SPECIAL REPORT
Improving Aviation Security Performance Understanding Aviation Security Improvement Balancing Act: Complying with Multiple Regulations and Initiatives How Can Airports Improve Security? Big Data and Checkpoint Security The Future of Airport Security
Published by Global Business Media
SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
SPECIAL REPORT
Improving Aviation Security Performance Understanding Aviation Security Improvement Balancing Act: Complying with Multiple Regulations and Initiatives
Contents
How Can Airports Improve Security? Big Data and Checkpoint Security The Future of Airport Security
Foreword
2
Tom Cropper, Editor
Understanding Aviation Security Improvement
3
Robert Schuur, Strategy Consultant at Point FWD
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
Economic Engine Necessary Evil What is Performance? Aviation Security Consulting Data Driven Experts Starting from Scratch Creating the Baseline Improving the Ecosystem Achieving Excellence
Balancing Act: Complying with 6 Multiple Regulations and Initiatives Tom Cropper, Editor
Conflict of Interests An Evolving Threat Expert Advice Performance Monitoring
How Can Airports Improve Security? 8 James Butler, Staff Writer
Production Manager Paul Davies
A Frustrating Experience Developing a Tailored Solution
For further information visit: www.globalbusinessmedia.org
Big Data and Checkpoint Security 10 Jo Roth, Staff Writer
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The Age of Big Data Probing for Weaknesses Improving Passenger Experience The Digital Revolution
The Future of Airport Security
12
Tom Cropper, Editor
Innovation Through Collaboration Into the Future The Birth of AI Refining Technology
References 14
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SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
Foreword I
T’S A question we’ve all pondered many times
gain valuable insights which improve both detection
while waiting in line. We’ve removed our laptop
capabilities and the passenger experience.
from the bag, scoured it for prohibited substances
Customer experience could be just as important
and removed socks, belts and shoes. As we
to airports as security. The future brings a host of
shamble in various states of disarray through the
challenges, not least of which is the question of how
scanner, we ask ourselves: is all this necessary and
airports can handle a major increase in traffic while
does it really work?
also managing to reduce waiting times. To do so they
It’s also a question that airport operators are asking themselves. Security checkpoints are a pivotal part
will have to optimise check-in security to meet the key goals of projects such as IATA’s Fast Travel Project.
of any airport. They keep passengers and crew safe
Finally, we move into the future. Technology will play
from threats which are constantly evolving – but they
a major role in all areas of the airport and some of
must also improve turnaround times to make life easier
the most eye-catching ideas can be found at airport
on passengers.
security checkpoints. From face recognition to Artificial
Our opening article comes from Point FWD who
Intelligence (AI), augmented reality, biometrics and
provide data and advisory services. As they highlight,
predictive analytics, the future for airport security will lie
a tailored approach based on data assists airports
in advanced, high tech and smart innovations.
fulfil both goals. Their checkpoint analysis tools have
The security checkpoint of the future, therefore,
been critical in helping airports to assess performance,
is likely to be high tech, smart and data driven.
identify weaknesses and make progress.
Throughout this Report we’ll look at some of
Elsewhere in the Report, Jo Roth will examine the rise of big data and how it can transform airport security.
the opportunities and challenges that these innovations present.
Every passenger journey produces vast quantities of information and digital technology makes it easier than ever to capture. Using data analytics tools, airports can
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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SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
Understanding Aviation Security Improvement Robert Schuur, Strategy Consultant at Point FWD Contact info: +316-55736223 Robert@pointfwd.com Stationsplein ZW 985, Tristar 2, 1117CE Schiphol, The Netherlands The desire to improve processes is ever present – let’s take a look at what this means for Aviation Security processes.
