Next Generation Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-in to Boarding Operations

SPECIAL REPORT

Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-in to Boarding Operations Next Generation Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-In to Boarding Operations Access Gate Security Takes Centre Stage Past, Present and Future: The Evolution of Security Gates Automation: The Good, Bad and the Ugly Gate Security – the Next Generation

Published by Global Business Media

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

SPECIAL REPORT

Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-in to Boarding Operations Next Generation Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-In to Boarding Operations Access Gate Security Takes Centre Stage

Contents

Past, Present and Future: The Evolution of Security Gates Automation: The Good, Bad and the Ugly Gate Security – the Next Generation

Foreword

2

Tom Cropper, Editor

Next Generation Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-In to Boarding Operations

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Larry North, Magnetic AutoControl USA

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 For further information visit: www.globalbusinessmedia.org 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.

Material in advertisements and promotional features may be considered to represent the views of the advertisers and promoters. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily express the views of the Publishers or the Editor. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, neither the Publishers nor the Editor are responsible for such opinions and views or for any inaccuracies in the articles.

Safe, Passenger-Friendly, Expedited Screening for Access in Aviation Immigration and Boarding E-Gate Success Stories Magnetic Automated Boarding Gates Premium Lounge Entrances (and Exits) from Magnetic Considerations When Choosing Automated Access Control Gate Partners

Access Gate Security Takes Centre Stage

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Tom Cropper, Editor

Satisfied Passengers Rising Passenger Numbers Rising Threat Levels The Insider

Past, Present and Future: 10 The Evolution of Security Gates James Butler, Staff Writer

The Promise of Technology Addressing Issues Form and Function Integrating Technology

Automation: The Good, Bad and the Ugly 12 Tom Cropper, Editor

Automation in Aviation Automated Security Gates What to Watch Out For

Gate Security – the Next Generation

14

Jo Roth, Staff Writer

Biometric Security Automation and Data Analytics An Age Beyond Gates

References 16

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Foreword I

T’S A challenge vexing airport managers all over

To achieve this, they need to alleviate key areas of

the world – how do they cope with the predicted

delays throughout the process.

increase in traffic with limited scope to improve

Security gates are one of the biggest causes

infrastructure? The answer, of course, is to improve

of delays. As James Butler discovers, new

dramatically the efficiency of what they have.

technologies enable airports to improve throughput

This is what’s driving the rapid evolution of airport

times and reduce the impact of the security gate on

gate security. New technologies are creating a

the passenger journey. He looks at what the new

host of opportunities to reduce costs, improve

technology can do and how it can be applied.

processing times and increase capacity – all without compromising security.

Much of this will push airports further towards automation. This has multiple benefits of lessening

Our opening article comes from one of the world’s

the amount of time taken at security checkpoints, while

leading producers of gate security solutions, Magnetic

also reducing the manhours required. Nevertheless, it

Autocontrol GmbH. They talk about the potential

can be a controversial process.

for automation at key points in the airport security

Finally, we’ll cast our eyes to the future. Technology

process and how their innovative security gates can

is evolving at a rapid pace and one of the biggest

help airports improve detection abilities while also

challenges will be keeping pace. We will look at the

increasing the throughput of security gates.

key innovations which can transform gate security over

Elsewhere we look at why airports should be focusing

the next few years.

on security gates. They are being asked to manage the considerable task of increasing capacity, while also adhering to more stringent scanning requirements.

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 ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Next Generation Access and Security Gate Solutions for Aviation Check-In to Boarding Operations Larry North, Magnetic AutoControl USA Security, efficiency and convenience – or at least a reduction of inconvenience – are driving the aviation industry towards more sophisticated and technologically-advanced solutions in and around the airport. These new tools are able to perform tasks that once were only possible employing a human’s eyes, ears and brain power. Technology like Magnetic AutoControl’s Immigration and Boarding gates can empower the aviation businesses to get more bang from their staffing payroll, while ensuring the airport remains a safe and secure place for its customers and team members.

T

ODAY, THE overall passenger experience at airports often depends on whether people have a pleasant or poor experience at the venue’s various security checkpoints.

Airlines and airports are well aware that the choices passengers make significantly affect their businesses’ bottom lines. Because of this fact, both are diligently collaborating with a wide array of technology solution providers to get a leg up on improving their location’s service, else they may face losing market share to their competition.

