"Los Angeles Mayor's Airport-Security Plans Rely on Nonexistent Technology"

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

Los Angeles Mayor's Airport-Security Plans Rely on Nonexistent Technology
The Los Angeles (CA) Daily News


New security measures called for in Mayor James Hahn's $9.1 billion Los
Angeles International Airport modernization plan require technology that has
yet to be invented or is only in the conceptual stage, the Daily News
learned Monday.

City officials, already facing serious questions about their proposed
security measures, acknowledged that the potential cost of new technology if
it becomes available could drive up the price tag.

Among the items not available are facial recognition, license plate readers,
intelligent surveillance cameras, face-in-the-crowd software and
nonintrusive vehicle and cargo inspection systems.

Despite official assurances LAX security could be improved using current
technology, critics seized on the new questions as more evidence that the
costly planning process is flawed.

"I'm concerned they haven't looked at everything we should, such as separate
routes for truck hauling and the retrofit of buildings," said Councilwoman
Cindy Miscikowski, who represents the LAX area.

"We have all this security based on devices that haven't been fully
developed or costed out. It's a concern we have to address. These are issues
that must be dealt with before we proceed."

The modernization plan that would take more than a decade to complete seeks
to deal with airline safety by separating and expanding runways and seeking
to improve security while limiting passenger growth.

City officials said that to meet the heightened security demands as a result
of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, they based much of the plan on new
technology.

"The answer is that not all we want is available today," said Airport
Commission President Ted Stein.

"If, today, I could magically add water and everything will be there, I
would do it. But, with saying that, the equipment we have today would be
able to do the job we need. And, having a separate facility for passengers
and luggage will increase security tremendously."

Hahn was on vacation Monday. Deputy Mayor Matt Middlebrook said technology
was not the issue.

"You could build the plan the mayor envisions with the necessary security
today," Middlebrook said. "But are there going to be opportunities with
improved technology? Absolutely."

In its report on security, the firm Science Application International Corp.
notes that many devices are still in the development stage.

Josh Schubring, a security analyst working for the firm on the LAX project,
said each piece of technology proposed for the airport is at least in the
"conceptual" stage.

"We can't predict where technology will be in 12 years," Schubring said.
"Short of that, we're in the technology business and on the cutting edge and
we know where the technology is headed. But to give specifics, no one can
say that."

Jack Riley, a researcher at the Rand Corp., which has questioned part of the
LAX security planning, said it is a difficult area to deal with.

He said he has read and studied many of the security proposals -- some of
which are being used in high-demand areas such as the White House.

"But I think as far as real-time commercial applications, many are several
years away if not longer," Riley said. "Many of these are years away from
reasonable use and application."

The Rand Corp. review of the preliminary LAX plans was critical of the
proposals, but Riley said it was intended to offer a starting point for
discussion on security issues.

"What we proposed was systems already in place," Riley said.

One example of technology under testing is the facial recognition system
that has been researched at the federal level for years and new firms have
been started to try to market it.

"The technology is at a very preliminary stage," Riley said. "To my
knowledge, there hasn't been validations work done, meaning that it is not
widely accepted."

There are questions over whether the system could be fooled by someone
either growing or shaving a beard or moustache or making other changes.

In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union has questioned whether the
system invades a person's privacy. In a May 2002 report, it said there needs
to be careful scrutiny of such a system before it is put into use.

"In particular, a technology's intrusiveness must be balanced against the
security benefits it would bring," the ACLU said. "The burden is on the
technologists to demonstrate that their solutions will actually be effective
in making us safer.

"But it is abundantly clear that the security benefits of such an approach
would be minimal to nonexistent, for a very simple reason: The technology
doesn't work."

Schubring said such considerations are up to the Department of Airports and
policy-makers, while Riley said he believes the issue will be worked out in
the courts.

Another factor is whether the cost of the equipment will drive up costs.

"We know what the cost is for the equipment that is out there now, that we
would have to use if this other equipment isn't available," Stein said. "One
of the differences is that we are building to accommodate this equipment and
the history of technology is that the costs will go down."

Schubring said the costs will vary even without the question of technology
issues.

"What you have is a rough estimate," Schubring said. "Once you get into the
practical aspects, that will be refined. It's a simple matter of now
estimating how many cameras you will need to install as opposed to the
specific numbers."

Councilman Greig Smith, who endorsed the modernization plan last week
because of its security aspect, was out of the city on vacation, aides said.

Middlebrook, however, said the mayor believes the plan will provide much
greater security and help passengers.

"Right now, we have a situation where you could have up to 400 people
waiting outside of the Southwest terminal. With this plan, they will all
have been prescreened and inside a terminal that is secure."

LAX UPGRADE

Here are key elements of Mayor James Hahn's $9.1 billion plan to upgrade Los
Angeles International Airport: 

   -- Runways would be reconfigured to increase safety and reduce the
possibility of runway incursions.

   -- The number of gates would be decreased from 163 to 153 to limit
passengers to 78.9 million a year.

   -- Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the northern portion of the Tom Bradley
International Terminal would be demolished. A satellite concourse would be
built west of the Bradley Terminal and would connect to the Central Terminal
Area by an underground people-mover.

   -- The Central Terminal Area would be reconfigured, and existing parking
structures would be demolished and replaced by passenger terminals.

   -- A ground transportation center would be developed for parking and
curbside passenger pickup and drop-off.

   -- A transportation center would provide connections to the Central
Terminal, rental car facility, the Metro Green Line's Aviation Station and
MTA Rapid Buses.

   -- People-mover trains would connect transportation centers and the
Central Terminal. Trains would be available every two minutes, with an
average wait of a minute. 

SOURCE: Los Angeles World Airports


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************