AIRPORT SECURITY: COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION
Graeme Harrison discusses the importance of building the right technology into airports and how effective communication can be the difference between success and failure during an emergency.
he world of air travel has changed completely over the last decade. Airports around the world have been transformed with the introduction of high tech safety and security systems. Body scanners, biometric readers, iris recognition systems, CCTV cameras and even behavioural screening technology are now all part of a massive safety and security operation that aims to identify and manage issues before they become a problem. Mountains of data are produced not only by these technical systems, but also by human intelligence, which all need to be collated and analysed quickly and accurately by airport staff. However, while the data is crucial to identify any potential threats, in the event of an alert, what is required is that the right messages be delivered to the right location at the right time. This minimises disruption and ensures a ‘business as usual’ attitude even in a major crisis. This includes transferring the travelling public from the scene to a safe zone and moving experts in as quickly as possible. What is needed, therefore, is a communication system that
T December 2011 Aviationsecurityinternational
is able to organise human traffic quickly and efficiently.
All-in-One Communication In these days of heightened transporta- tion security, clear communication is more essential than ever. Public address, paging, messaging and music systems must do more than facilitate travel. Mumbled passenger
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...airports are structures unlike any other buildings, in that virtually all of their users are unfamiliar with the surroundings...”
announcements over crackling speakers can be hard to understand and easily missed when competing with loud background noises and the multi-sensory distractions within airports. Crisp, clear audio that cuts
through audio congestion is vital to manag- ing communications for both everyday and unexpected events. What is more, airports are structures unlike any other buildings, in that virtually all of their users are unfamiliar with the surroundings. They feature a myriad of terminals, walkways, security zones, lounges, shopping areas, restaurants, runways and even bus and train terminals. Even a frequent traveller that regularly uses a particular airport will only be familiar with a fraction of the vast structure. This means in case of an emergency or security alert, risk managers cannot afford to assume that the public has any familiarity with the surroundings.
It is clear to see, therefore, that the traditional ‘ringing bell’ alarm system for use as a security alert is now woefully inadequate. A bell cannot inform travellers or staff of specific threats and how to act. In case of an incident in one area, it is important to be able to inform people on the ground quickly and efficiently on what to do and where to go, without causing chaos or disruption elsewhere in the facility.
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