Simultaneously improving a passenger’s journey and making sure the operation continues to adhere to their site’s security measures is not an easy task, as there are multiple points where airport customers may require verification of their identity during a given journey. These areas include:

Magnetic AutoControl, a leader in providing

• The baggage check-in process • Security and carry-on bag screening • Premium lounge access control • Immigration checkpoints •G aining access to the airplane at the boarding gate Eventually, redundant checkpoints within an airport may become a thing of the long-forgotten past. Today, however, security staff are required to independently check identification and baggage contents at most countries’ security and carry-on bag screening checkpoints, regardless of the fact that other points in the airport may have already completed this task for their own purposes.

This portion of the travel experience will not be addressed in this report as it is largely driven by government or institutional regulations.

At each of the other locations, however, there are a variety of methods for automating

pedestrian access control gates, has introduced flexible and elegant solutions to facilitate the rapid processing of airport / airline passengers, whether at the airplane boarding area, member lounge entrances, or at immigration

DEPICTION OF SIX MAGNETIC IMMIGRATION GATES FOR EU

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

MAGNETIC’S AIRCRAFT BOARDING GATE

With automation being applied to activities prior to the security checkpoint screening, a smoother and less hectic journey is already beginning to take shape

the authentication-and-access process, thereby reducing the necessity of dedicating an airline employee solely for this activity, and simultaneously accelerating or eliminating passenger queues. The goal of implementing such technology is multi-pronged: (1) to reduce airline labor costs, (2) to enhance the passenger’s experience, (3) to maintain adequate checks and balances for security purposes, and (4) to expedite these processes where possible.

With these goals in mind, Magnetic AutoControl of Schopfheim, Germany, is leading the way, working with an array of airline-airport-authority solutions partners to make this faster, friendlier future a reality.

We are beginning to see baggage checks become automated at many airports already, allowing passengers to check in their luggage for a flight themselves, utilizing their personal identification to obtain checked baggage and boarding documents. This seems to be improving the experience at ticket counters, by reducing lines and making it easier for people to check in and retrieve boarding credentials for a flight as well as check their luggage in for their entire traveling group at one kiosk. Airline employees, therefore, are only needed to handle the one-off passenger activities or special requests.

With automation being applied to activities prior to the security checkpoint screening, a smoother and less hectic journey is already beginning to take shape. With automation, airports are able to accommodate more volume without excessively stressing their labor force, increasing wait times, or otherwise negatively impacting the passenger’s experience.

The focus of this article discusses leveraging automated access control gates at premium lounge entries, airplane boarding, and at immigration checkpoints, because, in the same

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way that automated flight and baggage checkin have achieved, automated/self-serve access gates can speed up and improve a passenger’s overall experience, while significantly reducing the load on airline employees, and maintaining security and safety.

Safe, Passenger-Friendly, Expedited Screening for Access in Aviation Magnetic AutoControl, a leader in providing pedestrian access control gates, has introduced flexible and elegant solutions to facilitate the rapid processing of airport / airline passengers, whether at the airplane boarding area, member lounge entrances, or at immigration. Their gate solutions are fully customizable and able to integrate with boarding pass reader systems, immigration document scanners, or other technologies. Magnetic can easily pair one or more authentication technologies, such as biometrics with document scanners or readers, all working in concert in a sleek package, allowing the airline or airport authority to have a gate built with their own unique gate access requirements.

Within seconds, the passenger’s identity is authenticated in one or more ways, letting them move on to the plane, or past the immigration desk fast and without needing to be individually questioned by staff. If a customer’s information is not validated through the two-step process, an alert is provided to the authority managing the access process, so that they can move the passenger to a secondary screening process, keeping all passengers safe and secure.

Biometrics, such as fingerprint scanners, retina scanners, or facial geometry recognition are fast becoming sufficiently accurate and speedy enough to pair with traditional document scanners to leverage the multi-step authentication process.

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Also, using Magnetic’s smart photo beam sensors, included in every aviation gate, with or without an overhead thermal imaging camera, checkpoints can detect attempts to ‘tailgate’ (the process of two people attempting to pass as one) or other efforts to thwart individual detection.

Immigration and Boarding E-Gate Success Stories Magnetic provides a customizable, fullyautomated immigration gate for checking conformity between travel documents and biometric features for customs and immigration checkpoints at airports.

Our automatic inspection system has been developed to speed up identity checks during arrival or departure at airports while increasing security through biometric inspection. Passport readers and scanners for fingerprints, iris patterns and facial recognition can be individually integrated as required. The automation of identity checks relieves security staff from routine tasks, giving them more time for passengers who really need assistance.

‘hold’ on their passage by the responsible authority, both barriers remain closed and an alarm is triggered, summoning immigration staff personnel.

