US customs launches biometric pilot at airports
The United States’ Customs and Border Protection has launched a pilot project at airports that will see facial recognition technology used to verify passengers’ identities. CBP is conducting the 1:1 Facial Recognition Air Entry Pilot to allow CBP Officers at airports to use facial recognition technology as a tool to assist them in determining whether an individual presenting themselves with a valid U.S. electronic passport is the same individual photographed in that passport. The operational goals of the pilot are to determine the viability of facial recognition as a technology to assist Customs Border Patrol Officers in identifying possible imposters using U.S. e-passports to enter the United States; and to determine if facial recognition technology can be incorporated into current CBP entry processing with acceptable impacts to processing time and the traveling public while effectively providing CBPOs with a tool to counter imposters using valid U.S. travel documents.
ETSI publishes standards for intelligent transport
ETSI recently published two European Standards for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): the specification of Cooperative Awareness Basic Service – EN 302 637-2, and the specification of Decentralized Environmental Notification Basic Service – EN 302 637-3. They define the message sets needed for running Cooperative ITS safety critical applications. Published as Technical Specifications in Release 1 of ETSI ITS, the ENs have been prepared taking into account feedback from Plugtests™ interoperability testing workshops organized by ETSI for the industry, as well as feedback from implementation. They were developed under Mandate 453 of the European Commission.
German PKD solution selected for UAE border security
Abu Dhabi-based Emirates German Security Printing has implemented a National Public Key Directory (PKD) solution for border control checkpoints in the United Arab Emirates. The system is used at border control checkpoints in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to ensure tamper-proof and efficient verification of domestic and foreign electronic passports. For the implementation of the ‘Made in Germany’ security solution, EGSP was supported by its partners HJP Consulting GmbH, Bundesdruckerei GmbH, secunet Security Networks AG and Giesecke & Devrient. Emirates German Security Printing, a joint venture in which Bundesdruckerei holds a 49 percent stake, is the prime contractor for the National Public Key Directory (NPKD) project initiated by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates. EGSP’s project partners delivered the solution.
Global airport security expected to reach US$12.67bn by 2023
Frost & Sullivan’s ‘Global Airport Security Technology Market Assessment’ reveals the market earned revenues of US$8.22 bn in 2014 and estimates this to reach US$12.67 billion by 2023. The study covers the segments of perimeter security, command, control and integration, cybersecurity, communications, surveillance, access control, and screening. Cutting-edge technologies in the screening, big data and integration markets are particularly driving upgrades and new investments in the airport security market. Over the next 20 years, however, cybersecurity spending will rise at the fastest pace.