Total Airport Security System: Integrated Security Monitoring Platform

According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 730 million people travel on passenger jets every year, and more than 700 million pieces of baggage are screened for explosives and other dangerous items. To make flying as safe and convenient as possible for passengers, staff and crew, airports are turning to sophisticated security systems. As terrorists continuously devise new strategies to attack and impair critical infrastructures, airports are in need of solutions that can help them manage and respond to changing circumstances and increased levels of threat.

Started in 2010, the Total Airport Security System (TASS) is a consortium led by Verint joining 20 leading European technology companies, research institutes and end-user organizations. Part of the Seventh EU Framework Program (FP7), TASS is a four-year project, ending March 2014.

The purpose of TASS is to enable an advanced, integrated approach to airport security by creating an entire airport situation intelligence solution that provides real-time, accurate situational awareness to airport authorities. Based on integrating and fusing different types of realtime sensors and sub-systems for data collection, TASS operates in a variety of modes, including fixed and mobile, and under any environmental condition. TASS represents a significant step forward in developing the model for integrated systems at airports, which typically have a range of systems and sensors not natively designed to interoperate or share intelligence in a coordinated manner.

The first proof-of-concept has been deployed at London’s Heathrow Airport and security officials will continue to conduct several simulated scenarios testing the system’s functionality and interoperability with the integrated technologies. Once the technology has been through rigorous testing, the solution will be available for airports around the

This article originally appeared in the January 2013 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Debjit Das is vice president of marketing for Verint Video Intelligence Solutions.

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