For example, in Dubai, UAE, since the early 2000s, the leading airline has leveraged Magnetic’s ability to customize both their boarding and immigration processes with a two-step authentication process, adding fast, biometric facial recognition to the passport or boarding document screening process.

Through the UAE’s “Unified Electronic Gate Project”, using fingerprint biometrics, all registered passengers arriving at and leaving from any of the UAE airports are automatically processed instead of waiting for human-based authentication. The data entry is then linked to a central system for rapid identification and verification.

Magnetic also has worked with its partners to implement e-gates around the globe, including Vienna (Austria), Prague (Czech Republic), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Shenzhen (China), plus the five largest airports in Germany.

Magnetic also has worked with its partners to implement e-gates in Asian, Arabian and European airports around the globe,

3 1

4

including Vienna

2

(Austria), Prague (Czech Republic),

PASSENGER USING MAGNETIC’S E-GATE IN DUBAI

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia),

Magnetic Automated Boarding Gates

MAGNETIC’S AIRCRAFT BOARDING GATE

The ‘E-Gate’ Process:  The scanner at the entrance reads and validates the personal data contained in passport or travel documents and opens the gate’s first-stage entrance barrier.  Once the passenger enters, the first-stage entrance barrier closes behind the passenger.  Once the entry gate closes, secondary identity is checked, using a biometric data scanner device located in the center of the immigration gate (i.e. fingerprint, iris pattern or facial analysis).  The exit barrier opens when the secondary identity match is successful. If the person’s data does not match, or the person has a

The Magnetic Boarding Gate offers a safe, secure automated boarding process. In the simplest application, identification is verified by having the passenger place his or her boarding pass on the reading device. When incorporated with a barrier element, this automatic checking of boarding passes relieves security staff of the repetitive task, so that they have more time for passengers who require additional or special assistance.

The Boarding Gate offers operators an integrated solution to check who is already on board, and provides an alarm if passengers want to board at the wrong gate, or in the wrong sequence – while also enabling the automated passage of authorized customers. The Magnetic Boarding Gate guarantees a rapid and simple method for expediting the process of loading an airplane while the operator chooses the methods in how they wish to use the Boarding Gate. For example, the barrier could be used

Shenzhen (China), plus the five largest airports in Germany

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

SAMPLE OF DUAL-LANE BOARDING

Biometrics, such as fingerprint scanners, retina scanners, or facial geometry recognition are fast becoming sufficiently accurate and speedy enough to pair with traditional document scanners to leverage the multi-step authentication process

to automate zone controls, allowing premium passengers to board at any time, through any barrier, while restricting later zones to board only when authorized.

With a Magnetic Automated Boarding Gate, there are multiple photobeam sensors integrated into the lane to ensure that only one person passes with one credential, keeping the barrier elements open only long enough to ensure maximum safety for the person passing through the access point.

Additional features such as overhead signage, lane control, additional validation can be added to any Magnetic Automated Boarding Gate, depending on requirements –regulatory, airline, or other authority.

Premium Lounge Entrances (and Exits) from Magnetic Business travelers help to keep an airline (and airport) operating consistently and profitably.

Airlines proudly offer premium lounges at many airports to allow their most frequent or highestrevenue customers a place to relax, unwind, or conduct between-flight business.

Access to these lounges is generally monitored in a manual one-on-one fashion by airline personnel checking whether the person entering is authorized to enter the facility. Often, these lounges have limited staffing at their check-in desk. The check-in desk also doubles as an airline service center for these premium passengers, helping travelers make flight, seating or reservation changes.

By employing Magnetic Automated Boarding Gate type as an alternate method of access control technology, those premium passengers who don’t require assistance from the lounge check-in desk personnel can enter and exit on their own, without needing to wait for authorization.

Those who wish to speak with one of the airline’s premium customer service personnel will continue to queue up as they have in the past, but will

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receive attention quicker as staff are not focused on the check-in process.

Considerations When Choosing Automated Access Control Gate Partners Airports, airlines and airport authorities know that they need strong technology partners when transitioning a process from manual to automated.

There are numerous factors to consider when evaluating if an automated gate solution provider is up to the challenge. These include: a) Has the provider been ‘road-tested’ through medium- and large-scale projects involving document-checking authentication, such as experience building fare gates for mass transit, vehicle checkpoints for border protection, and high-security government building access? b) How reliable is the equipment in the field? Does the provider’s equipment have a strong track record for low-maintenance and millions of cycles of duty without failures? c) Does the e-gate provider have multiple methods for integration of the customer’s document authentication requirements? In other words, can they adapt their designs to suit the needs of the particular application, or is the customer forced into accepting an offthe-shelf e-gate? d) If aesthetics is critical, can the e-gate provider employ custom colors, styles or sizes to blend in with the locale and décor? e) Is the provider knowledgeable about the available methods for thwarting and detecting access control system violators, and can they offer solutions for each individual situation or installation?

