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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.

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

• Albuquerque International Sunport Airport
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
• Denver International Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
• Detroit Metro Airport
• Indianapolis International Airport
• Jacksonville International Airport
• McCarran International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Miami International Airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport
• Richmond International Airport
• San Francisco International Airport
• Salt Lake City International Airport
• Tampa International Airport
• Tulsa 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