Dogs are great at what they do, but are they the best option for security today?
Beyond their fuzzy and friendly exterior, dogs have a long history of helping humans. Their sharp sense of smell has been super helpful for scoping out hidden objects and people. Dogs today are still used by security teams, police, and even militaries for protecting sites with sensitive information and uncovering contraband ranging from drugs to weapons or explosives. Dogs are great at what they do. Still, as we move into the digital age, many organizations are looking outside at new technological options for how to secure the flow of traffic at various sites (border crossings, airports, checkpoints, or other facilities that are at an increased risk for an attack). To gain an understanding, here are a few comparisons of dogs versus under vehicle inspection technologies.
Dogs: How Do They Compare?
Dogs are very versatile – as they can check traffic, large crowds, or other kinds of similar situations. Dogs can be easily moved from one facility to another, which provides a good sense of flexibility. They can also sniff not just beneath a car, but also around the interior where more dangerous items could be hidden. As great as dogs are at detecting possible issues, one of their cons lies with how accurate they are at detecting real threats. Dogs can often get their sense of smell messed up by external factors, such as garbage, food, or even weather conditions – which can lead to a lot of false alarms. Errors like this are less frequent with under vehicle inspection technologies.
Under Vehicle Scanners
Many organizations have begun to look towards modern technology for more accurate results. One of these technologies that has emerged is the under vehicle inspection scanner. This uses multiple cameras to capture high-definition images, which are then analyzed by artificial intelligence technologies to detect anything suspicious that could be indicative of dangerous or illegal materials. They rely on automated systems to scan, alert, and detect whenever there is a possible threat – and can do this to hundreds of vehicles without compromising on accuracy and quality.
Who Wins?
As it stands currently, and for the near future, under vehicle inspection scanners, have the clear upper hand for accuracy and quality for security scanning. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean dogs will be phased out. In fact, dogs will still have a significant role to play due to their ability to search through the interior of a given vehicle. Under vehicle surveillance scanners make the most sense for an organization looking to quickly and effectively secure their property, but our furry friends can still lend a hand.
Intelligent Systems With Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper Security’s suite of intelligent optical technologies provides security personnel with the tool to detect today’s threats. Our systems help those in the energy, transportation, commercial, and government sectors protect their people and their valuables by detecting threats in time to take action. From automatic under vehicle inspection systems, automatic license plate reader systems, to on the move automatic vehicle occupant identifier, we offer full 360-degree vehicle scanning to ensure any threat is found. Throughout 30 countries around the globe, Gatekeeper Security’s technology is trusted to help protect critical infrastructure. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn for updates about our technology and company.