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

MAGNETIC ACCESS GATE AT LOUNGE ENTRANCE

If the provider can answer ‘yes’ to the majority of these questions, they are likely a very solid candidate for further discussions with the integration and interacting technology solutions partners.

Other applications include employee access, controlled exit lanes (i.e. leaving a secure area using a pedestrian gate without have a security guard to stop people going in the exit). Magnetic AutoControl is committed to helping airlines, airports and the aviation regulatory industry with smart, safe and technologically superior solutions that offer air and other transit system passengers peace of mind, expedited travel and a seamless journey. With our very powerful security and access systems, Magnetic is leading the way to the future of secure, hassle-free travel.

Contact: Larry North LNorth@magnetic-usa.com Magnetic AutoControl USA www.magnetic-access.com/usa

Airports, airlines and airport authorities know that they need strong technology partners when transitioning a process from manual to automated

With a Magnetic Automated Boarding Gate, there are multiple photobeam sensors integrated into the lane to ensure that only one person passes with one credential, keeping the barrier elements open only long enough to ensure maximum safety for the person passing through the access point

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Access Gate Security Takes Centre Stage Tom Cropper, Editor Airports are facing multiple challenges. One of the key battlegrounds which will determine success or failure will be found at security gates.

I 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 A challenge which keeps airport operators on their toes around the world. To meet their business objectives, they must improve their passenger satisfaction rating, reduce waiting times and developing infrastructure to cater for a rapid increase in passengers. At the same time, they must ensure that they meet all their safety requirements. These goals can sometimes be mutually contradictory and they all converge at the access gates leading from check-in, through security, passport control and flight boarding.

Each of these is pivotal to maintaining the security and integrity of a flight, but they can also be key to passengers’ satisfaction. Delays here can impact on passengers’ attitudes towards an airport, reduce their likelihood of travelling the same route again, while also making it more difficult for airports to improve turnaround times.

Satisfied Passengers The first question is: why is passenger satisfaction so important? That has certainly not always been the case. In the past, passengers had little choice – if they wanted to travel by air they had to accept what airports gave them. Now, times are changing. Not only are passengers more demanding, but they have more options at their disposal.

The majority of people in the developed world have a choice of more than one international hub. Airports are competing against one another and, as a result, the focus on passenger experience is growing. This also has value for the authorities in the airport location. 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.

Madrid Airport, for example, won a prestigious architecture award in 2006. The new terminal featuring vast light-filled halls was honored by winning the Stirling Prize from the Royal British Institute of Architects1.

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From the layout to interior design, airports blend the functional with the aesthetic. The press constantly hands out lists detailing the most beautiful airport in the world, showing that our expectations have evolved enormously.

Higher customer expectations mean that the bar is constantly being raised by airports.

Levels of trust and satisfaction with airports are falling according to data released by the UK Civil Aviation Authority2. It’s a worrying statistic, especially considering that, according to most available metrics, aviation travel is better than ever. It’s safer, passengers are less likely to lose their luggage and they have a host of additional services available.

Even so, we’ve all heard the same complaint time and time again: “air travel was better in the old days.” The difference is a rising expectations gap when passengers increasingly demand a level of service that airports may find difficult to fulfil.

Rising Passenger Numbers If passengers have higher expectations, reports suggest that there will soon be many more of them. IATA’s long-term passenger forecasts suggest that the number of people travelling by air could more than double in the next 20 years3. It predicts that by 2036 there could be more than 7.8 billion people travelling annually worldwide.

This prediction comes with some caveats.

Forecasts such as this have been wrong before, blown off course by catastrophic events such as 9/11 and the financial crisis. The forecast is also a slight downgrade from previous predictions as a slower than expected economic recovery and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit have put a slight dampener on demand.

Even so, airports must plan for a future in which demand increases dramatically over the next two decades, and that will be easier said than done.

Infrastructure and finances will be stretched up to and beyond breaking point. Although

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

new construction projects are taking place around the world, and major existing hubs such as Heathrow are expanding, they are expensive, time-consuming and controversial.

Heathrow’s Terminal 5 was more than 20 years in the making and its plans for a new runway face intense opposition from politicians, activists and local residents.

Profit margins are tight. Most airports – aside from some of the biggest international hubs – are running at a loss. Even those which are profitable, need to focus on non-airside revenue such as retail, in order to boost their financial performance. So, if airports are to find a way of doubling their throughput in the next two decades, they will have to do so while minimizing costs.

Rising Threat Levels We come back to the basic function of the security gate – to keep criminals out and passengers safe. Airports must face an environment in which criminals are constantly evolving ways to beat existing security systems.

With each new threat, authorities introduce new security measures and airports upgrade their security gates. This creates layers of complexity and potentially increases the waiting times for passengers passing through the terminal.

Airports must also address hidden threats such as their own employees. Back in 2015, a CNN investigation found that the majority of airport employees – even those with direct access to the aircraft, were not being screened4. It was a glaring hole in security and one which has been exploited. Take the example of the Delta Airlines employee who was accused in 2014 of smuggling a gun on board a plane5.

The Insider The insider threat is one of the biggest challenges airports face. Screening employees, however, represents an expense and additional administrative burden without a corresponding increase in revenue so, the temptation will always be there to avoid the measure. Nevertheless, the threat exists and smarter airports are introducing fast screening processes for employees as they enter secure areas.

The future, then, is full of challenges and security gates will be pivotal to how airports rise to meet them. It is creating a booming market full of new technologies and systems.

Understanding what these are and how they can help airports address the key challenges we’ve outlined in this article will play an important part in their future.

The future, then, is full of challenges and security gates will be pivotal to how airports rise to meet them. It is creating a booming market full of new technologies and systems

With each new threat, authorities introduce new security measures and airports upgrade their security gates. This creates layers of complexity and potentially increases the waiting times for passengers passing through the terminal

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Past, Present and Future: The Evolution of Security Gates James Butler, Staff Writer Why improving the experience at the airport security gate could be crucial to the future of aviation.

S

Technology makes an exciting promise. It can cut out the lines, improve the reliability of screening processes and save money – or, at least, it can if it works properly

ECURITY ACCESS gates are a common sight in airports, but it’s easy to underestimate their importance to the future of aviation. As airports struggle in the face of rising demand and an evolving security threat, access gates become a higher priority. They must improve detection rates while also minimizing inconvenience for passengers.

Here, more than at most other points, there is potential for improvements. The traditional method in which passengers queue up and hand over their passports, which are then inspected by security officials, has plenty of flaws. Passports can be forged, individual performance can impact on the effectiveness of security procedures and the whole process causes logjams and delays.

The Promise of Technology Technology makes an exciting promise. It can cut out the lines, improve the reliability of screening processes and save money – or, at least, it can if it works properly. History is full of exciting innovations which didn’t quite live up to their billing. Of these, none were more disappointing than the much-vaunted fullbody scanners.

These used advanced screening technologies to produce a detailed high-definition image of the passenger and any items they were hiding.

Unfortunately, it was a little too revealing. Nearly nude images which left little to the imagination sparked controversy and its problems got worse when they started active service.

Reports suggested that early implementation had increased rather than decreased lines with equipment experiencing teething problems.

Scientists also reported that the X-ray scanning technology could potentially be harmful to humans. The risk was minimal, they said, but statistically speaking – sooner or later – someone would get skin cancer from these machines6.

An investigation also showed that, with some

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careful placement, it was possible to smuggle weapons through these scanning devices7.

The overriding problem, though was privacy.

Leaked ‘naked’ images of passengers created an environment of hostility towards the devices and in 2013 they were discontinued by the TSA in America after the makers, Rapiscan, failed to develop software which could render the image a little less revealing.

Addressing Issues Privacy is a major concern for passengers and represents a constant balancing act. On the one hand technology gives airports access to more information about passengers.

Video technology can recognize the faces of passengers and even analyze their behavior; tracking mobile phone signals can help analyze traffic through the terminal, enabling operators to optimize processes. Data gathered about passengers can be helpful in risk assessments.

Potentially, the information can be used to draw up a risk-profile of each individual passenger. Security measures can focus on those passengers deemed a high risk.

These innovations can be used to benefit both the airport and the passenger. They can make it easier for the airport to identify threats while reducing the waiting time for passengers. However, it is only natural to be suspicious of what information airports hold, and how they are tracking us through the terminal. The travails of Rapiscan and their naked scanners shows that any innovation will have to take passenger concerns about privacy seriously.

Form and Function Assessing some of the latest technologies, it is possible to detect a progressive trend to prioritize form and aesthetics alongside function. This has not always been the case. The airport terminal and the infrastructure inside was there to serve a purpose with little or no thought about what they looked like.

