The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published a new data standard that could eventually allow third party software developers to provide algorithms to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to add, or enhance, the automated detection capabilities of screening technologies.
The first version of the Digital Imaging and Communications in Security (DICOS) standard applies to computed tomography (CT) images and X-Ray images. CT-based explosives detection systems are typically deployed to screen checked baggage at airports in the U.S. and X-Ray systems are used to screen carry-on luggage.
The goal of the DICOS standard is to allow a third party software algorithm to detect explosives or whatever requirement is set “independent” of which manufacturer provided the screening hardware technology, Jean Johnson, a member of NEMA’s Technical Services Staff, tells TR2.
“You also need to be sure that the algorithm can actually read the image that result from scanning any bag,” Johnson says. “And you do that by ensuring that the image resulting from the security scan is consistent. And that’s what DICOS does. It provides a consistent framework to capture the data that’s associated with that image.”
While the DICOS standard as it now exists is aimed at the checked baggage and carry-on baggage screening systems, it is meant to be extensible so that future iterations will apply to other screening modalities, such as whole body imaging machines.
Development of the DICOS standard was done by NEMA, the DHS Science and Technology branch, the Transportation Security Administration, and a slew of industry partners.
TSA tells TR2 that it plans to incorporate the standard into future procurements although at present it hasn’t established any specific timelines for doing do.
The standard is in a draft phase although the thorough industry participation in its creation means that it is relatively robust and ready to be tested to further refine it, Doug Bauer, the research director or the DHS S&T Explosives Division, tells TR2.
That testing, which will occur during FY ’11, will assess “the coherence and completeness” of the standard, to make sure that the data an independent third party needs is “consistent” and “unambiguous” so that it can be used, Bauer said.
“I call it a test on the usability of the DICOS standard,” Bauer said.
A second set of activities that are planned will allow applications to be generated using the standard to see the kind of creativity that can be obtained, Bauer said.
To conduct its testing and application activities, S&T plans to involve its Explosives Center of Excellence, which is based at Northeastern University, and an existing long-range Broad Agency Announcement that allows industry and other participants to propose solutions, Bauer said.
Ultimately, by involving third parties in the development of detection algorithms that can enhance current and future screening technologies, DHS hopes to improve performance and lower costs by tapping into a potentially larger pool of competitors as well as enhance system interoperability.
“In turn, the fruits of that software development will be in the quality of the images that we get and their ability to be able to allow more sensitive detection and more selective detection,” Bauer said. “That is sensitive in the sense of being able to detect threats that we’re concerned with and selective in being able to differentiate those threats from false alarms.”