title: Measuring and correcting wobble in large-scale transmission radiography.
abstract: Large-scale transmission radiography scanners are used to image vehicles and cargo containers. Acquired images are inspected for threats by a human operator or a computer algorithm. To make accurate detections, it is important that image values are precise. However, due to the scale (∼5 m tall) of such systems, they can be mechanically unstable, causing the imaging array to wobble during a scan. This leads to an effective loss of precision in the captured image.
  
  
  
  We consider the measurement of wobble and amelioration of the consequent loss of image precision.
  
  
  
  Following our previous work, we use Beam Position Detectors (BPDs) to measure the cross-sectional profile of the X-ray beam, allowing for estimation, and thus correction, of wobble. We propose: (i) a model of image formation with a wobbling detector array; (ii) a method of wobble correction derived from this model; (iii) methods for calibrating sensor sensitivities and relative offsets; (iv) a Random Regression Forest based method for instantaneous estimation of detector wobble; and (v) using these estimates to apply corrections to captured images of difficult scenes.
  
  
  
  We show that these methods are able to correct for 87% of image error due wobble, and when applied to difficult images, a significant visible improvement in the intensity-windowed image quality is observed.
  
  
  
  The method improves the precision of wobble affected images, which should help improve detection of threats and the identification of different materials in the image.
authors: Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.|Department of Security and Crime Science, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Thomas W
authors: TW
authors: Rogers
authors: Rapiscan Systems Ltd., Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, UK.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Ollier
authors: Rapiscan Systems, Torrance, California, USA.
authors: Edward J
authors: EJ
authors: Morton
authors: Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Lewis D
authors: LD
authors: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012637:Security Measures; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000379:methods*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014186:Transportation / Q000592:standards; D014965:X-Rays
keywords: Image correction; X-ray imaging; security screening; transmission radiography; wobble artefact