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Now, that is changing. There is a growing awareness of the role aesthetics can play in a passenger’s experience of an airport.

Simple details such as décor and the design of equipment can shape how a passenger feels about a space. When Amsterdam Airport Schiphol revamped its security experience, one of the prime aims was to create an environment which was pleasant to be in.

The use of greenery, attractive wood paneling and spacious security halls looked far removed from the conventional image of an airport that many passengers had come to expect.

Speaking to the website Future Travel Experience, Ron Louwerse, Director Security at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol said.

“The next step is security, not as a necessity, but as a service. We think we can turn security into a service without making it expensive.”8 The latest generation of security E-Gates fit in with that trend. They are sleek, lightweight and futuristic in appearance. They promote an image of an airport which is pushing the boundaries of what technology can do.

It’s an evolution of thinking as well as technology.

Airports are shifting their attitude about what a security gate is for and what it should be like.

In doing so, they are focusing their efforts on passengers and what they need from the gates.

Accessibility and usability are key. It is no good providing a product with enormous technological

capabilities if passengers are unable to work out how to use the system. Something which is intended to reduce queues and improve the experience can end up doing the opposite.

Integrating Technology As airports incorporate new technologies, they must be mindful of how this will integrate into a single system. Developers are producing innovation solutions across the terminal, many of which will be interconnected and related. Airports must identify a suite of innovations which they can harness as a whole. Equally, they must consider how new systems will integrate with existing infrastructure. Those which do not can cause as many problems as they solve.

In general, the next generation of security gates offer the valuable proposition of a faster, safer and more reliable security experience. What’s more, as technology improves, it is evolving rapidly. Innovations are following hard upon one another. This creates both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, there is more to come. Airports are already introducing options labelled as ‘E-Gate plus’ and upgrading to second and third generations of the technologies. On the other, keeping pace with developments can be a challenge. Operators will need to keep an eye to the future and consider how innovations introduced today can be upgraded tomorrow.

Data gathered about passengers can be helpful in risk assessments. Potentially, the information can be used to draw up a risk-profile of each individual passenger

It is no good providing a product with enormous technological capabilities if passengers are unable to work out how to use the system

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Automation: The Good, Bad and the Ugly Tom Cropper, Editor Automation is coming to the aviation sector, but is this something that should be embraced or avoided?

I In an industry in which incremental gains can be enormously important, the cumulative impact of these improvements could be transformative

N 2017, one topic of discussion appeared to reach across all industries: automation. As technology improves it is becoming possible to scale back human involvement in many mundane tasks. By doing so, organizations can improve performance while also saving money – but the trend has its critics. They argue that it threatens the jobs of workers, and the machines may not always be trusted to carry out tasks as flawlessly as we hope. All these arguments – and more – apply to the aviation industry.

Automation in Aviation The rise of automation can be seen across the airport terminal. Self-service bag drops enable passengers to skip the queues. Automatic systems reduce the number of staff needed in baggage handling; automatic data management systems handle vast quantities of information and digital customer service representatives using artificial intelligence technology can help passengers find their way. In an industry in which incremental gains can be enormously important, the cumulative impact of these improvements could be transformative.

In airport security, automation aims to revolutionize the experience of gate security.

One of the most eye-catching examples could be found in a pilot at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in Japan where customer service robots were deployed at security points9. It was a joint enterprise between Japanese Airlines Co and consulting firm Nomura Research Institute and is there to answer straightforward questions.

The robot is connected to an information center and can answer questions about flight departures and arrivals. It aims to give people access to the key information they need to complete their journey more quickly and with minimum inconvenience10.

Gate design can also improve the movement of passengers through the security checkpoints. The latest security gates include

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smart connected technology to provide rapid multi-stage verification of a passenger’s identity.

Automated Security Gates One of the most advanced models can be found at Dubai Airport which implemented a major overhaul of its processes to develop the optimum solution for entering and exiting its terminal. Its Unified Electronic Gate Project employs the latest technology from the world’s leading developers to automatically process all passengers coming into and out of the airport.

Security gates provided by Magnetic Autocontrol allow quick verification of passport and biometric data. They read a passport before comparing the information with the passenger’s fingerprints and eye scans. This information is then fed through to a central database for rapid identity verification.

The success of this project stems from its ability to address two of the airport’s most pressing concerns: to improve the verification process and to make it happen quickly. It helps Dubai cope with rapidly rising demand while keeping interruptions to passenger journeys to a minimum. The ability to process passengers in five seconds or less is a major bonus, but that’s not the only way in which automation helps.

