Project description
Unparalleled sensitivity in a vapour screener for baggage
Customs inspections are essential to detect illicit substances, such as drugs and explosives, in the transit of passengers and goods, however, these inspections require new technologies to increase the seizing capacity. The Spanish SME, Mobility Ion Technologies, has developed and commercialised the most sensitive explosives vapour detector (EVD) in the world for cargo inspection and the EU-funded SAUST project aims to adapt its existing EVD technology for the inspection of cabin and hold luggage, focusing on drug detection at European airport arrivals. This smaller, faster and less expensive solution will bridge current security and operational gaps in screening processes and provide a technology-backed alternative to current intrusive, expensive and slow inspections.
Objective
The SAUST project aims to revolutionize aviation security and customs inspections by providing a rapid, non-intrusive and efficient alternative for vapor baggage screening at airports, being the first attempt before the Explosive Vapour Detection (EVD) European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Standard 2 and 3 (hold baggage and cabin baggage) implementation, but with a high focus on drug detection at airport arrivals where the 85% of the drugs are seized in Europe providing new technology to police and customs authorities to increase both the inspection rate, efficiency and drug database including NPS (New Psychoactive Substances).
SAUST’s primary objective is to adapt an existing EVD methodology, previously tested under different conditions, mainly explosive screening of air cargo, to create a smaller, more affordable, and faster solution for luggage inspection since the requirements are totally different. The consortium is determined to address this issue through collaboration with industry, mainly SMEs, and police agents as experts who possess an in-depth understanding of the genuine requirements and constraints in customs and airport security.
SAUST will develop a versatile, cost-effective, and expeditious screening technology, adapted to luggage screening, that enhances detection capabilities for a wide range of substances, including drugs and explosives, and other illicit substances like tobacco and drug precursors among many others. The ultimate goal is to develop a Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 7 operational prototype, which will bridge critical security and operational gaps in the current screening processes. In addition, the project will provide an analysis of the different scanning options for luggage in order to ensure the airport logistics without disrupting the flow.
SAUST border impact has the potential to revolutionize customs inspections, providing technology to activities that currently are mainly done using traditional or manual techniques.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorssmart sensors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringremote sensing
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Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
47195 Arroyo de la Encomienda
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.