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Concept of the Innovative System for

Detecting Hidden People in Transport
(ISDHPT)

Daniel Waszak, Maksymilian Stela, Jacek Pirszel, Piotr

Kot, Ewelina Kuźnia, et al.

Daniel Waszak, Maksymilian Stela, Jacek Pirszel, Piotr Kot, Ewelina Kuźnia,
Aleksandra Spławska, Monika Szyposzyńska, Krzysztof T. Poźniak, Grzegorz
H. Kasprowicz, Zbigniew M. Wawrzyniak, Andrzej Wojeński, Dariusz Mielnik,
Paweł Witkowski, "Concept of the Innovative System for Detecting Hidden
People in Transport (ISDHPT)," Proc. SPIE 11581, Photonics Applications in
Astronomy, Communications, Industry, and High Energy Physics Experiments
2020, 115810S (14 October 2020); doi: 10.1117/12.2580453

Event: Photonics Applications in Astronomy, Communications, Industry, and

High Energy Physics Experiments 2020, 2020, Wilga, Poland

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 Concept of the Innovative System for Detecting Hidden People in
Transport (ISDHPT)
Daniel Waszak*a, Maksymilian Stelaa, Jacek Pirszela, Piotr Kota, Ewelina Kuźniaa,
Aleksandra Spławskaa, Monika Szyposzyńskaa, Krzysztof. T. Poźniakb, Grzegorz H. Kasprowiczb,
Zbigniew M. Wawrzyniakb, Andrzej Wojeńskib, Dariusz Mielnikc, Paweł Witkowskic
a
Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry, gen. A. Chruściela "Montera" 105 av.,
00-910 Warsaw, Poland
b
Institute of Electronic Systems, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 15/19 str.,
00-665 Warsaw, Poland
c
Transfer Technologies, Dworkowa 11/20 str., 05-077 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

The concept of the Innovative System for Detecting Hidden People in Transport (ISDHPT) is an attempt to create an
innovative platform to increase the detection of illegal smuggling of people and unauthorized objects. For this purpose,
various types of detectors will be integrated into the system: based on measurements in the terahertz band, the X-ray
radiation band, and using a set of various chemical sensors. The proposed solution is a world-first that includes the
fusion of data from terahertz cameras operating in different bands and different imaging modes, a set of different
chemical sensors, and X-ray back-scatter sensors. The system will be used when carrying out checks on means of
transport to detect people trying to cross the state border illegally. It is assumed that the system's implementation will
improve the level of public safety by increasing the effectiveness of actions taken in the area of transport means control.
Keywords: Breath analysis; VOCs; terahertz radiation; X-ray radiation; chemical sensors

1. INTRODUCTION
Detection of traces of human presence by detecting compounds produced by the human body is quite well documented,
and the literature provides numerous compounds both in exhaled air, emitted by the scalp, armpits, genital area, and
others [1,2]. Numerous studies have been conducted to detect people's presence in terms of finding them in rubble
resulting from the collapse of buildings [3,4]. Moreover, research was carried out to develop a human scent profile - as a
function of sex, age, disease, and diet. In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted to select biomarkers
indicating the presence of certain respiratory diseases, multiple sclerosis, certain types of cancer, and techniques for their
detection [5-7]. The potential list of compounds released into the atmosphere by living humans is already quite well
described. Some of these compounds are currently in the clinical trials phase on their potential application in the medical
diagnosis of human pathological conditions. However, in this case, development work is focused only on the detection of
single biomarkers using complex, stationary laboratory technologies working under strictly defined measurement
conditions.
There are several solutions on the market for detecting people hidden in cars and containers - they are most often based
on the detection of heartbeats with the use of sensitive geophones and the detection of increased levels of carbon dioxide
in the air. The Border Guard (BG) owns such solutions; however, the effectiveness is unsatisfactory due to the necessity
to provide isolation from external conditions for the entire set of vehicles.
Currently, there are no mobile devices integrated with sampling probes using multi-parameter analysis of chemical
compounds, capable of working in demanding environmental conditions. An example of a solution for this group of
devices is the product of AVIAN (AVIAN Heartbeat Detector) [8]. The AVIAN system consists of an industrial personal
computer equipped with specially developed software, a touch screen monitor, and individual sensors mounted on the

*
d.waszak@wichir.waw.pl; phone +48 22 516 99 23; fax +48 22 516 99 90.

