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SPECIAL REPORT

Next Generation Smart Checkpoint Solutions for Future Airport Security Baggage Inspection Operations Exciting Times for Aviation Checkpoint Security Shifting Sands: The Changing Demands of Airport Security From Hospitals to Airports: New Technology Can Revolutionize Checkpoint Security The Age of Smart Security The Risks and Opportunities of ECAC Standard 3

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Published by Global Business Media

Published by Global Business Media Global Business Media Limited 62 The Street Ashtead Surrey KT21 1AT United Kingdom Switchboard: +44 (0)1737 850 939 Fax: +44 (0)1737 851 952 Email: info@globalbusinessmedia.org Website: www.globalbusinessmedia.org Publisher Kevin Bell Business Development Director Marie-Anne Brooks Editor Tom Cropper Senior Project Manager Steve Banks Advertising Executives Michael McCarthy Abigail Coombes Production Manager Paul Davies

Key-LineTM : Integration Of Checkpoint CT with Automated Tray Return System The Advent of Artificial Intelligence at Security Checkpoints Key-LineTM: The Best Choice

Shifting Sands: The Changing Demands 6 of Airport Security Tom Cropper, Editor

Stressful Times The Battle Against Capacity Added Threat Changing Focus The Need for Change

From Hospitals to Airports: New Technology 8 Can Revolutionize Checkpoint Security Jo Roth, Staff Writer

Failure of Technology

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The Next Generation

The opinions and views expressed in the editorial content in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views of any organisation with which they may be associated.

The Age of Smart Security 10

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Happier Passengers

James Butler, Staff Writer

A Smart System Big Data Smart Baggage

The Risks and Opportunities of ECAC Standard 3

Tom Cropper, Editor

New Requirements A Successful Transition

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Legacy Systems

References 14

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NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

Foreword S

INCE THE early days of aviation security

present, and the volume of traffic is placing enormous

has been in a process of constant evolution.

strain on infrastructure. Existing security measures are

From those early beginnings, in which inspections

already struggling and leaving alarming gaps.

were minimal, we’ve progressed to an era in which

As Jo Roth discovers, one of the most important

security at airports is stressful and occasionally

issues is bag scanning. The limitations of conventional

overly personal.

X-Rays mean threats go undetected and waiting

However, development has all too often been

times increase. Advanced CT technology which

reactive. Change comes only when weaknesses have

is already being widely used in hospitals, can

been identified by a breach, so security operations

dramatically increase detection performance and

are perpetually trying to play catch-up. The result is

reduce waiting times.

lengthening queues and unhappy passengers.

James Butler then looks at other technologies

The vision of the future is very different. IATA talks

making their presence felt. IATA is pushing towards

of the smart security checkpoint – a world in which

the development of smart security and, while several

resources are targeted on the basis of risk, automated

elements are in place, airports are still some way from

systems push people through more quickly and

turning this into a single harmonious system.

advanced bag scanning increases the efficiency of

Finally, we’ll look at the commercial case for added

systems. To reach this future the sector is turning to

security systems. Although most airports understand

developers of innovative technologies.

the need for innovation, short term cash worries are

One of these comes from the authors of our lead

holding them back. To move forward, they need to

article. Nuctech is one of the world’s leading suppliers

see where the money will go and how much of it will

of advanced security and inspection systems for

come back.

airports. Their recently released Kylin CT brings

It is an exciting time of rapid development.

advanced Computed Tomography (CT) scanning

Technologies offer opportunities but can also be

and improved detection capabilities to passenger

challenging. Now, more than ever, operators need to

bag scans. They talk about the direction of the market

understand the available technology and how it can

and why advanced technologies such as theirs are so

fit into their strategies.

crucial to the future. Elsewhere in the report we’ll look at the shifting security challenge. The threat of terrorism is ever-

Tom Cropper Editor

Tom Cropper has produced articles and reports on various aspects of global business over the past 15 years. He has also worked as a copywriter for some of the largest corporations in the world, including ING, KPMG and the World Wildlife Fund.

