Before, containers only used to be inspected from time to time. They would usually be chosen at random because it’s impossible to inspect, for example, 20.000 or more containers from each ship that enters a harbor. The teams needed would be enormous and it would slow down the process of import and export to almost a standstill. That’s why there has been so much innovation in the field of cargo inspection. Using a non-invasive cargo inspection system that scans a container and identifies possible contraband can reduce the time of inspection to a few minutes. These systems are revolutionizing the industry and can be used in airports, seaports, and even in factories to make sure the right products are coming and going.
Benefits of advanced cargo inspection systems
There are countless benefits to advanced cargo inspection systems. One example is that they can improve safety at border points like ports. These places are commonly used to smuggle in contraband, from stolen goods to weapons and drugs and, of course, illegal trafficking of humans. Using an AI inspection system on any incoming container can quickly discover unwanted contraband before it passes through the border. This leads to another benefit for society: safer environments. The illegal smuggling of explosives, narcotics, and people involved in terrorist activities can lead to the endangerment and even death of any number of innocent people. Aside from this, inspections can also reduce chances of theft within a company. Containers that are scanned at their points of departure and arrival can be compared so the contents can be checked off against each other.
Examples of cargo inspection systems
The advancements in inspection systems have led to new scanners that are both mobile and situated in fixed places. Some examples are relocatable systems which can be brought from one area of a port to another, mobile scanning vehicles which have increased maneuverability, and systems dedicated to certain forms of transport, like passenger cars and trains.
Features that enhance inspections
As mentioned before, inspections by humans can take a long time. While authorized personnel can conduct thorough searches, they can also miss clues due to a lack of attention or, in worse cases, on purpose because of bribery. Some of the features that help cargo inspection systems work better than human searches include imaging technology, radioactivity monitors, license plate recognition systems, deep learning algorithms, and so much more.
