ASIS Education Session Discusses The Layered Security Approach At O’Hare International Airport

An interesting panel at ASIS 2013 on Wednesday discussed the massive undertaking of providing a layered security approach at O'Hare International Airport.

One of the world's busiest airports, O'Hare covers more than 10,000 acres and sees an astounding amount of passengers per year - 66.5 million.

Kathleen Petrowsky, TSA's federal security director for the airport, said the layered approach to securing the airport begins when a passenger makes their airline reservations.

"The TSA is expanding the Pre-Check program for different levels of security," she said. "We're moving to a risk-based concept."

Thomas Herion with Chicago Department of Aviation Safety said the massive airport is difficult to secure.

"It's not a prison," he said. "People are moving around freely. It's a very difficult place to secure. We have to be aggressive with our cameras and preventive measures to make sure we don't have a disaster. We like to be proactive and get intelligence before hand so we can respond to it."

Both Herion and Petrowsky said coordinating good relationships with the various agencies tasked with securing the airport is important. Communication with other airports is also another way to improve security.

Herion also indicated that the key challenge in securing the facility is funding.

"We need money," he said "It's often a tough time to finance it. Who will pay for it? We have raised the bar after putting technology like biometrics and license plate recognition into play. We look for DHS to fund us through grants and other initiatives. We also go to the airlines for money to help modernize the technology."

Even though technology is a important part of providing security for the airport, Herion said that the human factor is more important.

"Our greatest asset are our people," he said. "You can have all the technology in the world, but it's the people that drive security. They are the intelligence aspect. You need to keep people engaged, letting them know how important they are and give them the tools they need to do their job. They are more important than any camera or alarm."

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.