"Biometrics Will Become Common For Airport Employees"

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Biometrics Will Become Common For Airport Employees
Airport Security Report


More than half of all U.S. airports are expected to be using biometrics
identifiers to control employee access to restricted areas within two
years, according to an industry survey. 

Fingerprint (67 percent), hand geometry (17 percent) and facial
recognition (8 percent) are the most frequently used biometrics
identifiers for employee access control at airports, said the survey,
conducted on behalf of several industry stakeholders, including the
Airports Council International (ACI). 

For passengers, airports expect to employ fingerprinting (24 percent),
iris matching (24 percent) and facial recognition (6 percent)
technologies. 

The survey also concentrated on technology and networking costs at
airports. Airports worldwide are estimated to invest nearly US$2 billion
in information technology and telecommunications for each of the next
two years, the survey said. 

"Not only will [information technology] be crucial to bolstering
security in the years to come but it must also further reduce costs
across the airport and, perhaps most essentially, provide passengers
with a seamless journey," said Robert J. Aaronson, ACI's director
general. 

Information technology projects were rated the top investment priority,
closely followed by security-related solutions, passenger and baggage
processing and the integration of current systems. Improvements in
operational efficiency ranked the lowest priority.

   * Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field Airport (BOI) in Idaho will test a
system that combines fingerprint biometrics and radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology to control vehicle access. 

   * Miami International Airport (MIA) will test a new system that will
incorporate advanced video analysis and other technology to detect
intruders at the perimeter. 

   * Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) will demonstrate a
detection system using advanced video analysis to differentiate between
authorized and non-authorized access to secured areas. 

   * Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) will test a system using
fingerprint biometrics technology to allow only authorized persons to
access secure areas of the airport. 

   * Savannah International Airport (SAV) will focus on advanced video
surveillance technology to allow only authorized personnel to operate a
cargo elevator that provides access to secure areas of the airport. 

   * Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) will evaluate new
RFID and wireless fingerprint biometrics technology intended to enhance
the level of security at a vehicle gate. 

   * T.F. Green Airport (PVD) will focus on controlling access to a
secure area via an iris recognition system. In addition, the entrance
will employ anti- piggybacking detection (stopping more than one vehicle
from gaining entrance at a time). 

   * Tampa International Airport (TPA) will test the viability of
portable card readers and fingerprint recognition technology at a
vehicle gate. 

Source: Transportation Security Administration 


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