
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80539 MUNCHEN
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SN2 1FL Swindon
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94400 Vitry Sur Seine
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33700 Merignac
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78990 Elancourt
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SW1P 4DF London
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00044 Frascati
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6720 Szeged
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3001 Leuven
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1017 VV Amsterdam
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.