ADVANCED WARNING SYSTEMS
AWS
Advanced Warning Systems is the exclusive worldwide marketer of the IGRIS Total Scanning Solution. IGRIS Scanners are non-invasive, fast, and easy to use.
Their objective is to provide revolutionary, non-invasive scanning solutions, which can be tailored to maritime, vehicle, and air cargo, leading to a safer world. Work on the IGRIS technology began in the 1970s and the senior staff shares over 200 years of experience.
The world’s most advanced detection system that provides a computerized analysis that accurately determines the atomic composition of substances.
Meet the Scientist...
Watch the Documentary...
The IGRIS Solution
REDEFINING INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
1
SPEED
IGRIS is the only system to detect explosives, contraband, and items of interest to Customs with a high degree of accuracy in less than 4 seconds.
2
ACCURACY
IGRIS technology eliminates possible corruption in the scanning procedure because a computer does the interpretation as opposed to the operator, as in the case of an X-ray scanner.
3
CUSTOMIZATION
IGRIS scanning technology will scan and identify all substances of interest based on the list provided by each individual country.
4
AUTONOMOUS
If the object being scanned produces a failing result, a copy of the results is sent to the appropriate department.
5
OPPORTUNITY
The IGRIS system enhances the security of the country and increases revenue from Customs by providing them with a reliable tool to put an end to the evasion of duties.
The Documentary
A VISUAL EXPLORATION
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FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Still have some questions? Check out these inquiries we routinely answer. If it's not below, please reach out to one of our offices. AWS wants to be sure no one is left in the dark.
WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGICAL METHOD BEHIND IGRIS SCANNERS?
The Inelastic Gamma Ray Imaging System (IGRIS) combines the technology of inelastic neutron scattering with the associated particle time-of-flight spectroscopy to obtain an effective and accurate system for detection and identification of explosives and contraband drugs. In the IGRIS System, high energy neutrons are produced in a sealed tube neutron generator (STNG) with an energy of 14.1 MeV and emitted isotropically from the source. Approximately 1 million neutrons are produced each second, and the units have demonstrated an average lifetime of about 2,000 hours of operation. These high energy neutrons react with atomic nuclei of elements in the container to be assayed to produce gamma rays. Several nuclear reactions are possible, one of which is inelastic scattering with subsequent loss of neutron energy and production of gamma rays ranging in energy up to about 7 MeV. The energy and number of the gamma rays identifies the element from which it is emitted and essentially forms a "finger print" from which the element can always be identified.
WHAT SAFETY MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATOR AND THE TRUCK-DRIVERS?
Personnel operating the IGRIS scanners are restricted in approach to the IGRIS scanner by a distance of 1 meter. Outside this barrier, radiation levels are below those normally approved by the US government for public exposure to radiation producing equipment in 10 CFR part 20. The IGRIS scanner is engineering such that drivers and passengers in the vehicle passing through the scanner will receive less than 25 microrems per scan, which is the recently recommended limits in ANSI standard for scanning.
IS IGRIS LICENSED TO OPERATE?
The IGRIS laboratory has permission from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to possess radioactive sources, and the State of Tennessee licenses IGRIS to possess and operate equipment producing neutron radiation.
IS IGRIS TECHNOLOGY SAFE FOR ALL TYPES OF MERCHANDISE–ELECTRONICS, MEDICINES, ORGANIC MATERIALS,FOOD PRODUCTS, ETC.?
Yes. No radioactivity is induced in samples greater than safety levels published by the U.S. government.
HAS THE SCANNER BEEN TESTED ON FOOD PRODUCTS AND OTHER ORGANIC MATERIALS?
IGRIS has tested numerous explosives and inert substances including food, fabrics, fertilizer, building materials, etc. In all cases the scanning equipment identified the Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Chlorine content of the sample.