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OAKLAND – When a Star Wars 3D scanner was installed at Terminal 2 at Oakland International Airport, some passengers said it hit them in space.
"We have a lot of them," said Adrienne Marquez, transport safety manager for the Transportation Security Administration. "We like to joke with the passengers and agree with them."
The state-of-the-art computed tomography scanner, which has been running for a month, is considered a major technological upgrade at airport security checkpoints, as it can create 3D images of luggage and other hand luggage . items.
David Von Damm, the Agency's director of safety at Oakland International Airport, said TSA officers can "have a good idea of what's inside the bag and what's they can do to ensure the best possible security.
The scanner creates images that can be rotated for in-depth visual analysis, and if a bag needs more filtering, it can zoom in on the elements. CT technology can also detect shapes and densities of items, including bulk and liquid explosives.
Von Damm said that passengers can leave their electronic devices – such as smartphones, cell phones, computers, iPads and Kindle – in the bag, which speeds up the security check. They still have to take out liquid items for inspection, he said.
"Eventually, the TSA wants to reduce the number of articles to go out of a bag – it's the long-term goal," he said.
Representatives from TSA and Oakland International Airport showed the Analogic 3D scanner at a press briefing on Thursday. Oakland International is one of 15 airports across the country – and the only Bay Area airport – where TSA tests technology.
The agency has recently designated the airport as a TSA innovation test site, "and this only positions the airport to receive new technologies as soon as it is available," the spokesman said. Oakland airport, Keonnis Taylor.
"Since safety is our number one priority, a machine like this is certainly of interest to us at the airport," Taylor said.
According to agency spokesperson Lorie Dankers, TSA is also beginning to use technology at the security checkpoint.
The current screening of cabin baggage by the TSA uses 2D images, which only show height and width, like many computer graphics. TSA expects to have up to 40 3D scanners in the country 's airports by the end of the year and over 145 by the end of its 2019 fiscal year.
Each unit costs $ 350,000.
TSA is evaluating one month of data to measure the time it takes to get passengers through the security checkpoint, Dankers said.
"Having CT technology here in Oakland is a win for Oakland and it's a win for TSA," said Von Damm. "We are the only airport in the Bay Area to test this technology. Oakland International Airport currently has a growth rate of 8% (annual), and being at the forefront of new technologies coming out is ideal for the Bay Area. It's great for Oakland Airport and we're really happy to participate in these tests. "
Other airports where TSA is testing the 3D scanner include Chicago O'Hare International Airport; The William P. Hobby Airport of Houston, Texas; John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York; Boston Logan International Airport; Los Angeles International Airport; Las Vegas McCarran International Airport; San Diego International Airport; and Washington-Dulles International Airport.
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