New security technology? HOU
Aug 4, 2014, 7:34 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
I have no idea what those things are, but, most likely, they are NOT radiation monitors (that is, direct reading RADIAC instruments) since it sounds like they are up high (radiation decreases with shielding, time, and distance). While gamma radiation would be detected, alpha and beta are unlikely in that case. They could be some kind of air monitoring equipment, but, again, I have no idea.
Aug 4, 2014, 8:15 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,766
Aug 4, 2014, 8:41 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
Those gizmos are Curiosity Detectors. Since Curiosity is
a sign of Intelligence, and therefore trouble, you are required
to pass by without taking photos or trying to figure out what they are.
Even discussing them will place you on the "list."
a sign of Intelligence, and therefore trouble, you are required
to pass by without taking photos or trying to figure out what they are.
Even discussing them will place you on the "list."
Aug 4, 2014, 8:55 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2010
Location: HOU, occasional IAH
Programs: WN A+ CP, IHG Status-of-the-Day, Avis First. **Freedom fighter: One grope at a time.**
Posts: 392
I never thought I'd say this... but I'm actually looking forward to my trip out of HOU tomorrow. I'm gonna be looking for barium-seeking Curiosity Detectors! 
Aug 4, 2014, 9:49 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 959
You want fun? Buy a bottle of a good quality (expensive) flavored milk drink, preferably a light colored one - banana or vanilla rather than chocolate. Enjoy it at home and rinse out the bottle. Now get the barium mixture (it tastes foul), put it in milk drink bottle and take it to the airport. Make sure the TSA screeners find it. Protest loudly when they confiscate encourage you to voluntarily surrender it - explain how it's your favorite flavor, how much you paid for it, how delicious this brand is, and so on. Eventually "surrender" it and enjoy the prospect of the screener drinking it with his lunch.
You, evil genius, you! ^
)
Aug 4, 2014, 11:25 pm
#21
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Aug 4, 2014, 11:27 pm
#22
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
I have no idea what those things are, but, most likely, they are NOT radiation monitors (that is, direct reading RADIAC instruments) since it sounds like they are up high (radiation decreases with shielding, time, and distance). While gamma radiation would be detected, alpha and beta are unlikely in that case. They could be some kind of air monitoring equipment, but, again, I have no idea.
Aug 4, 2014, 11:30 pm
#23
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Posts: 6,293
Aug 5, 2014, 6:33 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 959
Aug 5, 2014, 8:44 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 729
If a new screening technology is being used, should not TSA provide some sort of notice about it?
Maybe it is a device that counts the number of people passing through the checkpoint.
Edit: Or maybe it is for wait time estimation! TSA might be reading (for example) Bluetooth device signals at various points in the checkpoint queue. I found something about this in a DHS future procurement notice:
Edit 2: [moved to new thread]
Edit 3: But this article says that an AWT system was scrapped last year...
Maybe it is a device that counts the number of people passing through the checkpoint.
Edit: Or maybe it is for wait time estimation! TSA might be reading (for example) Bluetooth device signals at various points in the checkpoint queue. I found something about this in a DHS future procurement notice:
"Seeking contractor support to provide: Program and Technical Management for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Systems Integration Facility (TSIF) Test Support; support the passenger screening test events in support of the TSA Checkpoint Technologies Division; conduct technical testing for AIT, AT2, CAT-BPSS, ETD systems and perform regression testing associated with system upgrades for the vendor unit types at the TSIF; conduct technical testing for AWT systems that collect information from passengers carried devices and use this information to determine and report estimated wait time at individual checkpoints..."
Edit 3: But this article says that an AWT system was scrapped last year...
Last edited by Schmurrr; Aug 5, 2014 at 11:47 pm
Aug 5, 2014, 9:59 am
#26
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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TSA wants the ability to pick up information from pax cell phones at the checkpoint?
Yeah, sure, only the time/location, nothing more, I'm sure.
Yeah, sure, only the time/location, nothing more, I'm sure.
Aug 5, 2014, 10:13 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 729
Bluetooth readers are not that expensive to purchase and deploy for the purpose of measuring travel time.
Aug 5, 2014, 12:17 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2010
Location: HOU, occasional IAH
Programs: WN A+ CP, IHG Status-of-the-Day, Avis First. **Freedom fighter: One grope at a time.**
Posts: 392
Got the photos, will see about an upload when I get to my hotel.
It will be several hours before I get the photos up, but the "devices" look like a lamp post with a shower head attached. They are in the section after the document checkers, and over the X-ray belts and AITs.
It will be several hours before I get the photos up, but the "devices" look like a lamp post with a shower head attached. They are in the section after the document checkers, and over the X-ray belts and AITs.
Last edited by CavePearl; Aug 5, 2014 at 12:49 pm Reason: Added info.
