Security Dogs Blog by DiagNose

Expansion of K9 unit in South Africa.

DiagNose’s  South African partner, ACTS, has expanded its K9 unit with  new dogs – conventional explosive detection dogs,  and has commenced provision of explosive detection services for airport security
in Johannesburg.

This new capability will complete the current RASCargO deployment on the South African market and will serve as a good solution for reliable yet swift detection of explosives. The dogs will be used for loose cargo screening, terminal halls and passenger screening.

On June 30^th 2010, the EU Commission published EU Regulation No. 573/2010 which is an amending Regulation for EU No. 185/2010.

This new update lays down detailed measures for implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security and especially the standards concerning the usage of explosive detection dogs (EDD).

Two very important updates that we have found in the amended Regulation concern passenger screening and hold baggage screening (HBS).

The EU now allows the usage of explosive detection dogs for both the above tasks, with the following permissions:

• Passenger screening – EDDs are permitted as a method operated together with the normal hand search. This permission is perfectly suited to the model offered by DiagNose, called “DogOnLine”
• HBS – Hold baggage screening by dogs is allowed as a primary, stand-alone method.

The full transcript of EU 573 / 2010 can be found here

Working dog basic training demonstration

On June 14^th, 2010, DiagNose hosted a delegation of about 25 airport security executives from North America (USA & Canada).

The delegation was sponsored by ICTS Europe and by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Among our distinguished guests were Norman  Mineta, former US Secretary of Transportation,  Tim Anderson, Deputy Executive Director/Ops, Metropolitan Airports Commission; Lauren Stover, Assistant Aviation Director for Operation, Miami Airport; Carter Morris, SVP Transportation Security Policy, American Association of Airport Executives; Deborah Ciccotelli, Director, Safety & Security, Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Bob Aaronson, former  Director General of ACI World and ICTS Europe board member; Mark Crosby, Chief of Public Safety & Security, Portland International Airport; and Jeanne Olivier, General Manager, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Guests at the K9 facility

On this occasion, a DiagNose team of expert sniffer dog trainers demonstrated multiple applications for using explosive detection dogs in the airport environment:

• Cargo screening
• HBS – Hold Baggage Screening
• Screening of abandoned luggage and suspicious vehicles,  an application in which the dogs are  controlled from a distance
• Explosives detection in an open area – here too, the dogs are remotely controlled

In addition, a presentation on RASCargO™, the unique cargo screening system operated by DiagNose worldwide, was conducted for the delegation.

A sniffer dog inspecting a vehicle for explosives

DiagNose has launched its new website which includes the following subjects:

Explosive detection dogs

RASCargO – cargo screening system

Drug detection dogs

Contraband detection dogs

IED detection dogs

The new website also defines new services for the company’s target markets – Aviation, maritime, customs , police and military.

Tomorrow, the 29^th of April 2010, the new European legislation on the use of explosive detection dogs for cargo screening enters into effect.

The new regulation sets the standards of use of explosive detection dogs, which enables users in the cargo industry – airlines, cargo handlers and forwarders, to use EDDs with some real added value in most cargo screening scenarios.

This document is aimed at summarizing the fields of cargo screening in which the use of dogs is permitted, under the standards being set by the EU in the EU Avsec doc 5211.

"REST" or RASCargO

The document defines two main cargo screening methods using dogs:

1. Free-running dogs, also known as “conventional detection dogs”
2. “REST”, which stands for Remote Explosive Scent Tracing.
   Such a system is operated by DiagNose under the commercial name of “RASCargO”.

Since DiagNose has been providing services by using both of these methods over the past five years, we will be very happy to assist any organization in setting up the infrastructure for meeting those standards and/or to operate a screening service in strict respect of the new standards.

Roadside bomb detection dog - a viable and efficient solution

In an article that appeared yesterday in several newspapers in Thailand, the Thai Prime Minister is quoted as stating that the country’s army makes widespread use of various devices that are purportedly able to detect explosives. The article expresses considerable disappointment with those devices because of their low detection rate (only about 20%) and mainly in light of the fact that the army spent over 20 million dollars in the purchase of that equipment.

In the article, the Prime Minister mentioned the advantages of using explosive detection dogs, and called upon the army to increase their usage of sniffer dogs based solutions.
Following are two articles on the subject that appeared in Thai newspapers.

Article 1: Sniffer dogs better: Thai PM

Article 2: Four-legged bomb detector is more reliable than GT200

Video – Roadside bomb detection dogs

The missing link in the chain of airport security screening has been found. “Dog-On-Line”.

DiagNose is pleased to present “Dog-On-Line”, an effective solution for passenger security check based on the deployment of explosives detection biosensors (sniffer dogs) at the security checkpoint

Dog-On-Line Illustration: passengers security check by dogs

The event of flight NW253 point out the technology gap in passenger security inspection and underscore the immediate need for an effective and reliable complementary measures on one hand, and maintaining passenger convenience on the other hand.