Every airport is unique and has its own ecosystem of procedures, manufacturers, security companies, layout, demographics etc
ACI PREDICTS AN IMMENSE GROWTH UNTIL 2040 (SOURCE: WWW.ACI.AERO)
Economic Engine Aviation is the economic engine of many metropolitan regions and the connector between countries and cultures, truly a lifeline of the world. It is an industry that is expected to grow immensely over the next decades. To cope with the expected growth airports and airlines are working to improve their processes. Whether it is the conversion rate in online booking processes or faster turnaround times of airlines, everything is focused on efficient and cost-effective processes while keeping the passenger experience in mind.
Necessary Evil Aviation security has become an integral part of the passenger journey and is often viewed as a necessary evil to keep aviation as the safest method of travel. The changes in society and the world force regulators and authorities to
continuously impose additional and more stringent measures to cope with changing and evolving threats. The result of these changes is a security process that has become an accumulation of measures, resulting in a process that can be tedious, complicated, and often time-consuming.
What is Performance? With passenger numbers on a steep rise, there is an imminent desire to “improve aviation security performance”. The question, however, is, what is performance? When it is not specified, performance is a hollow term, a term without a measurable indicator. Let me illustrate with an analogy. When you’re in the market for a new car there is a very broad pool of car types you could choose from. You could buy a sports car, a family saloon, a banged WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM | 3
SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
POINT FWD HAS A RANGE OF IN-HOUSE DEVELOPED DATA HANDLING TOOLS
Aviation security has become an integral part of the passenger journey and is often viewed as a necessary evil to keep aviation as the safest method of travel.
up second-hand car, an environmentallyfriendly car, perhaps even a self-driving car in the near future. All of these cars have specific characteristics, designed and put together by the manufacturer to deliver the desired outcome. Even though a sports car and a family van share the same basic fundamentals – they both have an engine, 4 wheels and require a driver – the design and manufacturing input is completely different. They are not judged on the same performance indicators. For a sports car, the 0-100 test is a vital performance indicator, whilst for a family saloon, crash test results and trunk space are indicators of a successful product. So, while both are automobiles, the basis of determining their performance is completely different. Meaning that if I were to improve the performance of either one, I would know that I should focus on characteristics that effect the right areas.
So, how does this relate to improving aviation security performance? Similar to cars in the automotive industry, airports in the aviation industry are all the same from a functional point of view but, however, no two airports are alike. Airports vary in size, budgets, location, passenger demographic, airlines etc., which results in a unique mix. In our vision, ultimately this should result in processes specifically designed and operated to match the local identity of the airport, its passengers and its airlines. To improve one’s security performance, one should start with determining what key performance indicators matter most. In other words: are you looking for a sports car or a family saloon? 4 | WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM
Aviation Security Consulting Point FWD is a consultancy based at Schiphol. The team consists of aviation security experts and they are the preferred firm when it comes to process improvements and performance improvement projects for many airports. Our core mentality is that our consultancy work should be substantiated by data. From our extensive consultancy work around the world we have gained a very important piece of insight: if you have seen one airport, you’ve only seen one airport. Meaning every airport is unique and has its own ecosystem of procedures, manufacturers, security companies, layout, demographics etc.
Data Driven Experts Combining our belief that advisory work should be data substantiated and that no two airports are alike led to the conclusion that Aviation Security Performance Improvement should not be approached on a one-size fits all basis. Instead, it should be considered on a location specific basis. Ever since our foundation back in 2011 by Gunther van Adrichem, who is the former Security R&D manager at Schiphol Airport, we constantly work to expand our knowledge and expertise on Aviation Security processes. The consultancy we provide to our clients is always based on a combination of in-depth knowledge and data analysis. This has resulted in a mix of tools that enable us to do our work, and take a standardized approach to improvement projects.
Starting from Scratch To understand the local situation, we need to start from scratch, with no presumptions or
SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
assumptions but an open and receptive mindset. It’s only going to work if we really cooperate with the local responsible departments, so we start off with an extensive questionnaire, followed by an interview and a tour through the airport. Eventually, we want and need to understand what key performance indicators and key performance measures matter most – what type of car are we improving. This process is often an eye-opening experience which forces decision makers to formulate and substantiate what is most important for their airport. Merely stating: “we want our throughput to go up” is not detailed enough, because, is it acceptable if the number of security agents has to be doubled as a result? or that the security lanes have to be remodeled completely?
