LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) infrastructure security is an explosively growing market with demand eclipsing the Aviation security market; driven by increased global demand for LNG, and the fact that one LNG tanker if detonated would cause a blast similar in size to that of a tactical nuclear weapon.

The world’s demand for LNG is increasing dramatically, since this energy source is available abundantly, ready to meet global energy demand at a time of rising energy prices. A recent HSRC’s report Global LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Infrastructure Security Market 2009 - 2014 forecasts that over the next few years we will witness rapid development of the global LNG infrastructure. For instance, the total number of LNG terminals worldwide will nearly triple over the next 7 years. This growth will be accompanied by a robust growth in the LNG infrastructure security market. The report’s forecasts:

• Surging energy prices will drive heavy investments in LNG infrastructure and its security – over $600 Billion and $17 Billion respectively in the next 6 years
• Over 300 new LNG facilities will be built over the next 6 years
• Over 75% of the LNG market is outside of the US
• Perimeter security & Maritime security account for over 30% of the market

Los Angeles International Airport implements new Rapiscan 620 DV machines that provide better high resolution color X-ray images. High definition screening improves screeners’ ability to recognize hidden suspicious objects like Improvised Explisive Devices (IED), weapons, etc. The machines come with a steep price tag of $125,000. The machines allow to take images from multiple angles. Below is photo of Rapiscan 620 DV from company’s product brochure.

New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Washington Reagan National Airport and Albuquerque International Sunport airport are also testing Rapiscan scanning machines. One of the new features of the Rapiscan 620 DV is so called “Organic Threat Highlight Imaging”, improved visual processing of explosive and liquid threats. Here is a high definition image captured by a new screening machine.

Visual luggage inspection is notoriously unreliable. According to a classified report leaked to the media security screeners at LAX detected only 25 percent of fake bombs during 70 tests performed by undercover federal agents. Their colleagues at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago missed 60 percent of 75 tests. Screeners at San Francisco International Airport demonstrated the best performance, they detected about 80 percent of fake explosives during 145 tests.

According to Homeland Security Research Corporporation research, 2007-2011 U.S. Homeland Security (Government & Private) Market Outlook, luggage screening represents a significant share of $10 Bln airport security market (cumulative figure 2007 - 2011).

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) tests the following new screening technologies for operational efficiency: Millimeter Wave technology used in random continuous mode, multi-view X-ray and liquid bottle scanners.

According to Homeland Security Research Corp. research, 2007-2011 U.S. Homeland Security (Government & Private), people screening is one of the fast growing market segments of the Homeland Security market.

London’s plot has exposed an urgent need for more effective security screening to address an increasing variety of threats. Many technologies engaging different spectrum ranges from radio up to X- and gamma-rays are employed to detect weapons and explosives. Terahertz radiation, a part of spectrum between microwave and infrared, is one of the prospective techniques. Terahertz imaging and spectroscopy has shown potential to detect and identify objects hidden under clothing at very low level of non-ionising radiation .