Airport security programs a summer priority.A senior Transportation Security Administration official outlined a slew of test programs for this summer, intended to protect airports using biometrics The biological identification of a person. Examples are face, iris and retinal patterns, hand geometry and voice. Increasingly built into laptop computers, fingerprint readers have become popular as a secure method for identification. technologies. The pilot programs and operational tests reflect a desire to use eye, face and hand recognition systems in securing all facets of an airport, said Rick Lazarick of the TSA's security laboratory. "Congress seems to be turning up the wick on biometrics," he told a recent National Defense Industrial Association conference. Many projects are meant to expose systems to real-world conditions to evaluate their effectiveness. Some of the programs provide identification screens on airport employees, while other programs seek to ease security on regular travelers. The Airport Access Pilot program is putting five technologies to the test, including finger printing, voice pattern and facial recognition systems A facial recognition system is a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source. One of the ways to do this is by comparing selected facial features from the image and a facial database. . The optimum placement and types of surveillance systems also will be evaluated, as well as access control via next generation ID cards. The program will be in place at a handful of airports through the summer, lasting until 2005. The Transportation Worker Identification Cards program will craft an advanced employee recognition system-a "smart card" that can be used at several airports. The Transportation Worker Identification Card ultimately will be implemented as a nationwide system for verifying ver·i·fy tr.v. ver·i·fied, ver·i·fy·ing, ver·i·fies 1. To prove the truth of by presentation of evidence or testimony; substantiate. 2. the identity of transportation workers and validating val·i·date tr.v. val·i·dat·ed, val·i·dat·ing, val·i·dates 1. To declare or make legally valid. 2. To mark with an indication of official sanction. 3. their background information. An in-flight in-flight adj. 1. Occurring, carried out, or present while in flight: in-flight refueling. 2. Provided or offered during a flight: in-flight meals. verification system for pilots, Lazarick noted, "has not gained a lot of traction Traction Definition Traction is the use of a pulling force to treat muscle and skeleton disorders. Purpose Traction is usually applied to the arms and legs, the neck, the backbone, or the pelvis. ." The "Registered Traveler The Registered Traveler Pilot Program is an airline passenger security assessment system that was tested in the United States air travel industry in 2005. It was used in several U.S. " program will also start this summer, giving routine, repeat passengers the chance to gain special status that keeps them off security lines. The idea is to "reduce the haystack" and ease the burden on airport screeners, Lazarick said. He noted that there have been initial discussions about expanding the program beyond aviation. A similar program is being administered by United Airlines for passengers traveling through Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. |
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