Creating the Baseline Then we follow up with a period of data gathering and analysis; during this period, we create a data substantiated baseline of the local situation. This baseline is built based on three data inputs; data received from the airport, through our proprietary One Time Capture Tool, and by deploying our measurement sensor suite. The result of the combination of sources is represented in our security data analysis dashboard, which is an easy to comprehend visual representation of the local situation and forms the basis for the following improvement cycle.
Improving the Ecosystem Improving security performance is not a one-time effort – it requires great overall team dedication and perseverance. We view it as a cyclic process, where several marginal gains can lead to a significant overall improvement, but also where a small, seemingly insignificant change of the security ecosystem, potentially, can have a great negative affect on the rest of the system. Thus, it is imperative to keep in mind the interrelationship of the sub-processes and make substantiated decisions before changing them.
Achieving Excellence Our aspiration for the aviation security industry is to work together to achieve excellence, both from an operational and security perspective. We need to improve, so that we are ready for future growth, and we need to remain secure in these changing times. Combining the right set of tools with the right mentality can result in exciting security process improvements. At Point FWD we pride ourselves on understanding the inner workings of a security process to the fullest and in our ability to provide measurable improvements that are aligned with local KPIs and KPMs. Similar to buying a car, you want a car dealer who helps you pick the best car you can buy, keeping in mind all of your personal prerequisites and preferences. We are determined to provide consultancy that enables improvement on the security KPIs and KPMs that match your airport’s vision and strategy.
To understand the local situation, we need to start from scratch, with no presumptions or assumptions but an open and receptive mindset
Our aspiration for the aviation security industry is to work together to achieve excellence, both from an operational and security perspective.
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Balancing Act: Complying with Multiple Regulations and Initiatives Tom Cropper, Editor The regulatory landscape is about to become much more complicated. Checkpoint analytics tools will be vital for airports.
To ensure they do not fall foul of regulations, airport operators are turning to consultancy and advisory services. These utilise expertise from different areas and help operators optimise their services
R
EGULATORY COMPLIANCE has long presented a major issue for the aviation industry, but in recent years the landscape has become increasingly complicated. The threat is rising and so too is demand. Authorities have launched numerous initiatives to improve safety and performance. Unfortunately, complying with one can often make it more difficult to comply with the other.
Conflict of Interests Take a look at the various ongoing initiatives. On the one hand there are ideas such as IATA’s Faster Travel Program, which intends to increase the throughput of passengers. On the other, there are demands for more comprehensive security checks and passenger screening, improved scanner technologies and data reporting together with performance monitoring. Aside from anything else, this increases the burden of compliance management for airports. Drawing up reports takes time, and energy. It sucks resources from other areas and creates additional staffing costs. At the same time, it adds time and complexity to the security process. Waiting times grow and customers become increasingly frustrated. Airports need solutions which can streamline the reporting process, increase the visibility of data and help reduce waiting times – while also coping with a threat vector that is constantly evolving.
An Evolving Threat Keeping up with evolving threats is a major issue for airports. One of the most challenging developments is the rise of cybercrime. Digital technology makes airports and other big organisations prime targets for attack and the criminals have taken notice. The Wannacry attack of the summer of 2017 created havoc
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among organisations of all kinds, but among their biggest targets were airports. Viruses such as Wannacry work by locking users out of their computer systems. The criminals then demand a ransom to have access restored. It’s a simple, but extremely effective attack. Ransomware increased by 250% in 20171 and is now a billion-dollar industry2. The Ransomware Damage Report released by Cybersecurity Ventures predicted attacks to cost $5bn worldwide in 2017, up from $325million in 20153. The industry is making moves to improve cyber defences. Munich Airport has responded to the daily attacks by establishing a cybercrime centre of competence. It harnesses expertise from IT specialists around the world to develop new solutions to counter threats4. Authorities have also responded and have established their own new initiatives to help regulations keep pace with evolving threats. The arrival of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) brings a range of new requirements along with stiffer penalties. Organisations will have to obtain informed consent from anyone whose data they hold and offer the right to be forgotten. They will have to provide prompt notification of any data breach and failure to do so could result in fines of up to e20 million or 4% of global turnover. Compliance is made more complex and demanding by the ever-changing nature of the landscape. Authorities around the world are continuously changing their requirements. In the US, restrictions on carry-on objects have been lifted, but passengers may face more stringent demands such as the possibility of security interviews. Each new attack or report brings fresh changes. Airports will need to know if these changes are working, and how they can better incorporate them into operations.