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NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

Exciting Times for Aviation Checkpoint Security Daniel Goh and Yu Yan, International Aviation Management Center, Nuctech

Threats to Civil Aviation Advancements in technology offer modern day passengers many choices of electronic products and gadgets to bring on board their flights. Casual travelers can be entertained using their own personal tablets or mp3 players, whilst business travelers can remain productive during their flights by working on their laptops and smartphones. While these electronic devices undoubtedly bring air travel into an era of unparalleled convenience, they also become the choice of tools for modern day terrorists to plan their attacks on civil aviation. For example, in 2016, a bomb hidden in a laptop was alleged to be the cause of a midair explosion on board a Daallo Airlines flight in East Africa.

x-ray image of a meat grinder? The meat grinder is but one of thousands of electronic devices which could be turned into an IED by a terrorist. Who knows what could be the next preferred electronic device to be used? Coupled with the fact that typical cabin luggage is increasingly becoming more cluttered (Who wants to pay the hefty excess luggage fees? Who will willingly check in their “not-too-shockproof” electronic devices? Who wants to chance arriving at the destination without one’s checked luggage?), the challenges to detecting these IEDs are put to the test at airport security checkpoints. Initially, to cope with this threat, the US and UK put in place a ban on larger electronic devices (such as laptops, tablets, etc.) being carried on board from certain airports in the Middle East and North African regions. However, the restriction was soon lifted due to commercial and economic pressures. But the search for a solution capable of detecting these electronic threats remains.

Dawn of the CT Era

2016 DAALLO AIRLINES FLIGHT 159 BOMBING

The proliferation of homemade explosives as the weapon of choice to attack civil aircraft is also causing aviation security experts sleepless nights. The ingredients of homemade explosives are readily available in our everyday lives and terrorists are fast refining the art of concealing these homemade explosives in electronic devices. A well-concealed Improvised Explosive Device (IED) is therefore civil aviation’s biggest current threat. In July2017, terrorists formulated a bold and daring plan to use meat grinders, disguised as part of one’s cabin luggage, to conceal IEDs. “Unfamiliarity in unfamiliar items” was how a security expert described the terrorists’ well laid out plot. How many airport x-ray security screening system operators have actually seen an

Today, most airport security checkpoints still rely on legacy conventional x-ray scanners without any automated threat detection functions to aid screeners to interpret images. Even with dual view or multi view x-ray systems, the phenomenon of “cluttering” or the stacking of objects of various materials makes it difficult for operators to identify threats accurately from 2-dimensional x-ray images.

IMAGES FROM NUCTECH CT

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Today, most airport

The Kylin Checkpoint CT also epitomizes the concept of “future proofing”, i.e. its detection algorithm can be enhanced and expanded to detect future threats as they evolve. Airports need only to update the detection algorithm to ensure that the Kylin is capable of detecting new, evolving threats.

security checkpoints still rely on legacy conventional x-ray scanners without

Key-LineTM : Integration Of Checkpoint CT with Automated Tray Return System

any automated threat detection functions to aid screeners to interpret images

ECAC EDSCB STANDARD ILLUSTRATION

available technology to identify threats hidden in luggage, parcel or object. CT technology not only automatically identifies threats to civil aviation, the ability to rotate a particular 3D image allows operators to resolve accurately threats without the need to manually inspect baggage. Nuctech’s revolutionary Kylin Checkpoint CT offers an operator three images: a 2D image of the whole baggage, a 3D image and a sliced sectional image. A good 2D image enables operators to find wires and heavy metals; The 3D image coupled with automated explosive detection algorithm enables explosives and dangerous liquids to be found; and the Sliced Sectional image enables operators to see inside the item as well as threats hidden in an inner layer. Arguably, the most significant benefit of CT technology is the “automatic threat detection” capability. Because the Kylin Checkpoint CT can measure the effective atomic number and density of each object in the baggage to a high degree of accuracy, it has already obtained the coveted ECAC EDSCB C1 and C2 certification. Plans are well underway for the Kylin to obtain C3 certification in the near future. Whilst ECAC EDSCB certification primarily focuses on “explosive detection”, Checkpoint CT also needs to be able to detect other nonexplosive threats. The Kylin, equipped with Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning capability enables it to detect automatically other prohibited items, such as weapons (firearms, knives), lithium batteries and narcotics.