Photonics Applications in Astronomy, Communications, Industry, and High Energy Physics Experiments 2020
edited by Ryszard S. Romaniuk, Maciej Linczuk, Proc. of SPIE Vol. WI200, WI20000
© 2020 SPIE · CCC code: 0277-786X/20/$21 · doi: 10.1117/12.2580453

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 vehicle frame. The operator uses the touch screen to select the vehicle type before scanning the vehicle. The processed
data makes it possible to indicate with a certain probability whether there are people in a confined space. The search
itself can take only a dozen seconds after placing the sensors in the vehicle. The system proves effective in detecting the
human presence, but under ideal conditions.
Another example of the technology used to search confined spaces is the use of ionizing radiation. In such solutions,
stationary or installed for a longer period sets are used to control standard cargo spaces (mostly containers and truck
trailers). It is a high-budget solution planned to work in a permanent place for many years. Such a solution is, among
others, Rapiscan Eagle MSCS 6000. It is a system for x-raying trucks and containers using 6MV X-rays. Such a high
dose of radiation allows it to penetrate steel to a depth of 375 mm. It can scan the container car kit trailer in a very short
time. The images are immediately available for the operator of the device and can be wirelessly transferred to a nearby
control room.
The above solutions do not apply to mobile control of cargo spaces under customs seal when necessary to reintroduce
border control between the EU Member States, due to the prevailing field conditions and the lack of appropriate
infrastructure. Therefore, for the efficient performance of statutory tasks by the Border Guard, it is desirable to adopt the
concept of the proposed solution: integration of possible technologies into the form of a mobile set, the operational
application of which will be quick and straightforward, while maintaining appropriate operational efficiency. The
Schengen Borders Code in Article 25 defines the framework for the temporary reintroduction of border control at
internal borders (Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council [EU] 2016/399). It happens when a serious
threat to public policy or internal security in a given EU Member State arises in an area without internal border control.
Such border control may exceptionally be reintroduced by the Member State concerned at all or specific sections of its
internal borders for a limited period of no more than 30 days, or for the foreseeable existence of that serious threat if it
exceeds 30 days. The scope and duration of the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders must be
adequate to respond to a given serious threat (Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council [EU] 2016/399). If
the circumstances mentioned above occur, the Border Guard must quickly designate active control points in an organized
manner (usually in the vicinity and on the access roads to the border).
The Innovative System for Detecting Hidden People in Transport (ISDHPT) is designed to detect people's presence in
confined spaces, but apart from that, there is a possibility of achieving additional capabilities:
1. Advanced identification techniques (e.g., gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry) allow the
identification of a wide range of compounds, including compounds with potential use in criminal activities
(explosives, drugs, drug precursors, chemical warfare agents). At present, devices based on similar techniques are
used by the Border Guard, Firefighters, Military, Police, and airport security to detect explosives, drugs, or chemical
weapons (e.g., Ion Scan, Raid M 100 devices). It is possible to extend the analyzer libraries with spectra of
compounds of interest. The necessary condition for the effectiveness of such a solution is that a given compound has
a characteristic spectrum and is sufficiently volatile (to generate a concentration in the tested atmosphere under the
given environmental conditions that exceed the technique's detection limit). Each compound has different
characteristics, which implies the need to consider the possibility of extending the list of detected compounds.
2. Terahertz scanning technique allows us to collect multidimensional information; thanks to it, it is possible to collect
characteristic spectra of compounds and visualize hidden (invisible) objects. The scanner operator may notice
suspiciously shaped objects that can be identified as, e.g., firearms, melee weapons, ammunition, etc.
The ISDHPT system will be used during the inspection of means of transport to detect persons trying to cross the state
border illegally. The development and implementation of the system will allow us to improve the level of public safety
by increasing the effectiveness of actions taken in the area of transport means control.
The ISDHPT system will consist of the following two components:
1. Mobile Operating Platform (MOP-ISDHPT)
The assumptions of the MOP-ISDHPT system:
• detection of people hidden in means of transport, in particular in trailers of trucks (tarpaulin, isothermal,
container) and delivery trucks (without the need to open cargo spaces – to avoid breaking customs seals),
• mobility - the ability to transport the entire system,

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 • time to assemble the system: up to 60 minutes,
• time to prepare the system for operation: up to 60 minutes,
• control time: up to 20 minutes,
• reliable operation in various weather conditions - the ambient temperature in the range -20°C to + 40°C, noise,
rain, wind).
2. Training Simulator (TS-ISDHPT)
The assumptions of the TS-ISDHPT system:
• operation in dedicated rooms and mobile conditions,
• possibility of mapping all MOP-ISDHPT operating modes,
• the possibility of ensuring cooperation with other, real training platforms, through web services,
• the possibility of conducting training using various simulation scenarios,
• possibility of introducing parameters imitating the presence of people by the trainer,
• the possibility of conducting pieces of training in an individual and group system and supervision for training.