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Expert Advice
Performance Monitoring
To ensure they do not fall foul of regulations, airport operators are turning to consultancy and advisory services. These utilise expertise from different areas and help operators optimise their services. Consultants can work individually with an airport assessing existing processes, analysing whether they comply with the latest demands and pinpointing areas for improvement. One of the most important is the use of data. Operations of all sizes have become increasingly adept at harnessing and accessing data. Data analysis tools help managers to analyse that data and gain valuable insights into performance. This is particularly important given the value of assessing the ongoing performance of both the group and individual operators. For all the technological improvements on offer, the integrity of systems often comes down to operator performance. Systems are being developed to introduce greater levels of automation to minimise the impact of individual performance variation – but the input of the worker will always be important. X-Ray operatives, for example, benefit from clearer images and automated alarms to identify a suspicious object, but much of the job still comes down to visual scanning and identifying the shape of threat objects. Performance may vary according to different parameters such as experience, or alertness.
Threat image projection systems can address these issues. They overlay fictional images onto bags and help operators with visual recognition of threat objects and to maintain performance. Because operatives know an image may well appear and that their performance is being monitored, they are more likely to stay alert and less likely to miss a threat. Checkpoint analytics tools can gather information from each X-Ray operator to illustrate performance. This can be viewed instantly with daily reports easily accessible via a TIP dashboard. This can show the type of threat – be it explosives, knives, guns or anything else – together with the decision times. Managers can view the statistics of individual scanners as well as an average of the entire group. The value of this is not just to see who is performing well and who isn’t, but to gain an enhanced view of the effectiveness of the existing system, identify vulnerabilities, spot trends and find opportunities to further streamline and optimise processes. Compliance will continue to be a difficult balancing act for operators. Aviation security is an ever-expanding landscape creating new challenges all the time. Technology and data analytics software offer an outstanding weapon in the airport’s armoury. It can improve decision making, streamline processes and optimise performance. They can deliver clear and actionable metrics which help managers to assess existing performance and make improvements.
Authorities have also responded and have established their own new initiatives to help regulations keep pace with evolving threats
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How Can Airports Improve Security? James Butler, Staff Writer In the drive to improve security measures Airports are taking a more personalised and data-driven approach.
F Every airport security operation is an amalgamation of thousands of individual operations and processes. Small improvements at each point can lead to significant gains overall
LYING MAY be the safest form of travel in the world, but airport security ranks among the top concerns of passengers, closely followed by convenience and waiting times. Unfortunately, the two are sometimes contradictory. New security measures can backfire and cause disruption for passengers. Improving security in a way which improves safety and provides reassurance while minimising disruption is therefore one of the most important goals for any operation. To achieve this, airports must adopt the right approach.
