Exeter researchers share latest findings from aviation security partnership with Smiths Detection

Research into how fatigue, cognitive abilities and working environments affect airport security screening was showcased at the University of Exeter’s inaugural Human Performance in Defence Symposium. 

Hosted by the University’s Defence, Security and Resilience (DSR) network and Applied Cognitive Science research group, the symposium brought together researchers from across Exeter to share developments in human performance research, including cognitive fatigue, immersive learning and human-system interaction. 

Among the presenters were three post-doctoral and PhD researchers supported through the University’s partnership with Smiths Detection, whose work aims to improve accuracy of airport X-ray baggage screening. 

Airport security screeners must identify potential threats within complex X-ray images, often under time pressure. The three projects explore how cognitive abilities, fatigue and the external environment affect performance, with potential applications for recruitment, training and operational procedures. 

Dr Callum O’Malley is investigating how cognitive fatigue affects threat detection (i.e. finding a dangerous or banned item in a bag), including whether the commonly used 20-minute screening period is optimal and how different break activities might help maintain performance. 

Preliminary findings suggest that maintaining screening accuracy despite increased cognitive fatigue requires greater mental effort. Further studies will examine screening durations, rest activities and operational airport data to help inform guidance on shift patterns, breaks and fatigue management. 

Amy Gear is exploring whether particular cognitive and perceptual abilities can predict X-ray screening performance. 

Working with Smiths Detection and Edinburgh Airport, Amy has compared experienced and newly recruited screeners. Early findings suggest a relationship between performance on a specially designed visual search task and X-ray screening ability, which could help airports identify promising candidates before specialist training, reducing recruitment costs and training attrition. 

Amy said: “Working directly with Smiths Detection means my research is shaped by real operational problems rather than hypothetical ones. Having access to working screeners, genuine training pipelines and real performance data makes the findings more meaningful, and it’s rewarding to know the outcomes could directly change how screeners are recruited and trained.” 

Conor O’Regan is examining how operational conditions, including environmental distractions, time pressure and screening location i.e. where the screener is when they screen the bag influence performance and decision-making. 

Following an initial laboratory study, his research is now examining operational data from Edinburgh Airport to investigate whether screening at passenger-facing checkpoints or remote locations affects threat detection, response times and decision-making. 

The findings could help airports make more informed decisions about screening environments, staffing, training and operational support. 

Professor Sam Vine, a lead academic in the University of Exeter’s Defence & Security research network and the PI for the Smiths Detection work said: “The partnership between the University of Exeter and Smiths Detection represents the very best in research informed practise, and translatory research. We have a partnership which allows us to do high-quality research that extends our general understanding of human performance, but importantly also directly impacts upon the products and processes of Smiths detection. 

The partnership is also expanding its research into human–AI collaboration, exploring how artificial intelligence can best support security screeners, including what information AI systems should provide and when. 

As the projects develop, their findings could help inform future screening practices, training and technology development across the aviation security industry.