09:52 GMT, June 22, 2010 Seeing through walls may need super powers, unless you have the new Wall Analyser from Ultrafine Technology. Using high frequency radio waves, the portable Ultraview PR-1 can clearly visualise the interior structure of a wall – and even see objects immediately beyond.

This can have immense benefits for specialist defence applications, such as when special forces need to breach a wall for rapid entry of personnel, known as Explosive Method of Entry (EMoE). Using the Wall Analyser it is simple to determine the thickness and construction of the wall, allowing accurate calculation of the charge required.

Another ideal application is for security services undertaking covert surveillance and who need to drill silently through a wall in order to insert a miniature camera or microphone. Knowledge of the thickness of the wall is essential when drilling, to ensure that the exit hole can be made small enough to avoid detection.

It is also very helpful to know that the position chosen is not obstructed by a pipe or cable for example and that there is nothing mounted on the back of the wall that could impede sound or vision.

Leading edge technology

In operation, a hand-held scanner is simply rolled across the surface of the wall, and an image of its internal structure appears on the data logger’s LCD screen. The image is generated from reflections of the radio waves from interfaces between different materials, so that wall layers, the edge of the wall and any cavities or pipework etc can easily be seen and measured.

Specially developed by Ultrafine Technology, the battery operated Wall Analyser PR-1 has a depth range of up to 500 mm, and works on all wall types, including cavity walls. The use of advanced high frequency technology makes its resolution precise enough for accurate measurement of wall thickness. Breakthroughs in antenna design also allow the scanner to be compact and lightweight.

Although the Wall Analyser was developed to work with Ultrafine’s silent drilling equipment for surveillance operations, there are other areas where knowledge of the internal structure of a wall can prove invaluable. One application is for law enforcement agencies wanting to scan walls for possible cavities which might be used to hide illicit substances, cash etc. Such cavities will clearly show up in scans, although it is not possible to see what they contain.

Ease of use

Custom designed software in the Wall Analyser data logger makes it possible to record, recall, process and calibrate the data. A keyboard is provided for note taking, and the whole kit is supplied in a soft transit case containing everything needed, without the requirement for a separate laptop computer.

Although the Wall Analyser is easy to use, to help users quickly benefit from its full capabilities Ultrafine offers a free one day training course on how to interpret the data logger images. This training can be combined with Ultrafine’s other courses, which include silent drilling and concealment techniques.