An under-vehicle inspection (UVI) system generally consists of imaging systems mounted on a roadway and used at facility access points, particularly at secure facilities. An under-vehicle inspection system is used to detect threats—such as bombs—that are hidden underneath vehicles. Cameras capture images of the undercarriage of the vehicle for manual or automated visual inspection by security personnel or systems.
The first under-vehicle inspection system was developed in the late 1980s as part of a joint program between the
UK Home Office and Morfax (now a part of the
Chemring Group). The system used black and white images from area scan cameras. The systems have since developed encompassing more advanced technologies such as database capabilities in 1994,
automatic number-plate recognition
Automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR; see also other names below) is a technology that uses optical character recognition on images to read vehicle registration plates to create vehicle location data. It can use existing closed-circuit tel ...
(ANPR) in 1997, automatic change detection in 1999, colour imagery in 2005, and integrated chemical detection in 2012.
Under-vehicle inspection systems can be permanent (embedded in the road), fixed (attached to the road's surface) or portable (mobile).
Terminology
Under
vehicle inspection
Vehicle inspection is a procedure mandated by national or subnational governments in many countries, in which a vehicle is inspected to ensure that it conforms to regulations governing safety, emissions, or both. Inspection can be required at va ...
systems are known by the acronyms:
* UVI (under-vehicle inspection)
* UVIS (under-vehicle inspection systems)
* AUVIS (automated under-vehicle inspection systems)
* MUVIS (mobile under-vehicle inspection systems)
* UVSS (under vehicle surveillance system).
* CUVSS (colour under vehicle surveillance system)
The terms UVSS and CUVSS were trademarks of the Chemring Group until the rebranding of the Home Office project in 2011.
How a typical system works
As the vehicle arrives at the checkpoint and drives over the imaging unit, the cameras capture images of the undercarriage and transmit them to the control unit which displays them on a monitor. The control unit and monitor can be located outside in proximity to the checkpoint or within the guardhouse.
Depending on the UVIS system, images of the vehicle’s undercarriage can be stored for later viewing or can be manipulated for closer inspection while the vehicle is detained.
Recently, UVIS systems have also integrated
license plate recognition (LPR) software that can identify stolen or suspect vehicles, and help security personnel monitor suspected changes to the undercarriage of a returning vehicle. UVIS providers have also developed a variety of security add-ons such as external scene cameras to help personnel better detect, deter and communicate potential
threats
A threat is a communication of intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is a tactic used between conflicting parties to make the other timid or psychologically insecure for coercion or control. The act of intimidation for co ...
. Many systems also feature network integration, allowing the facility to access and use data from perimeter choke points for broader applications such as resource planning.
Before the UVIS system, handheld mirrors were in use. While handheld mirrors are among the least expensive and oldest technologies, they have limited applications and place security personnel in close proximity to potential danger.
Additionally, performing a thorough inspection of the vehicle’s undercarriage using handheld mirrors is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, taking up to several minutes per vehicle. More importantly, most mirrors provide a limited view of the undercarriage, failing to show screeners key areas toward the middle of the vehicle.
For applications such as border crossings, where the goal is to identify possible contraband movement, mirrors can often be used without compromising safety. However, depending on the vehicle and the type of mirror being used, contraband attached to certain areas of the undercarriage may easily escape detection.
References
* Riley, Larry E.; 2007
Under vehicle inspection system United States 20070040911,
* Riley, Larry E.; 2006
United States 20060170768,
* Seeing Smarter: Tips on Selecting the Right Under-Vehicle Inspection System White Pape
* Hawkberg 17.08.2021
Basic idea of Under vehicle inspection systems
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Under Vehicle Inspection
Security