As the demand for air travel surges, robust security solutions at airports have become paramount.
As the demand for air travel surges, robust security solutions at airports have become paramount. This is especially pertinent in rapidly developing economies like India, where governments and airport authorities are inaugurating new airports and refurbishing existing ones.
However, ensuring airport security presents its own unique challenges and lessons. Asmag.com recently interviewed Dhruv Pandya, CEO of eSec Security Consultants, who has completed eight airport security projects in the past two years and is currently engaged in another.
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Working around safety and schedules
For operational airports, introducing changes, such as updating cameras, controllers, or readers, can be a gradual process. This is largely due to the rigorous safety protocols in place. Before working at an airport, one must secure vehicle clearances and access passes for different zones.
"The industry adheres to a stringent security protocol," remarked Pandya. "Moreover, when operating in a functional airport, one must account for flight schedules and designated work hours. Tasks requiring equipment like scissor lifts can't be performed anytime; they must be planned for specific slots."
Additionally, escorts are mandatory in every zone, and there are procedures for transporting tools into and out of the airport. The primary challenge isn't technological but revolves around managing the pace of execution and determining daily achievable tasks.
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Engaging with diverse personnel
Airports cater to a varied group of stakeholders. Firstly, there are travelers and visitors, which include ticket holders and those arriving for boarding. Then there's the airport operational staff. Another segment comprises security and law enforcement personnel, including members from airport security, associated outsourced agencies, and private security firms.
Retail vendors represent another category, encompassing individuals at points of sale like eateries and shops. Airline personnel, including airline staff, ground crew, pilots, and others requiring secure access, form another group. Finally, there are mandates set by the civil aviation authorities and standard access control prerequisites. Each of these mandates might demand unique hardware and software solutions.
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Lab setup prior to implementation
The primary challenge is orchestrating the transition to new solutions in a segmented manner, ensuring minimal disruption. It's vital that security solutions don't necessitate multiple credentials and can leverage existing ones, like previously issued cards. The goal is to integrate the system sector by sector with minimal resistance.
"To facilitate this, we've established a lab setup," Pandya explained. "Before transitioning to production, we first simulate the process. It's crucial to have a mock or lab environment to emulate our on-field activities on a smaller scale. This aids in validating our migration strategy and formulating a contingency plan."
For example, if a migration window is set from midnight to 5 AM, all steps must be practiced in the lab beforehand. On the migration day, a contingency plan should be in place. If any issues arise, and by 3 or 4 AM it's evident that the migration won't conclude by 5 AM, they should be prepared to revert to the original settings, ensuring business resumes normally by morning.
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Growing reliance on analytics
The role of video analytics in security projects has seen substantial expansion. Given the large number of cameras that have been incorporated, end-users are keen to optimize their functionality. The goal is to use these cameras for real-time, exception-based handling, rather than merely for retrospective analysis. Up until a few years ago, the reliability of analytics was questionable. Pandya noted that although many praised its efficiency, the technology often underperformed, sometimes delivering only 40 percent effectiveness, which made it practically useless.
"However, the technology has evolved," Pandya noted. "We're now assured of the prowess of video analytics, especially when amalgamated with machine learning. We're currently probing various applications, such as monitoring crowd density in specific airport zones like terminal entrances, security checkpoints, and boarding gates. This information aids airport operators in comprehending occupancy patterns and movement dynamics. The objective is to offer passengers a fluid experience from their vehicle's exit to the boarding area. The longer passengers linger in the boarding zone, the more inclined they are to make purchases, augmenting the airport's retail earnings."
Security systems, inclusive of video analytics, play a pivotal role in ensuring this seamless transition. They, in conjunction with other systems, enable airport operators to adeptly oversee passenger movement from terminal entry to boarding gates.
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Transitioning beyond COVID solutions
During the COVID-19 outbreak, various tools were promoted as means to mitigate the virus's transmission. While certain airports adopted FDA-approved thermal imaging, many surveillance cameras purported to aid in fever detection were of dubious quality.
“Though these tools might have lost their relevance, during the pandemic's peak, adhering to social distancing was essential,” Pandya said. “Analytics were utilized to ensure mask compliance, distancing, and adherence to seating arrangements. When airports recommenced operations, albeit with reduced traffic, specific systems were introduced. For example, we devised a solution for high-footfall areas like shopping centers. Cameras at multiple ingress and egress points monitored headcounts to maintain a predetermined occupancy cap. If numbers neared this cap, visual warnings were displayed, and if the threshold was breached, auditory alerts cautioned incoming visitors. This system was operational for a duration to regulate crowd sizes and guarantee safety.”
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BMS and additional integrations
On the topic of integrating BMS systems with airport security, Pandya highlighted that this amalgamation has only recently been initiated in certain locales. Leveraging IoT protocols like OPC, BACnet, Modbus, and STTP, there's a renewed emphasis on interfacing with baggage handling and building management systems, signifying an industry shift.
"In the past, BMS solutions were proprietary, often encompassing their own access control, video surveillance, and security apparatus," Pandya stated. "While these BMS platforms might excel in managing elements like fire or plumbing systems, they frequently lacked the intricacy needed for holistic security. The optimal strategy is to deploy specialized solutions for video, access control, and other security facets, and subsequently integrate these with the BMS using universal IoT protocols."
For instance, if a security system requires data from the BMS, it can function as an OPC client, with the BMS acting as the OPC server. However, while this seems straightforward on paper, practical implementation presents its own set of challenges.