Airports of Thailand (AOT) operates six of the country’s 
international airports, including the two busiest: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) in Bangkok. With rising passenger and cargo volumes, these airports serve as key national gateways and logistics hubs across Southeast Asia.

To safeguard critical infrastructure and support seamless airside operations, AOT is responsible for monitoring all vehicles entering restricted zones. These include catering trucks, service vehicles, and cargo hauliers that cross from landside into airside each day. As traffic volumes grew, AOT recognised the need to modernise its approach and reduce reliance on manual inspections.

At peak times, between 200 and 300 vehicles pass through each landside-to-airside checkpoint every day. Manual inspections were time-consuming, resource-intensive, and increasingly misaligned with the pace and scale of modern airport operations.

AOT required a high-performance screening system capable of:

• Processing large volumes of vehicles without slowing airport operations.
• Detecting concealed threats, including dense and shielded items.
• Operating safely in confined and busy areas.
• Being deployed and maintained with minimal disruption.

The solution needed to meet strict aviation safety standards, integrate into daily operations, and be supported by a responsive local service team.

In July 2023, AOT deployed five units of Smiths Detection’s HCVM XT across key airside access points at BKK and DMK airports. These mobile, high-energy X-ray systems are designed to scan vehicles for hidden threats quickly, safely, and with minimal manual intervention.

The HCVM XT was selected for its unique combination of mobility, power, and safety, offering:

• Rapid deployment and relocation, with minimal setup time and no permanent infrastructure.
• Penetration of up to 330mm of steel, enabling detection of concealed items in heavily shielded vehicles.
•  viZual™ dual-energy colour imaging, allowing discrimination of organic and inorganic materials.
• iCMORE™ providing automatic detection of radioactive materials.

This was the first-ever deployment of cargo inspection systems (CIS) for airside vehicle screening in Thailand, representing a major milestone for both AOT and the region’s aviation sector.

The five control post sites selected for installation were all active 24/7. This required overnight installation work and sensitive coordination to avoid service disruption. Smiths Detection managed the project from end to end, including:

• Pre-installation planning and site modelling.
• Coordination with AOT’s airport operations and safety teams.
• Overnight system delivery, shielding wall construction, and commissioning.
• Local training and handover to operational teams.

The project was delivered on schedule and without operational impact, meeting both performance and safety expectations.

Since installation, the HCVM XT systems have enabled AOT to:

• Reduce reliance on manual inspections, cutting screening times significantly.
• Process up to 300 vehicles per checkpoint per day, improving flow and throughput.
• Improve detection performance, helping to secure sensitive airside zones.
• Reduce staffing demands, HCVM XT systems are designed to be operated by as few as two people.
• Maintain continuous uptime, with the support of Smiths Detection’s local service team.

AOT has improved its ability to secure restricted zones without compromising operational flow, marking a significant advance in Thailand’s airport screening capability.

AOT selected Smiths Detection following a competitive review, citing the following key differentiators:

• Mobility: The HCVM XT’s trailer-based design allowed fast, flexible deployment across multiple sites.
• Image quality: High-resolution dual-energy imaging supports accurate threat detection in real time.
• Safety and performance: Designed to operate in sensitive airport environments with minimal footprint.
• Local presence: Smiths Detection provided a 24/7 service team, achieving top marks in AOT’s procurement evaluation.
• Proven aviation expertise: A trusted global partner in airport security with a strong presence across Asia.
• Innovative capability: iCMORE™ and viZual™ technologies delivered enhanced detection with operational efficiency.