Job title
Professor of Applied Imaging Science
Job responsibilities
Professor J Paul Evans is the Head of The Imaging Science Group.
Research Centre or Group
The Imaging Science Group
Research fellows:
- Dr Jer Wang Chan
- Dr Xun Wang
Research students:
- Simon Godber
- Omar Abuseeda
- Rachel Bolton-King
- Ian Peatfield
- Vassias Vassiliades
Research, scholarly and professional interests
Areas of research include the design of vision systems and 3D image sensor packages for visual inspection, the extraction of coordinate data and materials discrimination information.
- 3D X-ray (Absorption) Imaging: Employing three interrelated techniques; Kinetic Depth Effect or KDEX Imaging, Laminography and Binocular Stereoscopic Imaging. A major advance is the production of dynamic imagery from a single X-ray source and a static arrangement of linear X-ray sensors. The image capture time is the same as conventional 2D X-ray systems. This work is in collaboration with the UK Home Office Science and Technology Group.
- Molecular Tomography: Employing scattered X-rays to provide substance specific 3D imaging capability. This work is in collaboration with the UK Home Office Science and Technology Group the US DHS and is funded by the EPSRC.
- X-ray Materials Identification: Novel techniques for the identification of materials employing coherently scattered X-rays are currently under investigation and development. This project is funded under the Innovative Research Call in Explosives and Weapons Detection (2007), a cross-government programme sponsored by Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB); Department for Transport (DfT); Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI); and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
- Image Processing: The synthesis of intermediary view X-ray images from a sequence of sensor views is under investigation. This work is in collaboration with the UK Home Office Science and Technology Group and the US Department of Homeland Security. The programme is funded by the EPSRC.
- X-ray Sensors: A new type of materials discriminating sensor, which reduces the total number of scintillation elements by 50%, has been developed. The resultant imaging performance is comparable to conventional dual-energy sensors and has formed the basis for a commercial product. This work was funded by the EPSRC and undertaken in collaboration with the UK Home Office Science and Technology Group.
- X-ray Materials Discrimination: A range of image processing techniques utilising basis materials decomposition (BMD) for improved materials discrimination is under investigation. This work is in collaboration with the UK Home Office Science and Technology Group and was originally funded by the EPSRC.
- Psychological Human Factors Evaluation: This research is funded by the Science and Technology Directorate within the USA Dept of Homeland Security and is in collaboration with the UK Home Office Science and Technology Group. Our work seeks to evaluate the contributions of depth information to the detection and identification of objects in X-ray scans of luggage.
- Forensic Firearms Identification: A forensic technique utilising novel 3D imaging techniques and analysis is underway with Edith Cowan University, Western Australia and Cranfield University, UK.
Current projects
Research funding in the period since 2000 includes:
- Scatter enhanced 3D X-ray imaging, J P O Evans, EPSRC EP/F017596/1 (2008 to 2011), £311,000.
- Characterisation and Development of a 3D Ballistic Identification Device, J P O Evans, Lachesis (2008), £25,000.
- Germinator for Emergent Technologies, J P O Evans, Engineering and Physical Sciences (2008), £5,830.
- Material ID X-ray Imaging, J P O Evans, Innovative Research Call in Explosives and Weapons Detection (2007 to 2011), £422,000.
- 3D X-ray technology demonstrator, J P O Evans, Home Office, £200,000.
- 3D Scanning of Forensic Ballistics Specimens for the Identification of Firearms, J P O Evans, HIRF Innovation (2006 to 2007) £13,000.
- Dynamic 3D imaging for X-ray security screening: crime feasibility study, J P O Evans, EPSRC EP/C520351/1 (2005 to 2006), £74,000.
- Kinetic Depth X-ray (KDEX) Imaging for Security Screening, J P O Evans, USA Dept of Homeland Security (2004 to 2010), $458,000.
- Real Time X-ray System, SRIFF (2004), £68,000.
- Dynamic Stereoscopic X-ray Acquisition System, J P O Evans, PITO (2000 to 2002), £62,000.
- Integrated Stereoscopic X-ray Camera, J P O Evans, EPSRC GR/N08858/01 (2000 to 2002), £50,000.
Information for prospective research students
Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD or MSc by research exist in all the areas identified above.
Further information may be obtained from the University Graduate School.
