Advantage System Solutions Ltd has recently completed one of the largest trials of biometric technology for BAA at Heathrow Airport.
Applications of facial, fingerprint, iris and palm vein recognition technologies were put through their paces under a range of different operational scenarios involving over 12,000 passengers, BAA staff and airline employees. It has been a highly successful trial the outcome of which has now prepared the ground for the potential introduction of biometric systems into BAA’s airports over the next few years.
Advantage advised BAA on the format of the trial, the optimum methodology to be adopted and provided on site day to day consultancy support and off-site data analysis throughout each of the 5 Phases. Advantage’s proven Common User Lounge System (CULS) was used as the common front end for all biometric systems under test to ensure comparable analysis of data across each of the solutions being examined.
The trial addressed the biometric enrolment and subsequent verification (one to one) or identification (one to many) of individuals, along with spoof testing for biometric reliability. A short survey was also conducted to determine attitudes to the different technologies being used. All biometric personal data and photographs were deleted at the end of the testing period.
In the context of mass processing of passengers in an airport terminal environment, the trial provided a wealth of data in respect of three fundamental questions:
Are biometric systems accurate enough?
Are biometric systems fast enough?
Will the travelling population accept such a system?
The data collected during the trial (captured using a mixture of system generation and manual recording) was used to analyse broad demographic trends, success rates and other technology specific metrics. This data has helped inform BAA and other key airport stakeholders, such as the Immigration Service, on the potential ways forward for employing biometric technologies in an airport environment.
In the near future, biometric identification may well become the means by which airline passengers are identified at entry into and exit from UK airports. The introduction of this capability will hopefully contribute notably towards a swift and safe travelling environment.
For more information, please telephone 01252 899665 or email customerservices@advantage-business.co.uk
Published 30th March 2006
