Israel's top 10 airport security technologies, II
No-one understands security as the Israelis do, and this is why some of the world’s best new innovative airport security technologies are being developed in Israel; since the foiled Christmas Day attempt on a Detroit-bound plane, airport authorities around the world are in a race to find novel solutions to fight terror, and the strategies and technical tactics Israel has adopted feature high on their lists
This is the second part of our discussion of the Top 10 Israeli airport security technologies (see the first part here). ISRAEL21c’s Karin Kloosterman offers details of these technologies, aided by Rafi Sela, a top security consultant (his company is AR Challenges), who is a former chief security officer at the Israel Airport Authority.
6. WeCU — here is looking at you. WeCU aims to blend high-tech with psychology. It presents symbols and images that only certain terror operatives will “see.” Imagine suddenly seeing a picture of your mother projected on an airport wall. This is the idea behind WeCU, which collects unusual responses to its images to trace and foil suspects.
Sela likes the idea, but he foresees that some governments, such as Canada’s, may take issue with this particular technology that smacks of Big Brother. “This company has an algorithm that in some countries would be viewed as an invasion of privacy — Canada will never install it. I’ve told Canada that you can’t do security with political correctness. As long as you are doing it without a real plan, it will never work.”
If one could combine SDS (Suspect Detection System; see technology No. 2 in 18 March 2010 HSNW) with WeCU, this approach of profiling terrorists would not be so bluntly viewed as an invasion, suggests Sela.
7. Bust the security line with your own “Biometric VIP” card. Kloosterman writes that frequent flyers will be happy to know that these biometric cards being issued in Israel by the Airports Authority could make flights easier and safer the world over. No one wants to arrive hours before a flight and have to contend with unpredictable periods of waiting in line.
The biometric scanners are cards similar in size to credit cards that contain personal, biometric information about each traveler. Perhaps in the future they will be linked to international frequent flyer schemes. You will have to wait a little longer though, since for now they are only being distributed to El Al’s business class passengers as a pilot test.
Sela likes the idea, but says this particular company would need a solution like BellSecure’s to authorize the check (see technology No. 3 in 18 March 2010 HSNW).
8. MagShoe —- keep your shoes on. While numerous Israeli airport security technologies in use around the world are undetectable to the naked eye, many American travelers are already familiar with MagShoe. Instead of the sometimes embarrassing and always inconvenient procedure of removing one’s shoes for airport security checks. The Israeli-made MagShoe lets travelers simply step up to be checked, and the device needs only a few seconds to scan for concealed weapons.
If use of TraceGuard’s system becomes widespread (see technology No. 1 in 18 March 2010 HSNW), the MagShoe will become obsolete, says Sela. MagShoe, however, is still very effective for tracing objects hidden around the ankle area. Find it beside scanners and x-ray machines across America.
9. Vigilant —sleeping with one eye open. Vigilant’s surveillance systems stay awake even if security personnel fall asleep. The Tel Aviv-based company, working with the Pelco company in California, has high-end installations already in place at various U.S. locations, including the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, and the Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah.
Kloosterman notes that the intelligent digital monitoring system improves crime and terror prevention, not only in airports but also on American streets, like in Manhattan for example, one of dozens of locations which is hooked up to Vigilant’s digital monitoring system. The company’s Video Surveillance Center is a fully digital management solution that provides a surveillance wall. It is a turnkey solution for any surveillance center, airports included, that also includes a video motion detector.
10. Briefcam — step back in time. This Israeli company provides a video synopsis technology that allows security personnel quickly and effectively to review and index surveillance footage. Briefcam helps to identify individuals at border crossings, at airports, or in and around power plants. Since fewer people are needed to review footage, the potential for human error is drastically reduced, as is the manpower needed to track events and uncover unusual occurrences.
While Sela likes this technology, he says airports going for video surveillance options might prefer the Canadian-Israeli company Visual Defense. Based on technology from the 8200 army unit, Visual Defense can watch thousands of cameras at the same time. It’s the only solution used in the subway in New York City in all underground stations. If airports decide to start using video surveillance, this would be the camera management company to use, Sela suggests.