A Frustrating Experience The annoyance of the disruption caused to passengers because of new security measures is only too familiar. Take the example of the news presenter Emily Maitlis who, in 2013, was taken away to be interviewed by security because they found minute traces of a substance used in explosives on her hands. The trouble was, that substance is also found in hand cream. Passengers have also faced interminable waiting times thanks to changes in security measures as passengers to the US recently experienced when the TSA introduced new, and more stringent security measures. That frustration only grows with news headlines revealing gaps in security and that, even with new measures, the system remains vulnerable. Security is of course necessary, but it threatens to spoil the passenger experience and runs contrary to another important goal of airports – to accelerate turnaround times and improve throughput. Any discussion about the future of aviation eventually rests on the challenges of meeting a rapid expansion of demand over the coming decades. IATA’s latest long-range forecast suggests that the number of people travelling by air could more than double over the next 20 years. By 2036, it said, there could be 7.8bn passengers world-wide5. Although new airports are being built and existing ones expanded, it is almost impossible
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for infrastructure to expand fast enough. The only chance of catering to demand, therefore, is to get more from existing facilities. At the same time, airport operators are coming under pressure to reduce waiting times, and improve performance. To meet these challenges, the industry is working hard to make improvements. IATA’s Fast Travel Program focuses on six different projects to make air travel more convenient for passengers, while also driving down costs for airlines. These projects include: •C heck-in: Giving passengers the opportunity to receive boarding passes via self-service channels. •B ags ready to go: Helping passengers deliver their bags tagged and ready to go. Self-tagging can be done at kiosks, home-printed bags or electronic bag tags. The passenger then hands the bags over to a representative or at a bag drop. •F light rebooking: Getting passengers proactively rebooked and receiving their tickets via a self-service kiosk. •S elf-boarding: Offering self-scanning of bag tags and enabling passengers to spend less time waiting to board the aircraft. •B ag recovery: Self-service reporting of missing bags. These represent the goal for which IATA hopes the industry can strive over coming years, but doing so potentially conflicts with security. Operators will need to develop security processes in a way which work in harmony with IATA’s Fast Travel Program. To do so they will need to optimise processes. Every airport security operation is an amalgamation of thousands of individual operations and processes. Small improvements at each point can lead to significant gains overall. To achieve these gains, control over the minutiae of data will be critical. Effective check-point analysis tools will become increasingly vital. Cutting-edge platforms offer features such as production of daily reports, analysis, on site
SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
measurements, data control and mobile access. They help airports to assess real time performance to see how checkpoints operate during peak times, identify any problems and suggest improvements. By analysing this data operators can gain insights which they can use to restructure security processes for optimal performance. For example, by focusing on passenger transit data through security checkpoints, an operator might see that changing the schedule of security operations, or the position of checkpoints could improve waiting times significantly.
Developing a Tailored Solution In delivering such improvements, much depends on the quality and nature of the checkpoint analysis tool. The market is growing rapidly. The overall market for airport security is projected to reach $16bn by 2020 as airports invest in advanced security technologies such as biometrics, access monitoring and data capture6. New players are appearing offering a range of solutions. Some will be better than others, so the value airports can gain will depend on their choice of partner and the way in which a solution is implemented. Part of the challenge stems from the unique nature of each airport. Large or small, local or international, every hub will have its own requirements, operate in its own way and present
its own set of unique challenges. A one-sizefits-all solution will not get the job done. Instead, airport operators must make a comprehensive assessment of their airport, understand the data they need to mine, the nature of traffic through the terminal and the challenges they face to develop a solution which is unique to them. For this, they will need to blend specialist expertise with local knowledge which is why in-depth consultancy services can be beneficial. Experts can visit a location, understand the challenges and develop a unique solution. It is a question of focus and specification. By analysing the unique characteristics of an airport, it is possible to draw up a profile of the key metrics which need to be captured. It requires a blend of expertise – harnessing the best available IT technology and combining it with an awareness of the needs of the aviation industry and the individual airport as a whole. It is a partnership more than a transaction and ongoing support and involvement from the IT provider will be crucial. The market is evolving quickly. New technology replaces the old, so any new system will require the ability to install updates quickly and smoothly. Those which cannot, can quickly become outdated compared with others. The secret, for operators, is to understand the value data can offer, and assess the type of information which needs to be collected and shared.
Large or small, local or international, every hub will have its own requirements, operate in its own way and present its own set of unique challenges. A one-sizefits-all solution will not get the job done
Large or small, local or international, every hub will have its own requirements, operate in its own way and present its own set of unique challenges. A one-size-fits-all solution will not get the job done. WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM | 9
SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
Big Data and Checkpoint Security Jo Roth, Staff Writer The age of big data has arrived, and it could transform the way airports think about security.