INTEGRATED CHECKPOINT SOLUTION KEY-LINETM

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To achieve the full benefits of CT technology at airport security checkpoints, airports are increasingly pairing the Checkpoint CT with an Automated Tray Return System (ATRS). Nuctech calls this integrated solution “Key-LineTM”. Essentially, the ATRS has a number of advantages. It automatically collects and returns empty trays to the divestment station, enabling checkpoint staff to focus on what they do best instead of acting as tray collectors. Parallel divestment of luggage also ensures that no one passenger slows down the throughput at a checkpoint lane. Three or more passengers are able to divest their cabin luggage simultaneously, ensuring that the operational flow at the checkpoint is continuous and efficient. When the Kylin Checkpoint CT achieves ECAC EDSCB C3 certification, liquids and electronic items will no longer need to be removed from cabin luggage at the divestment station. This will further improve the efficiency of the security checkpoint as operators will deal with a lower “Image Per Passenger” and the higher C3 detection algorithm is likely to reduce the “False Alarm Rate”, resulting in fewer bags being manually hand searched at the secondary workstation. The Key-LineTM Checkpoint integrates Nuctech’s other checkpoint equipment such as the active millimeter wave whole body imaging system, explosive trace detector and bottle liquid scanner At the design phase of the Key-LineTM Checkpoint solution, Nuctech understands that efficiency cannot be improved simply by increasing manpower and expanding space, which would lead to increased capital expenditure. Therefore, Key-LineTM is designed to be modular, to enable airports to achieve a balance between cost and efficiency.

NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

INSTALL INTEGRATED CHECKPOINT SOLUTION KEY-LINETM

The Advent of Artificial Intelligence at Security Checkpoints To surpass the competition, Nuctech is currently applying a few finishing touches to the Kylin Checkpoint CT to enable it to achieve the highest threat detection, optimal checkpoint efficiency and enhanced passenger experience. The key ingredient is the incorporation of “Artificial Intelligence” or AI to the Key-LineTM solution. Currently, the industry’s certification protocol of Checkpoint CT focuses primarily on the detection of explosive threats within cabin luggage. Unlike checked luggage, where the presence of weapons (guns, knives, etc) poses less of a concern to authorities, because the passenger is separated from these threats during the flight, Checkpoint CT does not omit the detection of these “non-explosive” yet real threats. Currently, the detection of non-explosive threats within cabin luggage is a manual process, relying primarily on the x-ray operator to interpret and locate the presence of these threats. So, a Checkpoint CT that has been certified by an authority serves only to detect automatically explosive threats, but not other threats such as weapons. Since 2017, Nuctech has invested heavily in using AI to complement the Kylin’s automatic explosive detection capability. AI enables the Kylin to learn and eventually master the ability to recognize threats from other prohibited items. Accordingly, the Kylin, unlike other Checkpoint CT in the market, will be able to detect automatically the presence of weapons and other non-explosive threats. For example, the Kylin is capable of detecting automatically lithium batteries, a capability that was developed in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority of China, which is concerned about the safety that lithium batteries pose in flight. The advent of AI, coupled with the enhanced detection capability of the Kylin in an ATRS

configuration, will result in a major revamp at the traditional airport security checkpoint. There is potential manpower saving for airports as AI’s threat recognition capability, CT’s inbuilt explosive detection algorithm and ATRS’ automated collection and return of trays reduce the need for manual labor.

Key-LineTM: The Best Choice In 2017, Nuctech celebrated its 20th anniversary. The company has had a proven history of utilizing innovation and customization to win over customers in more than 155 countries. The Kylin is Nuctech’s next flagship product designed to exceed customers’ expectation through the use of innovative AI technology. The Kylin utilizes two independent, yet complementary technologies – a dual energy Digital Radiology (DR) image provides operators with the ability to better detect wires and metallic threats, whereas a separate CT image provides automatic explosive detection. The Kylin is the only Checkpoint CT system to utilize this “Combo Technology” design innovation, making it the most complete Checkpoint CT available in the market. With its proven track record of listening to its customers and customizing its solution to meet local needs and challenges, Nuctech’s Key-LineTM is in a unique position to take advantage of the Next Generation of Smart Checkpoint opportunities.

Contact Nuctech Company Ltd. Company Address: 2nd Floor, Tongfang Building, Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. Telephone: (8610)627809 Fax: (8610)62788896 Email: yuyan@nuctech.com Web: www.nuctech.com WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM | 5

NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

Shifting Sands: The Changing Demands of Airport Security Tom Cropper, Editor Can airport security cope with the changing demands of aviation now and into the future?

An airport serves as a shop window for a destination and your experience in one will shape your opinion of the other. For this reason, there has been an upsurge of investment in high-end airport design

T’S THE point in our holidays we all dread. We’re forcing our way through security, we’ve removed our shoes, belts, laptops and anything else security services demand and we’re waiting for our bags to come through. Then comes a pause and the moment we realise our bags are being selected for inspection. You know there’s nothing to worry about, but it’s frustrating and more than a little embarrassing.