DiagNose, ICTS Europe’s explosives detection subsidiary, an international company specializing in the provision of integrated solutions, is in position to fill in this technology gap with a new product based on the abilities of explosive detection dogs.

Using dogs to detect explosives in carry-on baggage and on the passengers themselves can achieve the same degree of effectiveness and is a good solution for airport security screening.

The main idea of the “Dog-On-Line” is to check the passengers while they wait on line at the existing checkpoints.

Two plastic barriers with holes are placed near the checkpoint in such a way that while the passengers go through this “path,” an explosive detection dog is sniffing the outer side of the plastic barrier, through the holes, and passively indicates existing explosives.

The “Dog-On-Line” solution is based on the following principles:

• Effectiveness – Dogs are trained to detect commercial explosives such as PETN and well as HME (homemade explosives) non-standard materials and can memorize new target odors very rapidly once a new threat is introduced.
• Reliability – All of the dogs we provide are thoroughly trained and certified and are provided with the documented record of their training and certifications.
• No direct contact with passengers – At no time does the dog touch the passengers, such that the passengers have nothing to fear from the dog and are not disturbed by the dog in any way.
• Fluid queue management – The solution does not stall the flow of passengers
• The dog handler is trained to detect suspicious signs in appearance and behavior, offering the potential for optimization of the manpower required at the checkpoint.
• The system is visible to passengers, bolstering their confidence in aviation security, and serves as a deterrent factor vis-à-vis persons with hostile intentions.
• The solution is mobile and can be easily moved between checkpoints or boarding gates

“Dog-On-Line” is available for commercial pilot projects based on existing EU draft regulations. Pilot trials will be coordinated with the EU.

DiagNose is ready for rapid implementation of a pilot project based on trained dogs which we have in stock.

Dog-On-Line, Mind the Technology gap.

For more details please contact us by email -
general  {at} diag-nose.com

To our customers and friends,

We at DiagNose extend our best wishes for a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

May your holiday season and the New Year be filled with much joy, happiness and success. We look forward to working with you in the coming year and hope our business relationship continues for many years to come.

Happy holidays!

The DiagNose Team

You can download this picture in a larger size – here

DiagNose’s RASCargO™ cargo screening system is now operational at the O.R. Tambo airport, Johannesburg,  South Africa.

The South African operations of the RASCargO™ system are being performed by ACTS, DiagNose’s sister company.

ACTS RASCargO unit near OR Tambo airport - Johannesburg

RASCargO™ is a commercially available cargo screening technology that utilizes Remote Air Sampling for Canine Olfaction (RASCO).  The RASCargO™ product is managed, researched and supported by DiagNose SAS – France.

RASCargO™ systems are already operational at Paris CDG, Lyon, London Heathrow, Manchester UK, Schiphol, and now also in South Africa.

RASCargO team South Africa - well trained and already serving first cargo screening customers

The RASCargO™ technique was specially developed to serve the mass-screening cargo market that requires a solution for screening high volumes of dense cargo, with actually, no cargo size limitation, a solution that combines high detection rate with cost effectiveness.

“Safety and security remains a key priority for the cargo industry”, says Eytan Nevo, MD of ACTS “And not just in South Africa, but globally and one way of addressing it is by using advanced canine techniques such as RASCargO™, an innovative cargo screening system using highly trained dogs.”

“This program has been specially conceived for large volumes of merchandise as it is fast and effective,” says Nevo. “RASCargO has the screening ability for up to 40 trucks per hour and using a matrix based on analyses of two dogs it has a very high detection rates and very low false alarms.”

It also provides better security and operational efficiency at very fast turn-around times with no need to off-load and screen each parcel individually. Whilst the training of the dogs is very costly, the system is cost-effective once in place, mainly because it is based as a service providing cargo screening for cargo handlers, freight forwarders and airlines. these customers do not have to invest in expensive machinary, they pay only for the cargo actually screened.”

More details about the RASCargO – Cargo Screening system

Detection dog at airport

Small airports require a level of security similar to that of large airports, but they usually find it difficult to meet the necessary requirements, mainly due to budgetary constraints.

DiagNose offers a highly cost-effective solution to meet the security needs of small airports and passenger terminals – the deployment of specially trained explosives detection dogs.

Explosive detection dog at the airport

Explosives detection teams consisting of dog + handler can perform a wide variety of security tasks throughout the airport or terminal to close the security gaps or serve as peak-time reinforcements.

Among the range of duties that the team can perform:

• Inspection of vehicles at the airport entrance, and/or inspection of suspect vehicles
• HBS – screening of baggage, as a substitute for other  methods or as a supplementary solution for use in peak times
• Inspection of passenger terminals
• Inspection of suspicious objects
• Inspection of suspicious aircrafts
• Serve as a general deterrence

The proposed solution is highly flexible, starting from the use of two teams and increasing per the needs of the airport or terminal.

See also:  EC Regulation No. 300/2008.

EDD for cargo and HBS

Pricing packages are available upon request.

Please contact Mr. Ido Yitzhaki – click here