Robust, state-of-the-art physical security programs are crucial for any business to flourish. Without being on top of the leading physical security protocols of the day, no industry will meet the demands of today. The air travel industry is no different.
In a new piece for Airport Technology, Jon Hill, transport and public safety account executive at Genetec, explains how harnessing physical security data is transforming the air passenger experience.
“As management consultancy Avasant notes in its report on the evolution of airports, advances in technology now ‘enable integration of informational, operational, and customer integration platforms in a way which was unthinkable even a decade ago, ” Hill writes. “The key to unlocking this integration relies on the availability of adequate data. One area where modernizing infrastructure can have a significant payoff is in unifying physical security systems on an open platform which integrates data from multiple airport systems.”
Constantly evolving security concerns
Hill says that this approach will enable airports to stay abreast of what feels like a constantly evolving security — and airport — atmosphere. Airports need to put in place integrated, unified systems, which emphasize safety and efficiency, and ultimately improve the overall experience for the traveler engaging with the airport.
For Hill, unity is the key.
“Unifying physical security systems involves shifting from siloed, standalone systems to an open platform that brings together an airport’s video management systems (VMS), access control systems, airside and perimeter intrusion detection systems, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and other functions in a single interface,” he writes. “Once unified, the system provides a complete picture of what’s happening across the entire connected environment at any given moment, along with the tools to respond in real-time, all from one screen.”
This kind of seamless system will leverage various “intrusion detection technologies” — think radar, fence, and drone detection systems.
By putting each of these in concert with one another, airport security officials will be able to stay on top of threats that are often operating simultaneously.
“When automatically tracked on geographical maps, moving targets can be intuitively displayed and validated against the automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) position of aircraft, so airport security personnel can assess and respond to threats more quickly and instantly recognize friendly aircraft to reduce false alarms,” he adds.
Collaboration will keep everyone safe in the sky
Above all, this collaborative approach means to ensure passengers, staff, and an airport’s property are protected from any kind of threat. This involves bringing complex sets of data together in one place.
“Data from flight information systems (FIS), airport operations databases (AODB), visual docking guidance systems (VDGS), baggage handling systems (BHS), ADS-B and more, can all be integrated with an open, unified security platform to deliver real-life use cases,” he concludes.
For a modern airport, security threats mean more than just a physical hijacking.
Hacks that target systems that were once siloed away from one another can endanger lives and disrupt people’s abilities to get from point A to point B.
By centralizing all of these different departments — and putting them and their data in conversation with one another — means air travel in the 21st century will stand safe and secure.
Peter Cavicchia II 