The E-Gates produce a number of associated benefits, not all of which are immediately apparent.

•C ustomer satisfaction: Passengers appreciate the added convenience and recognize the efforts an airport has made to improve their experience.

•P ublic relations: The installation of E-Gates was accompanied by a major marketing campaign. The aim was not just to highlight their existence and the benefits they offer, but to establish Dubai as a forward-thinking airport at the cutting edge of development.

•C osts: Automating processes reduce the headcount requirements for airports, which has a complementary impact on financial performance.

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Automatic gates can also be viewed as a revenue generation opportunity by allowing priority fast tracking services for certain passengers.

Airlines and airports which have these in place also gain a point of differentiation against their main competitors.

What to Watch Out For Against that, though, are reasons for caution. As a quick search will reveal, automation technology is not necessarily more reliable. In 2016, for example, automated gates failed to recognize passengers’ faces because the setting sun was shining on the screen11.

New technology comes with both a price tag and a risk. Installing automated E-Gates will be an expensive operation for an airport and if the technology fails it can create a serious problem.

New technology is always greeted with a certain degree of skepticism and trepidation.

Estimated process times will not necessarily transfer into reality. Companies often base their estimates on their own tests. These can rely on passengers understanding the process and using it in the right way.

However, that is not always the case. Customers who feel uncomfortable with new technologies can often experience problems. This takes up time as attendants have to help them out, and can also lead to further delays. In the past, airports

have ditched automated E-Gates because of the teething problems they caused12.

When selecting a gate, therefore, airports will need to know it can work in all conditions, is easy to use and can cope with the unexpected. Those developers who can demonstrate a successful track record of real-world use, as well as ongoing customer support, will be at an advantage.

Where problems have occurred in the past, operators can draw lessons and improve their implementation. Even those which are shown to be reliable will need a contingency plan in place.

What happens, for example, if the technology fails for any reason? Will an airport have the resources to continue processing passengers even if there is a technical problem?

So, to answer our initial question. What should we do with automation, embrace it or treat with caution? The answer – as so often – is a mixture of both. Automation can offer enormous benefits to the industry. When used correctly it can slash waiting times, improve safety and be more costeffective. At the same time, no technology is foolproof. Automation can create problems – not all of which can be correctly easily. There will also be some industry push-back from those who fear the impact on employment. However, there must always be a human element. The value of automation can be to enable airports to utilize that human capital more effectively.

New technology comes with both a price tag and a risk. Installing automated E-Gates will be an expensive operation for an airport and if the technology fails it can create a serious problem

Security gates provided by Magnetic Autocontrol allow quick verification of passport and biometric data.

They read a passport before comparing the information with the passenger’s fingerprints and eye scans

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

Gate Security – the Next Generation Jo Roth, Staff Writer New technology has the potential to revolutionize airport gate security, but only if it works.

B

The market for airport security products is growing and will accelerate over the next ten years

Y 2025, queues at security check ins could be a thing of the past. That’s the bold claim made by Gatwick Airport as it sets out its strategy for the future. They are not alone. By harnessing new technology, airports around the world believe they can end the interminable wait at security. To do this they will have to combine a host of exciting new technologies which promise to revolutionize the airport security process.

The market for airport security products is growing and will accelerate over the next ten years. A report by Global Insights INC predicts that the global airport security market will reach $16bn by 202413. Growth will be driven not only by ongoing concerns for safety, but by the arrival of new technologies such as advanced scanners, automation, AI, the internet of things, biometric scanners and much more. Much of this technology may be at an early stage, but its potential is considerable.

Biometric Security Biometric gates represent a promising technology which not only improves identity verification, but should also reduce waiting times at airports.

The technology is a major win for airports, authorities and airlines, assuming it works as planned. Airlines enable passengers to have a convenient, fast and comfortable experience boarding their flights; airports reduce queues and enable passengers to spend more time browsing in the retail areas, and authorities have the reassurance of tighter passport and security controls.

Heathrow Airport is one of a number of major hubs which are pioneering the technology.

Working with British Airways they are developing biometric gates for passengers departing from Terminal 514. This enables scanners to quickly check biometric data against their passports and moves them on to the next stage.

It’s a great feature for British Airways and offers a point of differentiation against other airlines.

Heathrow says it plans to roll out biometric 14 | WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM

gates for all passengers departing from Terminal 5. That, though, is only the tip of the iceberg. The technology is developing rapidly and airports’ ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for documentation and queues altogether.

