Millimeter Wave
Whole Body Imaging
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently piloting millimeter wave passenger imaging technology at 18 airports. In a matter of seconds, this technology can detect weapons, explosives and other threat items concealed under layers of clothing without physical contact.
- Click here to watch a video demonstrating how Millimeter Wave imaging works (WMV, 3.4 MB).
- Click here to watch how Millimeter Wave technology detects threats (WMV, 3.4 MB).
How the Technology Works
- Beams of radio frequency (RF) energy in the millimeter wave spectrum are projected over the body’s surface at high speed from two antennas simultaneously as they rotate around the body
- The RF energy reflected back from the body or other objects on the body is used to construct a three-dimensional image
- The three-dimensional image of the body, with facial features blurred for privacy, is displayed on a remote monitor for analysis
Where It Is
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Detroit Metro Airport
- Albuquerque International Sunport Airport
- Miami International Airport
- McCarran International Airport
- Tulsa International Airport
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport
- Tampa International Airport
- Jacksonville International Airport
- Indianapolis International Airport
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Richmond International Airport
What to Expect
- Each passenger will walk into the millimeter wave portal. Once inside, they will be asked to stand in two different positions and remain still for just a few moments while the technology creates a three-dimensional image of the passenger in real time
- Once complete, the passenger will exit the opposite side of the millimeter wave portal
- Images will be deleted immediately once viewed and will never be stored, transmitted or printed (the passenger imaging units have zero storage capability)
What TSA Sees
- Millimeter wave technology produces images which are viewed by a Transportation Security Officer in a remote location
Detection
- Metallic or non-metallic devices and objects are displayed, including weapons, explosives and other items that a passenger is carrying on his/her person
Safety
- For comparison, the energy projected by the system is 10,000 times less than a cell phone transmission
- We, and all objects around us, generate millimeter wave energy - and we are exposed to it every single day of our lives
Other Millimeter Wave deployments
- Millimeter wave technology is currently being utilized in various government locations across the United States, as well as international aviation and mass transit environments – such as:
Domestic locations
- Federal Court House (VA)
- Colorado Springs Court House (CO)
- Department of Corrections facility (PA)
- Los Angeles County Court House (CA)
- Cook County Court House (IL)
International airports
- U.K.
- Spain
- Japan
- Australia
- Mexico
- Thailand
- Netherlands