Each NES System is configured to meet the specific needs of the enforcement and transportation community that it serves. The configuration issues are complex since NES Systems may be applied to airport, seaport and land border crossing environments. The objects to be examined range from air cargo ULDs, ocean containers, conventional cargo trucks, neobulk cargo trucks, railcars, bulk material transports to conventional passenger vehicles.

The configuration objective is to achieve a responsible balance between the concerns and requirements of the regulatory and enforcement agencies and the needs of the transportation community. Regulatory and enforcement agencies will normally have the final word; however, most are commercially sensitive to todayÕs economic warfare issues.

To achieve this configuration balance, a thorough systems engineering and operational analysis is performed. Alternate facility layouts, employing different material handling techniques, are examined. Simulation of the NES System is utilized to establish the through-put objectives of each site and provide the baseline information necessary to configure the ExamFolderª program and generate the associated computer hardware requirements.

The final ExamFolderª program configuration will optimally integrate the initial suite of sensor technologies while providing the flexibility to integrate other future sensor technologies as they become operationally viable. The ExamFolderª program has the following features:

• High Through-Put Production Control System -

  The NES Terminal Control System is an object-oriented system which uses a state-of-the art relational database and allows the use of tools necessary for high through-put transportation planning and control of the nondestructive examination process. The system includes industrial engineering reports to help optimize each unique NES system.

• Evidentiary Integrity -

  The ExamFolderª program maintains the integrity of original sensor data and assures that the chain of evidence as collected is unbroken and traceable. The ExamFolderª program results may be archived to Write Once Read Many (WORM) optical disks to preserve the evidence in a format that minimizes the potential of data destruction by magnetic fields or data tampering by malefactors.

• Dynamic Routing -

  The ExamFolderª program allows dynamic routing of examination data to different NES Analysts to support various levels of diligence in primary, secondary and tertiary screening activities or even hold some ExamFolderª programs out of the current work queue pending availability of a specialist. Additionally, NES Analyst workstations at various locations can be placed on-line/off-line for maintenance purposes, all without affecting the through-put capability of the total NES system.

• Supports Hierarchical Security Levels -

  The ExamFolderª program can complement established Customs, Intelligence & National Security computer systems through the use of multiple password and user access privileged sensors and controls. Information compartmentalization and control objectives and requirements can be met.

• Integrity of Sensor Data -

  Each sensor transfers the data it collects to the ExamFolderª program in the original sensor output format. Any postprocessing of the data is a separate operation and results in additional unique files. Original sensor data is recorded intact for future post-processing, auditing, training and quality assurance purposes.

• Expert System Friendly -

  The ExamFolderª program architecture has been developed to accept alert flags and analysis from expert systems which perform profiling. Additionally, the ExamFolderª program is capable of passing both original sensor and post-processed data to various expert system shells. These expert systems then pass their results back to the ExamFolderª program. The ExamFolderª software will provide a unique icon for each expert system result. It is possible to have multiple knowledge based systems running simultaneously on networked computers to provide NES Analysts with expert advice and assistance.

• Supports Training Systems & Security Audits -

  The structure of the ExamFolderª architecture simplifies retrieval of archived records and enhances the ability to create focused training sessions that are crucial to continued operational effectiveness. The ability to replay an Analyst's session is an important feature not only for training purposes but also for internal security reasons. Another feature is its online multi-media training and help capability.

• Easy to Operate -

  The ExamFolderª program is a user friendly interface utilizing the Sun Workstation's Open Windows format. The information about a container, truck or passenger vehicle is collected and represented as various icons in different labeled windows. The information icons are labeled and easily opened by clicking with the workstation's mouse.

• Future NES Enhancements -

  The open architecture design of the NES allows for the incorporation of advanced sensors as they become technologically mature, reliable and economically practical for long-term system operation. In addition, other data sources can be fed into the database available to the NES, depending on government requirements and system application. Some possible enhancements include:
1. Nuclear-Based Contraband Detection Systems Nuclear-based contraband detection systems use neutrons to produce gamma ray emissions which are used to detect nitrogen-rich material which are typically present in contraband of interest.
2. Physical and Chemical Sampling and Analysis Physical and chemical sampling and analysis will be used to take air or particulate samples from target vehicles on or around suspect cargo. Systems targeting specific spectrums and substances are available and more advanced. They have better detection probabilities and lower false alarm rates than systems which are designed to detect wide range of substances.
3. Intelligence Data Intelligence data from various local, national or international agencies can be input to the NES database to alert the NES analyst to watch for possible drug, terrorist or other subversive threats. The inclusion of intelligence data in the NES database will require the activation of enhanced the ExamFolderª program data security capabilities and additional physical site security. The use of encryption and decryption devices to allow the receipt and transmittal of sensitive information will also be required. The respective intelligence agency always retains control on the judicious release of its information.