Stressful Times Travelling by air has become an increasingly stressful experience. With each attack, or attempted attack, queues become longer, and security measures become more intrusive. In 2017, after a study found that weapons were making their way through TSA security checkpoints, US airports introduced a far more invasive form of pat down1. Other plans have sparked controversy such as suggestions that visitors could be asked for passwords to social media accounts before entering the country2. Geopolitical events constantly impact airline passengers. In 2017, a report warned that, after Brexit, security waiting times at airports could double as the UK loses its status of European citizenship. The pressures of tens of millions of EU citizens coming through a hard border could place enormous pressures on infrastructure for airports3. This comes at a time when airports are already struggling to cope with the demands of modern aviation. According to IATA’s longterm passenger forecasts, the number of people travelling by air will double over the next 20 years4. By 2036 there could be more than 7.8bn passengers with the strongest growth coming from co-called ‘Tiger economies’ such as China, Brazil and India, where growing middle classes are fuelling enthusiasm for air travel.

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Such predictions should be taken in context and can always be blown off course by unforeseen events such as 9/11 and the economic crash – both of which dampened demand. In the longterm, though, airports will have to get used to dealing with many more people.

The Battle Against Capacity Meeting this demand would be difficult enough at the best of times, but airports have limited capacity to expand. Although expansion projects and new builds are taking place all around the world, expansion is a lengthy and costly operation with no sure-fire route to success. The construction of Terminal 5 at Heathrow was more than 20 years in the making. Its current plans for a new runway have run into fierce opposition from local residents, campaigners and politicians. Expansion projects cost money and impact the day-to-day operations of an airport. At a time when budgets are tight, airports will want to avoid big changes to infrastructure if they possibly can. The unavoidable conclusion, then, is that airports will have to get used to doing much more with the same resources.

Added Threat On top of volume and financial pressures, airports face a world in which the threat from terrorism and other criminal activity is perceived to be high, and in which it is constantly changing. Attacks in Paris, Brussels and Istanbul proved that airports remain a popular target for criminals, but the attack vectors are shifting.

Changing Focus With security screening becoming tighter, terrorists are switching their focus to those areas which remain unsecured. Here, people are gathered in high concentrations with relatively little protection. Bombs detonated here will have a high media profile as well as causing multiple casualties.

NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

Protecting these areas is challenging. Airports can install additional screening measures, but this simply moves the point of vulnerability elsewhere. Criminals are also adapting their strategies to smuggle goods through security. The ability to conceal explosives or narcotics inside innocent looking objects such as laptops has created a new challenge for security services. These have been shown to evade existing X-ray scanners, forcing services to implement more stringent manual checks5 and pushing waiting times up even higher The threat is also moving beyond physical and into digital. Cybercrime is a major issue for organizations of all kinds, but airports are particularly tempting targets. In 2016 the EU’s Aviation Security Agency launched a common strategy amidst reports that hackers were launching more than a thousand cyber-attacks each month against the aviation industry6. Criminals have many goals. Ransomware attacks such as Wannacry in 2017, for example, sought to deny service, prompting airports and other affected organizations to pay a ransom7. In an industry increasingly reliant on digital technology and data, such an attack can bring operations to a standstill. The nightmare scenario for any aviation security expert is a world in which hackers can electronically cause an aircraft to crash or to disappear from radar screens. In 2015 a hacker claimed to have taken over control of an aircraft’s

engines and issued an order to climb8. The thought of terrorists managing the same trick is what keeps security agents awake at night.

The Need for Change All the factors taken together create a compelling case for change. Existing security measures may be perceived to have functioned adequately, but they struggle to cope with the surging demand and the changing nature of the threat. Tomorrow’s security checkpoint needs to be efficient, hightech, cost-effective, agile and smart. That last word is one which rings around the aviation sector. The talk is of delivering the smart security service of the future and there are a host of technologies either in the pipe-line or available already which can give security checkpoints the technology they need. Making the transfer, though, is far from straightforward. New technologies are constantly becoming available, but not all of them work without problems. New security gates introduced to provide enhanced scanning capabilities, for example, ran into problems when they were revealed to produce ‘nearly naked’ images of passengers and when doctors raised concerns about the impact on health9. To avoid such high-profile mis-steps, the industry needs to understand the technology it is implementing. Failure to do so can create problems and can encourage managers to be conservative in their buying strategies.