T
Digital technology, cloud computing and mobile apps have created a revolution. Approximately 90% of all data ever created appeared within the last few years
HERE WAS a time when one of the biggest problems for aviation professionals was the lack of data they had about passengers. Now, thanks to rapid technological evolution, they have more than they can handle. This data can be incredibly valuable and deliver insights which could potentially revolutionise the security process. Today, the challenge is gathering that data and mining it for those insights.
The Age of Big Data The age of big data has come upon us quickly. Digital technology, cloud computing and mobile apps have created a revolution. Approximately 90% of all data ever created appeared within the last few years7. Depending on your point of view, all that data can be seen as an opportunity or a challenge. An opportunity because better information leads to better decision making. With more comprehensive data sets at their fingertips, managers can assess the performance of security processes and gain new insights into how they can be improved. However, it is also a challenge, because gathering all that structured and unstructured data into one place and chiselling out those insights will be easier said than done. In an age in which cyber-crime is becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the world, the way in which airports and airlines use data will also come under the spotlight. Ultimately, though, the risks are worth it. Big data can be the gateway to a host of other technologies which can transform airport security.
Probing for Weaknesses Since 9/11, and in the face of a rising terrorist threats, security regulations have become tougher, but have they worked? The one thing we know is that they create queues and frustration for passengers – but tests have repeatedly identified flaws in the system. In 2016, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) filed a report exposing flaws in TSA security. 10 | WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM
Operational risk assessments, it said, were out of date and did not address insider threats8. That same year, a wheelchair user proved that he could smuggle prohibited items in his wheelchair. Officials, he said, had not checked it thoroughly enough9. The stories go on. For every new measure, inevitably, gaps exist. The first benefit of big data, therefore, is to provide enhanced analytics of checkpoint performance. Using real-time data, operators can see where breaches occur, and if a pattern exists, pinpoint where the biggest vulnerabilities can be found. Using historical data, it is possible to shed greater light on trends in attack. Operators can see if patterns are shifting and adjust security measures accordingly. This represents a move away from the traditional reactive approach in which new security measures have followed an attack, to a more proactive strategy which tries to predict new threat trends. Just as security services have adjusted their defence mechanism, so terrorists and criminals have changed their own strategies. After 9/11, the focus was on smuggling explosives onto aircraft, but, as this became more difficult, attacks moved to other areas of the passenger terminal – moving out to the passenger departure lounges and public concourses which are more difficult to protect. Attacks in Brussels, Paris and Istanbul all focused on public areas where people gathered in high concentrations, before checkpoint security. This traditional reactive approach to security simply moves the vulnerability elsewhere. They attack an aircraft, and we improve checkpoint defences. They move to the terminal. They smuggle explosives in bottles, we ban liquids – in turn, they move to other delivery mechanisms. It’s an ongoing game of cat and mouse in which airport operators are constantly playing catch-up. It does little to prevent future attacks.
Improving Passenger Experience Another key area comes in minimising the negative impact of new security measures.
SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING AVIATION SECURITY PERFORMANCE
Passengers willingly accept some inconvenience to feel safe when they board an aircraft. However, by using big data, airport operators can improve their experience and reduce waiting times. Enhanced analytics is already being used around the world by displaying estimated waiting times. Edinburgh Airport, for example, gathers data and displays estimates to passengers as they wait in line. It doesn’t necessarily reduce the lines, but it does manage expectations10. It addresses one of the key stress points for passengers when waiting to board an aircraft – the feeling of being in limbo and not knowing when this unpleasant experience will end or if they will make their flight. Data also leads to enhanced internal analytics. Operators can gather information about every aspect of the passenger experience at the checkpoint. This can be used to assess performance, see how people are moving through the area, and identify opportunities for improvement. To do this, operators require a data management system capable of delivering enhanced real-time analytics to managers at any time. Platforms are evolving which can bring in data from across the airport and display it in an
accessible format. Operators can access the system using mobile computers and draw up instant reports as and when they need them.
