NCS4 Completes Formal Lab Testing On Passport Systems Smartshield System For Venue Security

N. BILLERICA, Mass., April 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Passport Systems, Inc. today announced that its SmartShield™ Networked Radiation Detection System has completed formal lab evaluation by National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi. NCS⁴ evaluated the SmartShield system for sixteen functional areas, including measurement and identification of radioactive isotopes, situational awareness, and geolocation of a radioactive source.

"We are very pleased with the performance of the SmartShield System," said Tom Hughes, Director of Product Management for SmartShield Technology. "NCS⁴ takes great pains to ensure rigorous testing of systems to which they are going to apply the Lab Tested seal. We are proud to be recognized by this leader in best practices for event and venue security."

The SmartShield system is comprised of small gamma-radiation detectors that collect radiation data and transmit the information wirelessly through smartphones, forming a network that allows security forces to simultaneously respond to any threats. While on patrol, security and law enforcement officers collect background radiation data. When gamma radiation is detected, an alert and GPS coordinates are sent throughout the network, to a central command station, and to responding law enforcement personnel.

The NCS⁴ evaluators were professionals from sports safety and security, hazardous material response, fire and emergency services, radiological response, and nuclear operations. Evaluators offered high praise for the SmartShield system:

• "The best feature of the SmartShield™ system is the situational awareness it provides to response teams and leaders."
• "Passport Systems SmartShield™ Technology presents a discreet, expedient, and efficient tool to rapidly detect, isolate, and identify gamma radiation-emitting sources. The interface, which utilizes features present in the current generation of smart phones is user-friendly and presents a variety of tools useful to new users and experienced users alike."
• "The system has the ability to electronically inject a simulated radioactive source that provides a full fidelity simulation of an actual event, even allowing the individual detectors and hand-held devices to respond as they would during a real event. It allows teams to 'train the way they fight.' This is a significant capability."

The evaluation program follows principles currently espoused by standing DHS validation programs (such as SAVER1) that assist end operators with objective and quantitative reviews of available commercial systems and solutions. The overall score indicates that the SmartShield system performed at or above the levels considered by the evaluators to fully meet each requirement.

"The NCS⁴ evaluation is a significant milestone in the security community's acceptance of the SmartShield system," said Dr. Robert Ledoux, President, CEO and Director of Passport Systems, Inc. "Sports and other large arena security is an important concern worldwide and the Passport's SmartShield system is ideally suited to addressing this issue.  We are proud to have the official NCS⁴ lab tested designation."

In the United States, the SmartShield technology has been used to beef up security at the NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament in Houston, at the Boston Marathon, and other crowd gathering events, such as NASCAR races in New Hampshire.  Internationally, it is being marketed for use at celebrations, soccer matches, concerts, as well as airports, and ports.

For a complete breakdown and analysis of the NCS⁴ tests, read their full report at https://www.passportsystems.com/pg/products/smartshield/ncs4-lab-evaluation .

About the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi has established a National Sports Security Laboratory (NSSL) to meet the operational and technological needs of venue operators and security personnel at sports venues.

About Passport Systems
Passport Systems was founded to develop and commercialize new technologies to address the threats facing the world in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Founded by a team of MIT technologists and entrepreneurs, Passport Systems has proudly developed two cutting-edge product lines: The SmartScan 3D™ Automated Cargo Inspection System, based on nuclear resonance fluorescence technology, and the SmartShield™ Networked Radiation Detection System, using advanced data fusion algorithms.  For further details on Passport Systems and its products and services, please visit www.passportsystems.com, and follow us on Twitter at @PassportSys and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PassportSys/ .

SOURCE Passport Systems, Inc.