2. THE CONCEPT OF THE MOBILE OPERATING PLATFORM (MOP-ISDHPT)

The Mobile Operating Platform (MOP-ISDHPT) will be transported in a minibus operating vehicle. The MOP-ISDHPT
includes:
1. Automatic THz scanning subsystem (ASS-ISDHPT) consisting of:
• low-resolution 2D terahertz camera to terahertz range for motion detection
• high-resolution terahertz linear detector
• multi-range terahertz wave source
• X-Ray subsystem (XRS-ISDHPT) consisting of a back-scatering scanner with instrumentation.
• a controlled transport and positioning system, based on autonomous robotic platform
• equipment subrack for integration and communication with IDP-ISDHPT
2. Chemical subsystem (CHS-ISDHPT) designed to search for chemical traces of human presence, consisting of:
• a set of probes for sampling from vehicle interiors and confined spaces
• system of transport and conditioning of gas samples for detectors
• matrix of electrochemical sensors
• gas chromatograph with an ion mobility spectrometer to identify volatile organic compounds
• integration and pre-processing module based on an algorithm that analyzes input measurement data and
communication with IAMDS-ISDHPT.
3. Modular subsystem for integration and analysis of measurement data for decision-making purposes (IAMDS-
ISDHPT), hardware-based on CPCIS standard and a neural network accelerator, performing the following
functions:
• exploratory analysis of the results of detection (sensor) measurements and image modalities used to estimate the
probability of detecting people and other hazardous materials
• minimizing the probability of false-positive alarms (FP) - false object detection - with the use of learning
techniques,

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 • a synergistic fusion of measurement data from sensors and detectors, control of scanning processes in ASS-
ISDHPT, and the management and analytical process is supporting the system operator integrated with a
database that provides the necessary information, e.g., about vehicles, substances, results of inspections, Etc.
4. Operator station (OS-ISDHPT) containing the operator's server with the visualization system (two monitors for
displaying images and results), adapted to the ergonomics of the vehicle
The functional diagram of MOP-ISDHPT is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The functional diagram of MOP-ISDHPT.

MOP-ISDHPT will have the function of recording qualitative and quantitative analytical data from chemical detectors
and scans from THz cameras along with the categorization of the final effect (e.g., confirmation of the detection of
people or no detection), which will allow to improve the decision-making functions and supplement the database records
with information on confirmed positive detections (PD). It will enable support for the development and modification of
individual modules and adjustments in the future of the proposed solutions for specific users (Police, Internal Security
Agency, Border Guard, and others), which is in line with the expected results. Besides, it will be possible to use the
collected data in activities resulting from positive controls (evidence proceedings, explanations of decisions made, Etc.)
and use of actual data in the training process (case study).
The technical and organizational solution proposed is based on a comprehensive approach to integrating various sensor
modalities. It is to achieve the main goal of the work, namely the detection of people and, additionally, hazardous and
prohibited materials. Thus, an open, modular structure of the ISDHPT system was ensured in order to enable its quick
repair (module replacement), development (adding new modules), and modernization (replacing modules with newer
technical and technological solutions).

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 3. THE TRAINING SIMULATOR – CONCEPT (TS-ISDHPT)
The training simulator (TS-ISDHPT) will include the following functionalities:
• Operation both in dedicated rooms and in mobile conditions
• Possibility of mapping all MOP-ISDHPT operating modes
• Possibility to ensure cooperation with other, real training platforms through Webservice
• Possibility to conduct training using various simulation scenarios
• Possibility for the trainer to introduce parameters characterizing the presence of people
• Possibility to conduct training in an individual and group system and to supervise the course of the training.
The functional diagram of TS-ISDHPT is presented in Figure 2.

Figure 2. The functional diagram of TS-ISDHPT.

It is planned to use the simulator's user interfaces as similar to the real one of the ISDHPT system. The data presentation
will be carried out in a form enabling the correct identification of objects on the images from the course of the confined
space control of the vehicle, characterized by, for example, a different level of noise and interference. For this reason, it
is planned that the simulation platform will be based on a user interface identical to the real device, and a comprehensive
database of real images from various data sources will be used for training. Training materials will be prepared based on
training scenarios containing a wide range of various events observed during the inspection using the ISDHPT system, in
various conditions, including weather and lighting. Also, the predefined training scenario will be able to be modified on
an ongoing basis during the simulation by the system operator, e.g., in order to introduce unexpected complications (e.g.,
loss of connection with the selected data source, additional disturbances, change of events in the further course of the
scenario, Etc.). The operator of the simulation training system will be able to connect his computer with many training
stations within the local network to supervise the simultaneous training of a group of people. The training platform will
be integrated with the ICT tool supporting the evaluation of the course of exercises. Information about the course of the
training sessions will be stored in a central database, which can then be viewed and analyzed using a web browser (type
“thin client” application).
The simulation platform in the above-mentioned functional scope will allow the introduction of the skills of recognizing
and analyzing images supplied from the MPO-ISDHPT system to the training process of Border Guard officers, which
will significantly increase the efficiency of its use in the control of means of transport, ensuring internal security and