The Digital Revolution It is an exciting world in which digital technology delivers the dream of a connected airport and a smart security system, but many airport operators are still holding back. The rapid evolution of this technology will force many operators into uncharted territories and there will be resistance as operators struggle with unfamiliar technologies. There are also risks. Sharing data across connected networks inevitably presents a security vulnerability. People may also feel uncomfortable at the degree to which they are being tracked. To make best use of systems, managers may benefit from tapping technical expertise from outside. Consultants can deliver tailored advice on how the latest technology can be used to truly harness the power of big data. Information is king and big data is the tool to put it at the fingertips of managers. It will help them to provide better services, improve security and ensure passengers are subjected to a more convenient and less intrusive security experience.
Attacks in Brussels, Paris and Istanbul all focused on public areas where people gathered in high concentrations, before checkpoint security
Attacks in Brussels, Paris and Istanbul all focused on public areas where people gathered in high concentrations, before checkpoint security
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The Future of Airport Security Tom Cropper, Editor Big data, AI, VR, cloud computing, mobile apps and much more – welcome to the digital future of security check-in.
T AI, data analytics, virtual/ augmented reality and cloud computing are all revolutionising industries across the spectrum and these all have applications for the aviation industry.
HE STRESS of checking in bags conforming to the latest security regulations and waiting in line, is one of the biggest pain points for passengers, which means it’s also a big pain point for airports. Finding ways to make life easier, while also improving security, is the big challenge of the moment.
Innovation Through Collaboration To address the issues, leading IT technicians gathered together in Berlin for a 48-hour hackathon entitled Recoding Aviation. Led by Schiphol Airport Amsterdam, it was intended to be a chance for airport professionals and IT experts to come together and find ways to harness the world’s leading technologies to deliver lasting improvements in the security checkpoint experience. “At an airport, it is very difficult to find a spare moment to look at what is happening in the world around us,” said Achim Tuffentsamer, Chief Solution Manager, Ground Handling at Munich. “We are involved in our daily business and we need to find time to have a look from the outside11.” There is a host of technologies to choose from the outside world. AI, data analytics, virtual/ augmented reality and cloud computing are all revolutionising industries across the spectrum and these all have applications for the aviation industry. AI chatbots, for example, could improve customer service allowing passengers to answer simple queries without spending time queuing to see an assistant. Data analytics can provide airports with more information about passengers and the airport security system as a whole. Using information gathered from passengers, airports may be able to develop risk-based screening, allowing those passengers with a high trust profile to move more rapidly through airport security. Allowing pre-checked passengers to be expedited through security lines should, in theory, benefit everyone.
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However, there are difficulties. Passengers are happy for government agencies to use their data, but are less certain about other – especially commercial – entities. There are also questions about how airports should use the data to compile lists of high and low risk passengers. If used incorrectly there is a real danger of the technology being viewed as discriminatory. Data analytics can also empower operators to make better decisions and to measure the true effectiveness of security systems. Throughout their journey passengers create vast quantities of information. Digital technology now makes it easier to capture this information and share it between departments. For this, airports need integrated systems capable of amalgamating data from multiple areas and displaying them in one place. Operators can log into systems remotely through tablets, laptops or smartphones and view quick, up-tothe-minute reports, wherever they are. The rise of cloud computing makes systems such as these more accessible and viable. Leading vendors are now offering the required capacity, security and reliability to maintain operations across different departments. The potential of the cloud has been clear for many years, but concerns about data security have held operators back. Today, though, the technology has reached maturity and offers the scale and security airport operators need.
