We have been engaged in a series of ongoing projects examining threat detection in various real-world environments. The various real-world environments involve airport X-ray baggage screening, searching for threats in crowded public spaces, and others besides.
Though the full details of these projects can not be disclosed due to their security-sensitive nature, we have conducted a number of experiments utilising various forms of eye-tracking (e.g., perambulatory eye-tracker as well as the Eyelink 1000) to examine the eye movement behaviour and underlying decision processes involved in the detection of threats in real-world environments. Based upon the results that we have obtained, we have made a number of suggestions for modifying current practices and methods to improve threat detection performance in these environments.
Funding: QinetiQ, Counter-Terrorism Centre, DSTL.