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From Hospitals to Airports: New Technology Can Revolutionize Checkpoint Security Jo Roth, Staff Writer Why next generation scanning technology could hold the key to solving the biggest issues for airport operators.

Many of the most serious passenger and airport pain-points can be solved by more advanced technology, and the good news is that it’s on the way

N 2001 a stewardess aboard a flight over the Atlantic approached a passenger who turned out to be trying to light explosives hidden in his shoes. His name was Richard Reid, a self-proclaimed Al Qaeda operative – but the world would soon call him by a different name: ‘the shoe bomber’. Although his attack was unsuccessful, he did highlight a glaring gap in security and prompted the industry to embark on a fresh wave of new security measures. Reid’s plan didn’t work – mainly because the sweat from his feet had dampened the explosives in his shoes. When news broke, it attracted as much derision as alarm, but it proved two things: criminals were coming up with innovative ways to beat security checkpoints and existing systems were not up to the task. Years later, in 2016, a bomb exploded on a Somali Airlines flight heading out of Mogadishu. Investigators later said they believed the cause to be explosives hidden inside a laptop10.

Failure of Technology Both events prompted authorities to increase their demands for security at airports. For example, ever since Richard Reid we have been forced to remove our shoes as we pass through security. IATA had already upgraded its demands for hold baggage to ECAC Standard 2 from Standard 1. Liquids would be banned as it became clear that explosives could be successfully disguised as common fluids. These impositions have increased dramatically the stress and inconvenience of travelling by air. But the question is, are they all strictly necessary? One thing these problems have in common is that they are caused – to a certain degree – by the limitations of existing X-Ray scanners. 8 | WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM

Until now, this has been the standard technology for passenger carry-on luggage screening. Bags are screened by X-Ray and an image of the contents is displayed for an operative. Materials allow the rays to pass through at different speeds depending on how dense they are and deliver images of various shades. Inspectors will get an idea of the shape and type of material an object is and, if they spot something suspicious, they can flag a bag for closer inspection. However, X-ray technology is much less precise than most people would like to believe. Images are not always clear, and inspectors need considerable training to understand what they are looking for. The tendency of passengers to stuff bags more tightly to avoid paying for hold luggage also makes it more difficult to determine individual objects. This creates an opportunity for criminals. If they know how to disguise an object, it can be relatively easy to smuggle through checks and, also, it adds to the time taken for passengers to get through security. The uncertainty of the technology can lead to false alarms which consume human resources, and increase waiting times. Nobody comes out of it well.

The Next Generation Many of the most serious passenger and airport pain-points can be solved by more advanced technology, and the good news is that it’s on the way. In 2016, the press was excitedly reporting on an innovation which could allow passengers to keep liquids in their bags. Computed Tomography (CT) technology is already widely used in hospitals. It works by capturing a slice of the bag contents which operators can view in 3D from multiple angles. The image is clearer and can identify a wider range of objects and materials. It promises

NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

to plug some of the most vital holes in security. But where it will be most clearly felt by passengers is in its ability to reduce the number of false alarms. If an operator sees a suspicious object he or she can rotate the image to view from a different angle, rather than flag it for inspection.

Happier Passengers Queues will move more quickly. Waiting times will fall. Passengers will be happier. Airports may be able to reduce the required head count at security checkpoints and deploy resources elsewhere. They spend less time dealing with potential bottlenecks at the checkpoint and can focus on other areas of operations. Until recently, implementation of CT technology was held back by the performance of the scanners and their perceived cost. While offering superior scanning performance, they took longer than conventional X-Rays. So, although their use has spread for hold baggage, conventional X-Rays have remained for passenger checks. What’s changed is technology. Innovations and refinements of new products enable airports to process bags much more efficiently and quickly. They are more compact and can be compatible with legacy systems minimizing the cost and upheaval of installation. The cost analysis is also changing. The latest scanning technologies will be more expensive, but, against that, they provide value in less wastage and faster processing times. The less time people spend waiting in security lines, the more likely they are to do what airports desperately want them to do – spend money.

