The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced this week that that they will begin testing five advanced technologies to enhance control to secure areas of airports. The pilot programs are taking place at five different airports, and two involve access to cargo warehouses.
The programs test a variety of new technologies, including RFID cards (Radio Frequency Identification), video surveillance, biometrics like iris scans and hand geometry.
According to TSA the following airports will pilot the following technologies:
Per TSA, the test at JFK is being done in conjunction with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. People who are authorized to enter the secure area will have a personal radio-frequency identification card and will need to have their fingerprint scanned prior to gaining access. In addition, the TSA will deploy a "state-of-the-art video surveillance system to monitor access." The barrier-free area is within the cargo warehouse.
At Denver, a barrier-free boundary surrounding a cargo warehouse at the airport will be tested using technology including ultrasonic emitters and microwave sensor. In this test, all persons who are authorized to enter the secure area must to have their fingerprint scanned by a fingerprint reader prior to gaining access. Advanced video surveillance system will also be installed to monitor access.
Logan International Airport in Boston will test a new "water perimeter intrusion detection system." At Logan, the Massachusetts Port Authority and TSA have already recruited clam diggers who work along the airport's water boundary to be an additional set of "eyes and ears" to monitor and report suspicious activities in the area. The new system will provide the clam diggers (all of whom have undergone background checks) with GPS voice recognition cell phones to report any trouble as well as infrared intrusion detection system that will identify authorized individuals near active runaways.
In Orlando, TSA will test equipment that monitors access of vehicles into secure areas of the airport. TSA will be analyzing the use of a dual iris scan recognition reader at a vehicle access gate to allow only authorized personnel and vehicles through the gate.
Salt Lake City will focus on enhancing access control to the baggage area entrance which is part of the non-public, secure side of the airport. The technologies will include a hand geometry reader and a video motion surveillance analysis system to prevent personnel from "piggybacking" through the door.
These technologies will be tested to determine both their effectiveness and impact on airport operations. TSA will collect and share data on the various technologies with the industry so they may utilize it for future projects.
For more information regarding TSA, visit www.tsa.gov.
