Integrating tagged neutron inspection with explainable AI for threat material identification

Shahabinejad, Hadi; Sudac, Davorin; Nađ, Karlo; Espagnon, Isabelle; Sainte Foy, Clotilde de; Perot, Bertrand; Carasco, Cedric; Sardet, Alix; Friedmann, Edwin; Poli, Jean Philippe; Delgado, Jessica; Pino, Felix; Moretto, Sandra; Mer, Christine; Sannie, Guillaume; Obhođaš, Jasmina (2026) Integrating tagged neutron inspection with explainable AI for threat material identification. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 1081 . ISSN 0168-9002

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Abstract

Here we present an innovative approach for detecting threat materials within a sealed container by integrating tagged fast neutron activation analysis with Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI). Two AI models, a FeedForward Neural Network (FFNN) and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), were developed to analyze the emitted gamma rays to identify materials like explosives and drugs based on depth profiles of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen concentrations. XAI was applied to make the models' decision-making process transparent. The method is adaptable to various spectrometric analyses. We demonstrate its effectiveness using data obtained by the Rapidly Relocatable Tagged Neutron Inspection System (RRTNIS), which is a complementary sensor to X-ray radiography for inspecting cargo containers, despite challenges such as variable material placement, background noise, and shielding effects. Our approach successfully locates and categorizes threat materials, both alone and within surrounding materials, at various locations within sealed cargo containers.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	threat material identification; neutron activation; spectrum analysis; deep learning; eXplainable artificial intelligence (XAI); rapidly relocatable tagged neutron inspection system (RRTNIS)
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics
Divisions:	Division of Experimental Physics
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type EfficieNT Risk-bAsed iNspection of freight Crossing bordErs without disrupting business-ENTRANCE Jasmina Obhođaš 883424 EK Underwater Security Jasmina Obhođaš 101121288 EK
Depositing User:	Virna Brumnić
Date Deposited:	17 Apr 2026 09:28
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/11749
DOI:	10.1016/j.nima.2025.170921

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