Go With the Flow

How GRB airport uses video analytics to detect reverse flow on the concourse

  • By Karl Radke
  • Oct 03, 2016

You’ve seen it happen before. Passengers are deplaning and straggling down the exit corridor. Suddenly one of them reverses direction. Is he simply going back to retrieve a forgotten cellphone? Or, are his intentions more sinister? Who can be sure? But the moment this person goes against the flow, an alarm goes off at the airport public safety command center and the adjacent TSA security checkpoint. Officers are dispatched to the exit lane and all travelers are required to exit the concourse. How is this immediate, real-time alert possible? The airport is using sophisticated video analytics embedded in its video surveillance system. In this era of heightened vigilance, airports like Green Bay Austin Straubel International (GRB) are recognizing that adding analytics to their video surveillance system is a powerful force multiplier.

Analyzing Potential Threats

“Ten years ago when we modified our concourses we put in some exit lane technology to provide security without having to station a person at the door 20 hours a day,” said Tom Miller, director for Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. “But as that technology neared the end of its lifespan, we were starting to get a number of irregular alarms.”

In 2015, GRB decided to replace its old technology with savVi, Agent Vi’s on-premise video analytics platform. The analytics work in conjunction with high-definition Axis network video cameras and a Milestone XProtect Video Management System to detect individuals going the wrong way on concourse exit lanes and Security Identification Display Areas (SIDA). When an event occurs, savVi automatically sends a visual and audio alert to TSA agents and the airport Public Safety Command Center. At the command center, a live-view of the event automatically pops up on the video wall. With multiple cameras trained on the area, security is able to ascertain whether the individual made contact with anyone else in the vicinity.

Coverage from Tarmac to Tower

Video analytics is just one part of a comprehensive security system GRB uses to protect more than 350,000 passengers, 185,000 pounds of air cargo and thousands of commercial and charter aircraft annually. The two-runway airport is served by three major airlines, American Eagle, Delta, and United/Continental Airlines, that provide 30 daily departures and connections to destinations around the world.

The airport also hosts a number of support businesses: a parking lot facility, car rental agencies, a restaurant and lounge, gift shops and two Fixed-base Operators who provide maintenance, airline and general aviation refueling, charter services and pilot training. The FAA and the TSA have regional bases of operations at the airport and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has offices in the terminal to clear corporate aircraft entering the United States from around the world.

“We’ve deployed more than 140 HDTV-resolution Axis cameras throughout the airport,” said Mark Hall, the electrician and system installer for the Green Bay airport. “We put them just about everywhere: on our tower, in the parking lot, in the terminal building, at our vehicle drive-through gates. Basically, we cover everything inside the fence except the restrooms.”

While GRB standardized on the Axis network cameras product line, the airport availed itself of a wide variety of camera models and features to address their coverage goals for each location under surveillance. For instance, to monitor passenger foot traffic through the exit lane corridors, the airport uses a combination of Axis indoor HDTV-quality fixed dome network cameras and thermal network cameras integrated with Agent Vi’s video analytics. To monitor the airfield, GRB installed an Axis outdoor-ready HDTV-quality PTZ dome network camera with 20x zoom on the roof of the terminal. To deter theft and vandalism in its vehicle storage areas, GRB installed Axis one-megapixel day/night fixed dome network cameras in their vehicle maintenance and Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting facilities. To monitor concourse gate rooms and curbside passenger drop-off/pick-up areas, GRB uses Axis light-sensitive, HDTV-quality fixed dome network cameras with P-iris control for optimal image quality in all lighting conditions.

GRB uses Axis thermal network cameras on the runways to monitor the movement of airplanes, service vehicles and personnel. savVi, Agent Vi’s software, analyzes the camera images to differentiate between people, vehicles and static objects. savVi automatically sends an alert to security personnel when it detects people present in a vehicleonly lane or other restricted area.

Taking an Intelligent Approach to Security

Even with a TSA presence, local airports face many of the same challenges as their larger hub-based counterparts yet possess fewer resources to deal with them. Finding ways to quickly neutralize insider threats and tighten concourse security with limited budgets and personnel have become hot topics for action.

What many smaller airports like GRB are learning is that adding video analytics to their surveillance systems provides the essential force multiplier they need for early detection and rapid response to potentially threatening situations.

This article originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.