SPECIAL REPORT: IT
Firm but fair A
irport checkpoints arguably provide aviation’s crucial first line of defence against attack, and with terrorists becoming increasingly inventive in their methods, the need to develop new security enhancing technology to combat emerging
threats is never ending. Each new terrorist attack adds to the complexity of necessary
threat detection systems. For example, when MI5 and the British police uncovered the liquid bomb plot in London in August 2006, liquid threat prevention joined the growing list of security concerns. The bottom line, in order to counter the increased danger of these
sophisticated emerging threats, the most innovative screening technologies must be developed.
New phases in design and development Next generation security checkpoints will look to utilise highly secure advanced technologies that offer new phases in design and development. Today’s checkpoints are able to screen and inspect more than just
baggage and people. Indeed, security officials at checkpoints can now scan high volumes of people, cargo, baggage and vehicles using a variety of specialist equipment ranging from hand-held detectors, vehicle gantry scanners and mobile detection systems to full body-scanners. And as a result, it is now possible, for example, for a vehicle in a
public facility to be screened for hidden explosives and weapons, without the occupants having to get out. Such advanced systems could potentially prevent such incidents
as the 2007 Glasgow Airport terrorist attack, when a Jeep Cherokee, suspected to be packed full of gas cylinders, crashed into the terminal building. The latest advanced systems can be deployed at various locations
on the airport site. However, because it is now necessary to search for broader types of dangers – such as liquid bombs, bio hazardous materials and more creative illegal substances – no one screening system fits all. And while they all have excellent detection for their respective
uses, most are not interchangeable and this is something that needs to be rectified. Nevertheless, a comprehensive and reliable security system
can be realised through integrating these various people, baggage and cargo systems with software solutions, to feed back to a central processing station. In addition to the checkpoint of tomorrow being widely
deployed and able to cope with a vast number of dangers, they must provide higher-level X-ray images to enhance their threat detection capabilities.
52 AIRPORT WORLD/OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2010
What technologies will the security checkpoints of tomorrow boast and will they be more passenger friendly than today? Rapiscan’s Peter Kant provides some insight.
Multiple C-ray angles can determine how the rays bounce and
bend, resulting in clear material classification, which leads to lower false alarm rates and the ability to differentiate substances (metals from explosives, for example). The high-resolution images mean that, in the case of cargo
containers, for instance, there is no need for time consuming manual inspections and the actual scanning time is lessened, producing faster throughput.
Checkpoint efficiency Managing the efficient and steady flow of passengers through security checkpoints, at the same time as providing a positive passenger experience, is essential to the smooth running of any airport. In the near future, scanners will look to use automatic threat
recognition, as opposed to images, in order to identify potential threats. Fully automated checkpoints will mean advanced features, such as automatic threat recognition and automatic bag and bin handling systems (eliminating the third party from having to remove the threat). Fundamentally, the fully automated checkpoint will allow people
to pass through more quickly, quickening throughput and increasing passenger and staff satisfaction overall. As a result of these advancements, the checkpoint of tomorrow
must possess enhanced operational efficiency (faster throughput with lower staffing requirements), whilst ensuring that people feel secure and calm whilst passing through. Travelling can create a lot of stress and confusion, particularly for
passengers at airports where they face numerous security demands, so new screening technologies must endeavour to be as efficient and stress-free as possible. Leading designs must be able to efficiently and quickly guide
people through advanced gating and signage systems; this in turn will dramatically speed up passenger throughput, meaning a more positive experience for passengers and checkpoint staff alike.
Futuristic features Fans of science fiction might recall the screening approach in the sci-fi movie ‘Total Recall’. Passengers pass calmly through a corridor, seamlessly screened while they walk, without stopping to put their carry-on bags through an X-ray machine. Needless to say, they do not remove their shoes, water bottles or
take laptops out of their bags. There are no lines, no delays, and no screening personnel. How close are we likely to get to such a futuristic scenario? One
aspect of the vision – groups of passengers moving en masse while being screened in real time and being flagged for further
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