Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S68088/01
Title:	Automatic Detection And Visualisation Of Concealed Weapons Using MM Wave Imaging
Principal Investigator:	Petillot, Professor Y
Other Investigators:	Trucco, Professor E Lebart, Dr K Harvey, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Department for Transport Metropolitan Police Service Police Scientific Development Branch QinetiQ
Department:	Sch of Engineering and Physical Science
Organisation:	Heriot-Watt University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	15 October 2003	Ends:	14 January 2007	Value (£):	222,872
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Image & Vision Computing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Recent UK surveys and history have shown an increasing use of firearms in crime (25% increase over the last year alone). With the proliferation of guns and the recognised terrorist threats in airports, trains and widely used public places; the ability to covertly detect weapons would greatly improve the safety of the public and act as a deterrent to the use of such weapons. This proposal aims at developing new techniques for the detection of concealed weapons using the emerging millimetre wave imaging technology. This technology can image through clothing, plastics and fabrics to enable distant and covert detection of weapons concealed on human bodies as well as detection of human presence in vehicles. However, if this technology is to be widely used, several problems have to be solved: First, a better understanding of the image formation process is required to enable the development of adapted automated image processing algorithms (detection of guns, knives, explosive) hence reducing the need for skilled operators. Second, the privacy of the screened persons required by British laws needs to be enforced. The current quality of imaging achieved by the sensor is such that there are privacy issues when used for covert operation (i.e. without the imaged person's consent). This motivates the automation of the detection process. Third, the procedural aspects will have to be thoroughly studied, in close collaboration with the end-users, and the performances of the system in each scenario will have to be clearly established.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.hw.ac.uk