Compare 4 X-Ray technologies for baggage scanners

Currently there are 4 X-Ray technologies for screening cargo and persons:

• Standard
• Dual-energy
• Backscatter
• Computerized Tomography (CT)

When you work in law enforcement, (event) security or at customs & border control, then it is value-added to know the X-Ray technologies. These X-Rays help keep you safe and protect the people and assets you promise to serve.

We’ve put together a handy overview for you. The infographic and text below summarizes the key differences between the X-Ray technologies.

Which X-ray technologies?

Standard / Single View

X-Ray beam is transmitted through object and detectors positioned opposite the beam measure X-Ray absorption. Resulting image is mainly greyscale and needs an operator to identify potential threats.

Dual-energy / Single or Dual View

X-Ray beams generated that peak at two different energies. High energy beams suffer less absorption, low energy beams show light elements as darker. Images from the different energies are compared and show heavy vs. light elements, separating organic, inorganic and opaque (metal) materials.

The Dual-energy technology is feasable in single view and the more advanced dual view.

– Dual view

It contains two X-Ray sources and gives both vertical and horizontal views at the same time for the screened luggage and cargo.

The dual views provide more efficient identification for the operator.

Backscatter

Scans X-Rays across object to generate two images: normal transmission image and backscatter image. Backscatter favours low atomic (Z) number elements and measures their density.

CT / 3D

Multiple X-Ray detectors rotate around object creating 2D image, and object placed on conveyor that moves forward creating 3D image. Scan can be viewed at all angles using computer projection techniques.Would you like to know which technology suits your security challenge?

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