Case Study ...

CULS

The Gatwick Common User Lounge (CUL) System has been developed by Advantage System Solutions. The System is designed to allow domestic passengers to use CUL facilities (shops, restaurants etc.) at a London airport – which would otherwise only be available to international passengers.

Upon entering the Common User Lounge, the passenger's digital photograph is taken and a unique barcode label is affixed to the boarding card. Upon leaving the CUL (either to board a departing flight, or to leave the airport following arrival), the barcode is scanned and the passenger's details retrieved. The security guard will then compare the photograph and supporting data with the live passenger, and allow or prohibit the onward passage of that person.

Having finalised detailed requirements with the customer, Advantage designed and implemented CULS during the second half of 2004. Following extensive testing and trials, CULS went live in December 2004, replacing an obsolete and unsupported system.

CULS comprises a SQL Server 2000 database a website, and client software on desktop PCs. These machines are owned by the customer and connected by to their infrastructure.

Potential enhancements identified for 2005 include extension of the system to an additional London airport, and the addition of a 3-D facial recognition biometric capability to the system. 3-D facial recognition technology uses the topography of a passenger's face (i.e. physical measurements such as the distance between the pupils of the eyes) to produce a unique "biometric template" for that passenger, and subsequently confirm the passenger's identity. This facility will provide extra security to the CUL System by minimising the scope for human error when comparing a passenger with their details.

Updated June 2006