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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/G004234/1
Title: Modelling and Analysing the Cargo Screening Process
Principal Investigator: Aickelin, Professor U
Other Investigators:
Sun, Professor T Menachof, Professor DA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Home Office
Department: School of Computer Science
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 September 2008 Ends: 31 August 2012 Value (£): 492,347
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. Modelling & simul. of IT sys.
Software Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Current cargo screening systems are sub-optimal because they are based on historic layouts, for instance luggage will go through fixed tiered systems: First all luggage will go through detector A, if it fails to pass, then it will go through detector B and if it fails again through detector C. Moreover, we do not understand the performance of current systems as no baseline performance data is available, i.e. it is unclear whether current systems perform better than random or not. Thus even if an improvement was proposed, it would be difficult to measure its impact if any.We are proposing to design a plug and play software tool (cargo screening system simulator) that will map the right technology to the right commodity / threat combination and thus* Identify gaps in a current sensor system set-up / what new technology do we need?* Allow for proper evaluation of new sensor technology / is it value for money?* Optimise given resources / get highest throughput / detection for fixed resources.Additionally, as the project is interested in the whole system and allows for the evaluation of new technologies, it is an enabling project for all other sandpit projects. We will be able to evaluate new sensor technologies proposed in specific scenarios to establish practical cost / benefits. To achieve this, we propose to run a follow on network alongside the project.
Key Findings
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk