Next Generation Airports :: Security

 

The most important aspect of the security system at airports is the people. Not only at airport, but one can see the long queues, snaking through behind the checking point, at the Metro stations and Railway stations (although at most of the railway stations, even such basic security is absent). The similar scenario can also be observed at some prominent markets, where security has been tightened due to terrorist threats…

Let’s try to picture the life of those security personnel, who stands on duty of frisking and checking each person passing through. Day after day, they do the same monotonous jobs of frisking people. Let’s try and do an estimate of how many people he/she frisk on a busy day. In an ever busy airport, the security person, let’s say, take 35-45 seconds to check a human body manually, after he has been through the metal detectors. This would result in more or less 100 people an hour, i.e. 800 people (assuming approx. 8 hours duty)…. This routine is day in day out, a routine. It is understandable, under such circumstances, should he/she make a mistake here or there.

Obviously, we understand what it means for the security of airport or any such place.

SOLUTION

Imagine a long enough passage, entry of about the size of the metal detector doors itself, but the length of the same to be around several meters. Think of it as an extended version of a metal detector, but one which detect a hell lot more than just that.

This is how the system would work. An average passenger is a human + personal belongings (in pockets) + baggage. After checking in and confirming his/her tickets, when the passenger would move ahead for security check, he would have two systems in front of him. One would be X-ray machine, etc. for the baggage and another would be a tunnel (let’s call it SecuTunnel) for the passenger’s checking.

SecuTunnel would have in-built sensors for detecting metal, explosive material, drugs, weapons and all the kinds of things which need to be checked for security purpose. It will also have cameras to analyze the body language to detect suspicious behavior. All of this can be customized by prescreening of passengers, who are going inside the SecuTunnel. This can be achieved by obtaining the passenger’s information beforehand and employing it when person in question is going through security drill. The SecuTunnel itself will have alarm facility in case it detects anything. This would do away with manual errors. Nevertheless, the security person would supervise the system’s working while someone is going through. Security guard would be stationed at the exits in case someone with suspicious material is detected. 

The most interesting thing about SecuTunnel would be that multiple numbers of people can pass through simultaneously through it. Each person, simultaneously, would be individually checked through whole process. Instead of being of size of metal detectors, they can be wider, accommodating more people at once. For multiple security cover, they can be present at various parts of airport like escalators, moving walkways or even aerobridge.

In case of railway stations, such system can be present at bridge, which connects the platforms and/or the staircase.

Imagine the swiftness with which the problem long queues can be solved through such a solution.