Download as PDF - Secunet

International
Automation is the Way
Forward for Border Control
secunet eGates securely manage increasing passenger numbers at national borders
Globalisation has led to a steady increase in private and professional
mobility. Short-haul flights have become an attractive
alternative to travelling by train or car. For airports, this means
that more and more passengers have to be cleared on arrival.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates
that, in 2013, the milestone of three billion passengers worldwide
will be exceeded. 1 This development poses multiple challenges
for airports, as passengers should not be expected to
wait in unreasonably long queues to pass through the security
gate or border control. At the same time, security considerations
must under no circumstances be compromised as the
threat of terrorism remains acute
The solution lies in biometric data
A good option for managing increased passenger volume
at borders is to provide electronic control gates – so-called
‘Automated Border Control Systems’ or eGates for short.
Utilising the biometric data stored in electronic travel documents
(e.g. the digitised facial image of the traveller),
eGates allow partial automation of border control
processes whilst retaining the same high level of
security: When the passport is placed on the document
reader, its electronic and optical security features
are checked and the biometric data is read.
Passengers authorised to use the system can then
step into the eGate. Here, a camera integrated into
the exit door automatically takes a photo of the
traveller’s face. This data is then compared to the
passport-picture read before. If the biometric data
matches, the passenger is cleared to pass, i. e. to
cross the border.
As the ePassport is read and the
passenger’s face is scanned, the
same data is also displayed on
the immigration control officer’s
monitor.
The process offers significant benefits to all parties
involved: on the one hand, it reduces queuing time for
passengers and airport operators benefit from optimised
passenger flows; on the other hand, border
police officers get valuable support without losing
control over the process.
1
See http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/Documents/
economic-outlook-media-day-dec2012.pdf
14 » 1 | 2013