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Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Cargo Scanning

Scan of excavator showing contraband
The above image of the excavator comes to us from a news report in Australia. I remember there was some noise some years ago about scanning incoming cargo, but I hadn't heard much more about it. Now it seems that it has become an industry in itself and they are scanning something like 80% of all incoming containers (in the USA).

X-ray scan of an automobile
Cargo scanning is done mostly to detect nuclear materials (stuff that could be used to make a bomb) and contraband (typically drugs).
Backscatter technology produces an image that resembles a chalk etching
Then there is security screening at airports. Some people make a big fuss about it.

Migrants are seen in a tractor trailer after being detected by police X-ray equipment in Concepcion del Oro, Zacatecas state, Mexico July 7, 2019 in this still image from video footage. Secretary of Public Security/Handout via Reuters
Sometimes people show up in cargo scans.

Via Just A Car Guy

2 comments:

  1. Every train car that enters the US from Canada at Blaine Washington gets scanned:
    http://www.saic.com/products/security/vacis-p/

    Note that it says 150 road trailers an hour. In the freight train example, that translates to about four miles per hour. So, imagine you live in a town with several level crossings and a mile-long train enters your town and slows to four miles per hour to pass through the scanner. That means that every level crossing is blocked for 15 minutes at a time, per train. Some nearby towns are lucky; they have overpasses. We are not so lucky; we have lovely parks and libraries, but no overpasses. Oh, and we have heard recently that, possibly due to various pipeline vetoes, we can expect some oil trains to grow to two miles long.
    The good news is that even the dimmest politicians are starting to realize what a dangerous situation this is and have started planning for an overpass. That would eliminate one of the several crossings.

    Personally, I think level crossings should have been banned years ago. Here are the stats:
    https://oli.org/about-us/news/collisions-casulties

    Your pal,
    James

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  2. I should have said "every freight car" above. The Amtrak trains do not slow down so I can only assume they are not being scanned.

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