Automatic Threat Recognition Algorithm for Volumetric CT Data

This Phase I proposal describes the development of an Automatic Threat Recognition (ATR) algorithm for volumetric CT data. Our ATR algorithm consists of four stages: (1) preprocessing of CT data, (2) object segmentation of preprocessed CT data, (3) post-processing of segmentation results, and (4) explosive detection from the segmented objects. The ATR algorithm will be made computationally efficient by GPGPU programming in order to meet desired throughput of the screening process. The performance of the ATR algorithm will be thoroughly analyzed via extensive experiments with CT dataset of typical checked bags with ground truth. Since a preliminary segmentation algorithm is already built, Phase I begins from TRL 3 and concludes with experiments and comprehensive quantitative performance analysis (TRL 4). A DICOS-compliant ATR algorithm and standard CT test datasets for reliable quantification of explosive detection performance is expected at the end of Phase II.