Over the past decades, the aviation industry has suffered from an unusual dichotomy: while demand for its services has soared, the cost of air travel has declined. Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult for airports to make a sustainable profit. A report from Airports Council International (ACI) found that 66% of the world’s airports lost money, which is why revenue from non-aviation segments become more important11. ACI’s most recent study into the financial health of the aviation industry found that non-aeronautical activities constituted 40% of revenue streams12. In a bid to cope with fluctuating fuel prices and high operational costs, the industry is striving to increase the revenue generated per customer. Reducing the time they spend in non-revenue generating areas of the terminal is one way to do this. The advantages of CT technology over traditional X-rays are clear, but so too are the drawbacks. On the one hand airports can improve passenger satisfaction, reduce operational expenses and improve security effectiveness. On the other, this will cost money and any new technology comes with a risk. The decision will depend on a number of factors including the individual challenges of the airport, expectations of passengers and regulators, and how new technology such as CT scans can be integrated into the fabric of the airport. However, given the need to improve dramatically security processes, CT technology increasingly looks like a key component of the smart checkpoint of the future.

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The Age of Smart Security James Butler, Staff Writer The smart security revolution is on its way – but how can advanced technologies help airports?

New technologies, such as Computed Tomography, are giving the next generation of scanners the significant leap forward they need to fulfil the smart security vision

IGITAL TECHNOLOGY is revolutionizing businesses in all sectors, but there can be a tendency to approach the subject naively. All too often the term ‘smart’ is simply laid on top of an operation with little thought about what it is and whether it can achieve its goals. An obsession with technology rather than the end goal itself can create more problems than it solves – which brings us to one of the most popular terms in aviation: ‘smart security’.

A Smart System For IATA, smart security represents the future. In the wake of the attack by Richard Reid in which he managed to smuggle explosives through security in his shoe, both IATA and ACI recognised the need to develop a new approach to security13. The aim is to create a ‘continuous journey from curb-side to airside in which passengers proceed through security with minimal interference’. It concentrates on three distinct areas: •S tronger security: Focusing resources based on risk and introduce technologies with advanced capabilities when they become available. • Improved operational efficiency: Increase throughput and optimize utilization of assets. Reduce cost per passenger and maximize speed and resources. • I mproved experience: By reducing queues and waiting times, security aims to become less intrusive and time-consuming. The project is very much for the long term, although individual components are in place. Technologies are improving and being adopted by airports across the world. The longer-term goals focus on taking these components and setting them out into a coherent vision of the future. This vision comes in three different flavors. The first sees passenger screening as a secondary measure only – one in which passengers walk through metal detectors. Only those who set off the alarm or have been selected for additional screening will need to be scanned. The second model sees passenger scanning as a primary model. For this to work, scanners need to become much more efficient and

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offer good detection rates and fast scanning times. These advanced scanners are already delivering results. The third would see a mix of the two with scanners used as a primary method only for those passengers selected for additional screening. According to IATA’s material for the Smart Security project14, the installation of thousands of scanners has developed advanced detection algorithms for better decision making, positive feedback from passengers, the ability to futureproof technology by adding more algorithms as the threats develop and improved detection by varying the sensitivity settings of scanners. New technologies, such as Computed Tomography, are giving the next generation of scanners the significant leap forward they need to fulfil the smart security vision. An example of where this is going appeared with the launch of Nuctech’s Kylin CT, which uses Computed Tomography technology to screen passengers’ carry-on bags. This is a major departure for airports. Already they will be required under EU regulations to upgrade hold baggage screening to meet ECAC Standard 3 requirements during 2018, but this brings enhanced screening to the carryon checkpoint. It combines spiral CT scanning capabilities with Nuctech’s existing dual-energy material discrimination technology to acquire multi-dimensional information which it can use to deliver automated narcotics and explosive substance detection. High resolution imaging technology allows operators to view images more easily with a more intuitive image. “This solution was developed to meet the current demands of the aviation market for a hassle-free security check point experience for passengers,” said Nuctech’s Director and Vice President, Li Zhijun. Automated detection and superior multidimensional image capture enable machines to identify a wider range of materials, while also reducing the risk of false alarms. It helps airports to process passengers much more rapidly and work towards the goal of continuous movement through the terminal.

NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

Big Data Enhanced screening also contributes to another pillar of the smart security concept: data. The information it captures provides airports with much more information about the threats they face. This can all be factored into future threat detection strategies to help focus resources more effectively. The end-goal is to take security operations away from the current reactive approach. Ever since 9/11, security has been playing catch-up. Terrorists develop ways to conceal bombs in clothing, so security services force us to remove it before passing through security; weapons make it through security, agents turn to more intrusive pat-downs; liquids can be used as explosives – we can’t bring drinks on board. Each new threat creates an additional layer of security. Whether these new layers are always effective, or if they simply serve to provide passengers with peace of mind, is a matter for debate. What is certain is that they increase the hassle and inconvenience of passing through security. However, by capturing more data about passengers, and the journeys they take through security, airports can move towards a more proactive risk-based approach in which resources are allocated where they are needed most. Analyzing data enables airports to assess their existing screening processes. Airports can capture information about where criminals attempt to penetrate security to develop a trend pattern of their attacks and their own vulnerabilities. Bringing this information together

from other airports around the world, it would be possible to analyze trends and get one step ahead of criminal behavior.

Smart Baggage To complement the efforts being made by airports, luggage is also becoming smarter and more technologically advanced. Smart bags carry batteries with them and can contain information such as previous travel patterns, and GPS location, allowing passengers to track their bags at every step of the way. The Raden A2215, for example, provides a USB port for passengers to charge their mobile devices. When they download the Raden app, they will also be able to remotely track the bags from anywhere. This helps if the bag is mislaid by security and also provides an additional level of reassurance throughout the journey. No longer are passengers left anxiously waiting at the baggage carrousel to see if their bags make it unharmed. They know where it is at all times. The end goal is to develop a system when interaction with security systems is kept to a minimum – a smooth and uninterrupted journey from the curb to the aircraft. At the same time, thanks to smart data, the airport will be able to identify suspicious passengers as soon as they book their tickets. Advanced screening can then quickly detect even well-hidden substances, allowing airports to focus resources where they are needed, check those passengers who require additional screening and prevent dangerous substances from making their way onto aircraft.

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The Risks and Opportunities of ECAC Standard 3 Tom Cropper, Editor Key factors to consider when upgrading to ECAC Standard 3 Requirements for baggage handling.

To get the best out of Standard 3 machines, airports will need to integrate and interface them effectively with existing infrastructure

IRPORT SECURITY is a constant game of cat and mouse. Historically, operators have found themselves struggling to keep pace with the evolving threat and the rising demands of regulators. One of the biggest challenges airports face over the next few years will be how they implement requirements to upgrade to ECAC Standard 3 for hold baggage scanning16.

New Requirements According to EU law, all member states will have to be compliant with Standard 3 by September 2020. This will require hold baggage screening to make use of computed axial tomography technology which is capable of rendering complex images in 3D. Although still a few years away, this presents a major challenge to airports for a number of reasons: 1. C ost: Standard 3 technologies are typically significantly more expensive than their counterparts. Airport operators are already balancing tight budgets. Even if managers can see the potential benefits of new technologies, they will be reluctant to invest their scarce resources unless they have to. 2. S lower throughput: The process of scanning by CT is commonly viewed as being slower and offering a lower throughput than standard 1 and 2 counterparts. To cope with capacity demands, airport operators are focusing their efforts on improved turnaround times which can open up new departure and arrival slots. Slower technology – even if it is more effective at detecting threats – will put those goals in jeopardy. 3. I ntegration: To get the best out of Standard 3 machines, airports will need to integrate and interface them effectively with existing infrastructure. This can create enormous upheaval which increases the cost of installation.

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4. D isruption: Any new project will create considerable levels of disruption. With traffic through airports rising, and customers demanding a high level of service, any disruption to operations will create delays and harm the airport’s hard-won reputation. New technologies can often create confusion and cause unforeseen problems as they become established. Operators will have become accustomed to existing technologies and may struggle to adjust themselves to a new system. Ongoing maintenance and repair may also be a problem. Many smaller airports lack the expertise and skilled staff to install and operate systems adequately. In some cases, they may have only recently upgraded to Standard 2. The cost of another major installation could be prohibitive.

A Successful Transition Making the transition will depend on a number of factors, but particularly the choice of provider and the type of technology used. Standard 3 compliant baggage screening capabilities fall into two different categories. The first is a more mature technology using a rotating gantry which has been used by some airports for many years. The second is a more advanced solidstate solution which was developed during the last decade specifically for airport operations. This technology has been developed in order to satisfy a predicted surge in demand for advanced screening technologies. It offers superior reliability and throughput, enabling airport operators to meet their capacity demands. The choice of provider will also be important. Those which can demonstrate a long and successful track record of developing CT baggage scanning technologies will be at an advantage. With skills and expertise at a premium, so too will be those who can offer ongoing advice and support about implementation and ongoing maintenance.

NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

NUCTECH EDS STD.3.1 SCANNER XT2100HS

The choice of provider is even more important given the developing nature of the technologies. It is still – in many cases – a work in progress with considerable differences in performances between the various options on the market.

Legacy Systems Not only is there a difference between older technologies and more tailor-made systems, but there are also other functions of design such as size, weight and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Standard 3 scanners tend to be larger and more cumbersome than their Standard 1 and 2 predecessors. Airport operators will need to consider the impact that weight will have on surrounding equipment. However, as the technology becomes more advanced and sophisticated, devices are becoming smaller and lighter. Failure to carry out an extensive evaluation can be a costly mistake. Aviation history is littered with examples of installations gone badly wrong – none more so than the state-of-the-art baggage handling proposed for the new Denver International Airport in the 1990s. What was supposed to be the most advanced system of its kind, delivering full automation of systems, quickly turned into a disaster. The problem was that the system proved to be much more complicated than anyone had imagined. Delays mounted up and the newly

completed Denver Airport sat idle for 16 months as engineers struggled to solve the problems. All in all, the botched baggage handling system increased the cost of the airport by $560million and, when finally opened, it was a shadow of its former self. Even then it failed to function properly. The $1million cost of running the system negated any additional value and, in 2005, it was abandoned completely17. New technology, then, can be a threat as well as an opportunity. It all depends on how it is implemented and fits in with other systems. But problems such as Denver should not distract from the opportunities the technology delivers. Indeed, success is as much down to attitude as anything else: do airport operators view this as a matter of compliance, or do they see it as a key innovation which can transform their operations? Next generation baggage handling offers a host of benefits to airport operators. It improves detection and increases safety, it shows passengers that you are at the cutting edge of development and are prepared to spend money in order to ensure their safety. Advanced technologies can develop sophisticated scanning algorithms which deliver automated detection and reduce delays. Furthermore, when integrated into other smart technologies, they can realize the vision of a check point of the future in which security is both light-touch and effective.

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NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

References: 1

US Pat Downs About to Become More Invasive:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-03/u-s-airport-pat-downs-are-about-to-get-more-invasive 2

Visitors May Have to Hand Phones and Social Media Passwords to Security Agents: https://ind.pn/2nYsrBq

Plane Passengers Could See Waiting Times Double: https://ind.pn/2Bv9TAg

2036 Forecast Reveals Passengers Will Double: http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2017-10-24-01.aspx

Terrorists Have Developed Laptop Bombs Which Can Evade Security:

https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/1/15149220/terrorist-laptop-bombs-evade-security-cnn-report 6

Hackers Bombard Aviation Industry with More Than 1,000 of Attacks Per Month:

https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/hackers-bombard-aviation-sector-with-more-than-1000-attacks-per-month/ 7

Cyber Attack Similar to Wannacry Virus Hits Airports and Companies:

http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/27/cyber-attack-similar-to-wannacry-virus-hits-companies-and-airports-in-europe-6738752/ 8

Hacker Claimed to Have Taken Over Aircraft’s Engines: https://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/17/us/fbi-hacker-flight-computer-systems/index.html

Naked Scanners Banned Over Fears They Cause Cancer:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062608/Naked-airport-scanners-banned-fears-cause-cancer.html 10

Sophisticated laptop Bomb Got Through X-rays: https://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/11/africa/somalia-plane-bomb/index.html

66% of the World’s Airports Lose Money: https://www.portcalls.com/66-worlds-airports-losing-moneyreport/

Non Aeronautical Revenues Crucial to Growth: https://concessionaireanalyzer.com/airport-non-aeronautical-revenues-growth-2017/

IATA Smart Security: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/security/Pages/smart-security.aspx

Smart Security Flyer: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/security/Documents/smart-security-brochure.pdf

Raden A22: https://www.raden.com/products/a22-carry The Magic Number: Upgrading Baggage Handling:

http://www.futureairport.com/features/featurethe-magic-number---upgrading-baggage-screening-capabilities-5724299/ 17

Denver Airport Baggage Handling Case Study: http://calleam.com/WTPF/?page_id=2086

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NEXT GENERATION SMART CHECKPOINT SOLUTIONS FOR FUTURE AIRPORT SECURITY BAGGAGE INSPECTION OPERATIONS

Notes:

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