Into the Future The arrival of digital technology sees airports moving towards the concept of the smart airport security system. This is one which harnesses a range of advanced technologies to create a much more proactive and effective form of threat detection. Biometric data and facial recognition technology can be used to reduce the time spent passing through check-in. At Heathrow Airport, biometric gates scan an image of a passenger’s face and check it against the biometric data already
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collected at check-in. In theory, this reduces waiting times, while also producing more reliable results. To set these up, airports must form effective partnerships with airlines. The project at Heathrow is the result of cooperation between British Airways and Heathrow. It benefits both parties. It helps Heathrow to improve transaction times, and enables British Airways to gain a point of differentiation against other carriers. If successful, Heathrow says it plans to roll the system out across all departures from Terminal 512.
The Birth of AI The rise of big data also facilitates increased use of AI in airport security. Each passage through an airport creates multiple data-points and the technology potentially exists to take this data and use AI Algorithms to manage that data and draw insights. A machine could detect a person’s travelling pattern and flag a trip which appears out of the ordinary. Moving further into the realm of data, it could be possible to collect data from social media posts, to draw up a profile of that individual’s personality, mood and level of disgruntlement. It could also identify people who are members of certain social groups or were prone to making extreme statements on their profiles.
Refining Technology This, of course, has enormous privacy issues, and the idea of governments trawling through our social media posts to see if we’re potential terrorists will cause plenty of alarm. Where, for example, do people draw the line? However,
this does hint at where the technology may venture in the future. For now, there are plenty of ways in which sentiment can be monitored. Using facial recognition technology through CCTV, airports can detect signs of suspicious behaviour or identify known individuals. For this, the system needs a number of built-in parameters for what would be considered ‘normal’ behaviour, as well as what would be considered ‘suspicious’. Any individual found to be behaving in such a way could be flagged up. Officials could be sent to speak to the person or they can be monitored more closely. At the very least, this is a way of refining random search techniques at airports. Although these may offer a veneer of reassurance to passengers, the chances of uncovering criminal activity in this way is minimal. Using technology, airports hope to develop a smart security system – one which could detect a suspicious individual even from the moment he or she purchases a ticket. It’s a major change from reactive and random security processes, to proactive, smart and forward thinking. The future is packed with innovations. Some will work, others will not. However, those operations which are proactive and move decisively to embrace change will reap the dividends. The challenges of the future are considerable, but the tools are there to meet them. It’s a question of deploying new technologies in the right way and creating a smart security system which helps aviation companies meet their key performance goals.
The arrival of digital technology sees airports moving towards the concept of the smart airport security system. This is one which harnesses a range of advanced technologies to create a much more proactive and effective form of threat detection
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References: 1
Ransomware Attacks Rise 250% in 2017: http://www.newsweek.com/ransomware-attacks-rise-250-2017-us-wannacry-614034
2
Ransomware Now a Billion Dollar Industry: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/REAL_313719.html
3
Global Ransomware Damage Costs: https://cybersecurityventures.com/ransomware-damage-report-2017-5-billion/
4
New Centre to Fight Cyber Crime: https://www.munich-airport.com/new-center-to-fight-cyber-crime-opens-at-munich-airport-2752364
5
IATA Long-Term Forecast: http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2016-10-18-02.aspx
6
Aviation Security Market:
https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/09/27/1133643/0/en/Airport-Security-Market-to-hit-16bn-by-2024-Global-Market-Insights-Inc.html 7
Big Data: For Better or Worse, 90% of all data produced Generated Over the Last Two Years:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522085217.htm 8
Watchdog Exposes Weaknesses in TSA Oversight of Airport Security:
http://freebeacon.com/issues/watchdog-exposes-weaknesses-tsa-oversight-airport-security/ 9
Wheelchair User Exposes Potential Security Flaws:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-34487309/wheelchair-user-exposes-potential-airport-security-flaws 10
Edinburgh Airport Displays Live Waiting Times:
http://www.passengerselfservice.com/2016/09/edinburgh-airport-displays-live-wait-times-for-passengers/ 11
Recoding Aviation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYdpygLE-TM
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British Airways Rolls Out New Biometric Self Boarding Gates:
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/british-airways-roll-out-new-12861440
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