Multi-scanner networked systems for performing material discrimination processes on scanned objects

A scanning system, comprising:

• two or more scanners, wherein each of the two or more scanners is configured to scan at least one of a plurality of containers, generate scan data, and communicate the scan data to a network;
• a data switch configured to receive the scan data via the network;
• a dispatcher in data communication with the data switch;
• an imaging device configured to capture images of characters associated with each of the plurality of containers;
• at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in data communication with the dispatcher, wherein the dispatcher is configured to cause scan data to be sent to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to i) generate optical character recognition data indicative of the characters associated with each of the plurality of containers ii) execute a material discrimination process on the scan data and iii) execute an automated detection process on the scan data;
• and
• one or more operator workstations in data communication with the network and configured to receive and display the scan data to one or more operators, wherein the one or more operator workstations are physically remote from the at least one processor, wherein the two or more scanners are each physically remote from the at least one processor, wherein data flow between any of the two or more scanners, the dispatcher, the at least one processor, and any of the one or more operator workstations are mediated through the data switch, and wherein the dispatcher is further configured to execute a process for automatically allocating the scan data to at least one of the one or more operator workstations for analysis, to make the scan data available to the one of the one or more operator workstations, to receive and direct the data indicative of the characters associated with the at least one of the plurality of containers and data indicative of manifest information related to the cargo and to generate a hybrid set of scan data by combining a threat object image from a library of threat object images with a portion of the scan data.