Passenger identities could be scanned rapidly by automatically scanning their biometric data such as fingerprints and irises.

Automation and Data Analytics Airports are driving towards a world of automation in which the involvement of human operators is kept to a minimum. This reduces operational expenses, while freeing up staff for other activities.

The aim is to create automated airport security gates which can scan bags and passengers before collating and analyzing information automatically in a security database. Although human involvement will still be needed, the hope is that automation can gradually assume responsibility for a growing number of functions.

Using a combination of electronic boarding gates and self-service bag drops airports such as Gatwick hope to eliminate queues by the year 202515.

This technology does come with a number of caveats. Unions will be concerned that workers will be replaced by machines. Equally, the public will feel anxious about handing over control of a significant proportion of security processes to machines. All new technology will have to demonstrate its reliability as well as implement fail safe procedures in case problems do arise.

An Age Beyond Gates Moving further into the future, technologies such as eye scans and facial recognition could allow airports to progress beyond gates. Cameras equipped with advanced facial recognition technology could scan individuals as they enter the terminal, taking all the information they need to complete an identity verification.

Bags could be dropped off at automated checkins before people pass through automated body

NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

scanners, which allow them to make it through to the promised land of the departure lounge as soon as possible.

Many of these technologies are at a relatively early stage which leaves plenty of scope for development as well as plenty of uncertainty.

Each technology will be assessed on its own merits. It will carry a cost, a risk and a benefit.

When deciding on next generation technologies, airports will have to run their own assessments to decide if they are worth it. Those which are successful will follow the pattern of the innovations we’ve been looking at. They will make life easier for the passenger, while simultaneously helping airports fulfil their security obligations, and also increasing revenue.

However, while still in development, they are closer than you might think. JetBlue has piloted

facial recognition technology for flights between Boston and Aruba, where passengers have their face scanned rather than presenting their boarding passes and passports to officials at the boarding gate.

The airport of the future, then, could be one in which passengers undergo pre-screening before they arrive at an airport. They present their bags at a self-drop check-in before presenting themselves to a facial recognition camera at check-in. If biometric data matches the records they move quickly through to the boarding gate. At every point, they eliminate or minimize the impact of security check-points on waiting times. Whether airports truly manage to realize the dream of a security system without queues remains to be seen, but even if they don’t, they can make enormous strides forward.

Using a combination of electronic boarding gates and self-service bag drops airports such as Gatwick hope to eliminate queues by the year 2025

Airports are driving towards a world of automation in which the involvement of human operators is kept to a minimum. This reduces operational expenses, while freeing up staff for other activities

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NEXT GENERATION ACCESS AND SECURITY GATE SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION CHECK-IN TO BOARDING OPERATIONS

References: 1

Madrid Airport Wins Prestigious Architecture Award: https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2006-10-16-madrid-airport_x.htm

2 Passengers’ Trust and Satisfaction with Aviation Declines: https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/63510/levels-trust-satisfaction-aviation-fallen/ 3

Air Passengers Will Almost Double to 7.8bn: http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2017-10-24-01.aspx Most Airport Employees Are Not Screened: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/02/us/airport-security-investigation/index.html

4

Gun Smuggling on Plane Reveals Security Gap: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/30/business/gun-smuggling-on-plane-reveals-security-oversight.html

5

6

Nude Scanners May be Dangerous: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2010-11-naked-scanners-airports-dangerous-scientists.html

7

Weapons can be Easily Smuggled Through Airport Body Scanners: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/tsa-weapon-smuggling

Behind the Scenes at the New Airport Security Experience: http://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2015/04/behind-scenes-new-schiphol-security-experience/

8

Japan Airlines Trials Customer Facing Robot: http://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2016/02/japan-airlines-trials-customer-facing-robot-at-haneda-airport/

9

10

Airport Security Robots: https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/retail-hospitality/airport-automation-begins-enhancing-passenger-experience/

Passenger Fury as Stansted’s Biometric Technology Fails to Recognise their Faces: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3684112/Electronic-passport-gates-failing-glare-setting-sun.html

11

12

Two Airports Scrap Iris Scanners: https://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2012/02/17/iris_scanners_scrapped_at_two_airports/

13

Airport Security Market Worth Over $16bn by 2024: https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/airport-security-market-size

14

British Airways Launches Biometric Boarding Gates: https://www.airline-suppliers.com/british-airways-launches-biometric-boarding-gates-heathrow/

15

No Check in Queues and Automated Security: http://dailym.ai/2BqEpYj

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