2019-09-10, Zeballos, Melina, Merks, Sarah, Hättenschwiler, Nicole, Schwaninger, Adrian

With the transition from 2D to 3D imaging technology for security screening of passenger bags, the question arises whether airport security screeners need the same visual-cognitive abilities to successfully inspecting these images. This study investigated the relationship between visual-cognitive abilities and the visual inspection performance of screeners. 42 screeners conducted a visual-cognitive test battery (VCTB) and a simulated hold baggage screening task using 2D or 3D imaging technology. The VCTB included test scales measuring abilities underlying visual processing, processing speed and fluid intelligence. Results showed that only few aspects of processing speed and visual processing correlated significantly with performance using 2D imaging. Performance of screeners that inspected 3D images showed even less significant correlations. These results indicate that with the expected change from 2D to 3D imaging, visual-cognitive requirements of airport security screeners might change. Further studies need to elucidate what visual-cognitive skills future 3D screeners need.

2019, Merks, Sarah, Hättenschwiler, Nicole, Zeballos, Melina, Schwaninger, Adrian, Jäger, Matthias

Für die Sicherheitskontrolle von registriertem Gepäck ver-wenden Flughäfen 2D multi-view Röntgentechnologie. Neue Technologien basieren auf 3D CT und ermöglichen eine 360 Grad Ansicht des Gepäckstücks. Für den Wechsel von 2D auf 3D Screening stellt sich die Frage, ob Screener für diese Technologien dieselben visuell-kognitiven Fähigkeiten benötigen. Deshalb untersuchte diese Studie den Zusammenhang zwischen visuell-kognitiven Fähigkeiten und der Inspektionsleistung. Die Screener absolvierten eine visuell-kognitive Testbatterie (VCTB) bestehend aus 10 standardisierten Testskalen und eine simulierte 2D sowie 3D Screening Aufgabe. Die Resultate zeigen, dass Aspekte von Informationsverarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit und von visueller Verarbeitung signifikant mit der Inspektionsleistung in der 2D Aufgabe korrelieren. Mit der 3D Aufgabe hin-gegen korrelierte nur mit ein paar wenigen Skalen der VCTB. Diese Resultate weisen darauf hin, dass sich die visuell-kognitiven Anforderungen an Screener mit der Einführung von 3D CT Technologie ändern könnten.

2018-10, Merks, Sarah, Hättenschwiler, Nicole, Zeballos, Melina, Schwaninger, Adrian, Pritchard, Daniel

2D multi-view X-ray imaging technology is widely used for security screening of hold baggage at airports. Newer technology is based on 3D CT imaging. Such systems offer the possibility to rotate a bag around 360 degrees. With the transition from 2D multi-view to advanced CT imaging, the question arises whether airport security officers (screeners) need the same visualcognitive abilities when visually inspecting X-ray images of hold baggage. This study investigated the relationship between visualcognitive abilities and visual inspection performance of screeners. Screeners conducted a computer-based visual cognitive test battery (VCTB) and a simulated hold baggage screening task with 2D and 3D imaging. We found that aspects of processing speed and visual processing correlated significantly with visual inspection performance of screeners using 2D imaging technology. In comparison, performance of screeners that visually inspected 3D images showed less correlations with the VCTB. These results indicate that with the expected change from 2D to 3D imaging technology in airport security, visual-cognitive requirements of the screeners might change. Therefore, further studies need to elucidate in more detail what visual-cognitive skills future 3D screeners need as it could affect personnel selection and development.