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 crisis management. Creating a simulation platform as a mechanism for raising and verifying the competences of the
MPO-ISDHPT system operators in a systematic way will strengthen the competences of the formation in the
implementation of statutory tasks.
It is planned to organize training stations in a dedicated room as a central unit (server) and PC client stations. The real
elements of the ISDHPT system and the various means of transport being inspected will be virtualized and displayed on
a central monitor. After the operator selects the appropriate parameters, the control process will be displayed in real or
accelerated time in the form of a simulation scene. However, the result of the inspection (scan image and other data) will
be displayed for interpretation in the same form as in the ISDHPT system.
Therefore, the proposed system, due to the integrated use of data from several ranges of electromagnetic (EM) waves,
various imaging methods, and functionally integrated visualization as well as chemical analyzes of air, with the support
of artificial intelligence, will be able to provide high-quality evidence of human smuggling. It will allow the Border
Guard to take action to open a sealed container without risking(minimizing the risk of) any subsequent consequences in
the event of (case of) a false alarm.
Moreover, the planned solution will be completely mobile. It will allow quick delivery of the system to the
indicated/selected place and its preparation for operation within the assumed time. It will help in the implementation of
tasks related to counteracting illegal smuggling of people and revealing dangerous goods and contraband in vehicles,
e.g., explosives, weapons, tobacco products, Etc.

4. CONCLUSIONS
The main innovative features of the proposed solution are:
1. The use of multi-parameter air composition assessment has been based on the detection of CO2, i.e., gas, which is
present in the exhaled air, but also present, for example, in exhaust gases, in clean atmospheric air. In the proposed
solution, not one, but many compounds present in the exhaled air are searched for; moreover, substances produced
by the entire human body will also be monitored. The detection of human presence will be based not on the
observation of changes in one parameter, but on the observation of the parameter(s) matrix. Also, the use of highly
sensitive techniques with high identification potential (gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry)
will allow the detection of substances specific to the human body at low concentration levels.
2. Possibility of detecting other substances of criminal importance - the proposed detection technique (GC-IMS) can
detect explosives, chemical weapons, drugs, and their precursors and other dangerous chemical compounds - which
allows the implementation of the optional project objective.
3. Synergic use of detectors working in different ranges of electromagnetic waves (terahertz band, x-ray band) allows
scanning of various types of objects, from vehicles with a semi-trailer secured by a tarpaulin to steel containers,
while maintaining a radiation dose that is safe for people.
4. The sensor matrix allows us to obtain many signals, and thus a kind of "fingerprint" means that with the increasing
number of specific properties (supplementary data) from positive detections of people, it will be possible to improve
the detection algorithm.
5. Functional modularity of detection subsystems, which is not found in the existing solutions of systems for detecting
people, increasing the probability of detecting or excluding unauthorized persons.
6. The possibility of recording indications from all ISDHPT subsystems and their use in the training process means
increasing the training's realism. It means training a very effective and attractive case analysis method for students.
7. Use of CPCIS (Compact PCI Serial) standards - a modular open standard for the construction of small-sized
industrial computer systems, compliant with the specifications of the PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers
Group - PICMG, which enables the system to be expanded with additional detectors and imaging systems.
8. Application of hardware neural network accelerator to support decisions.
9. The use of artificial intelligence algorithms, including machine learning based on neural networks, which will be
trained (trained) to assist the operator in quickly detecting people. A dedicated hardware accelerator to speed up the
detection process will be used to accelerate the detection process so that it takes place in quasi-real-time.

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 10. The developed simulator system will reflect the ISDHPT system states (information on the conditions of object
detection and their categorization) and the user interface in a manner identical to the real device. A comprehensive
database of actual film materials from various data sources will be used for training, thanks to which the realism of
the situation presented to the trainee will be maintained, as is the case in business pragmatics. Collecting data from
conducted exercises and the possibility of post-factum analysis of the exercise's course, discussing the mistakes
made and developing a model of the optimal procedure for detecting people and undesirable objects. It will also
allow for the improvement of scenarios and the entire training process of Border Guard officers. In this way, a
comprehensive training system will be created, and it will be able to be implemented in Border Guard training
centers and other security services. The system will be possible to duplicate, and all developed technologies will be
available to governmental organizations.
The essential aspect of the ISDHPT concept is to increase the effectiveness of detection, counteracting human smuggling
by developing multi-modal tools thanks to the interdisciplinary work of specialists in the field of chemical detection,
THz imaging, data processing, and management, database organization and design of reliable software.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was partially supported by the National Centre for Research and Development of Poland - grant no DOB-
BIO10/14/01/2019.
The authors thank the Border Guard representatives for fruitful discussions connected with the protection of the EU's
external borders.

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