Which Under Vehicle Scanning Technology is Better?

Under vehicle scanning technologies are currently on the market in two types, static scanning, which collects a series of images, and real-time video scanning, the latest to come to market. Both are excellent options and are effective in securing a perimeter at either stationary locations. Deciding which technology is better for your business is a personal choice based on your company needs. Here’s how to choose.

With a static under vehicle scanning system, the under carriage of a vehicle is captured with a series of high-speed still images when the vehicle passes over the scanner’s camera. Photos are then processed into a seamless single view of the entire under carriage. Distortions caused by the speed at which the vehicle passes over the scanner are corrected via an encoder. The end result is a complete, high resolution image of the underside of the vehicle uniformly lit with little to no distortion. The process of static under vehicle scanning takes a bit longer than video, but the quality is slightly superior to real-time video.

A real-time video under vehicle scanning system captures images with full-color video cameras within the scanner. It offers views of the underside of the vehicle from different angles with multiple cameras that capture overlapping images. When it is displayed on the security inspectors’ screen some distance from the scan, it streams the video in a variety of formats. It’s a bit quicker than static under vehicle scanning technology, because it is displayed in real-time, so there is no processing delay between the scan and the display. If the access point sees a high level of vehicle traffic, this choice scans vehicles more quickly and diminishes delays.

Real-time video under vehicle scanning systems are less costly than static scanning systems, and can in fact, be about one-third the cost. This is due primarily to the size and cost of the technology required for static scans – the camera size and the processing costs. The importance of the one-time higher cost may be superseded by the accuracy of a static scan, depending on the security concerns of your facility. If loss prevention of proprietary information/products are an issue, accuracy may outweigh cost concerns.

Both UVSS provide the best technologies on the market. You will need to decide which under vehicle scanning system’s benefits more closely resonate with your company’s needs. If your priority is accuracy, static units could be for you. If your priority is cost, mobility, or speed, real-time video units may be for you.