With the impact of the attempted Christmas Day 2009 mid-air explosion having brought the issue of airport security into sharp focus, a number of new approaches to airport passenger screening are now being worked on. While London Heathrow Airport and other prime European air travel sites are planning to integrate new full body scanning technologies into existing checks, future airport security technologies are being developed that could complement physical searches by introducing new mental interrogation methods.

Airport Security Technology – the Future?

Israel, for example, already carries out scrupulous airport security checks. In particular, baggage checks there frequently see every single item being looked at in-depth. However, one firm in Israel called WeCu (“We See You”!) Technologies is presently working on future airport security technology that works on behavioural science, and has been for the past seven years. Its system involves image projection, and consequent analysis of the effects that these images have on those viewing them. Passengers that express familiarity to non-public domain images, especially those linked to specific terrorist organisations, would be moved aside for additional screening. This Israeli airport security technology features a hidden camera/sensor network that picks up on giveaway reactions like heart rate fluctuations, and body temperature increases.

FAST: Airport Security Screening

In the US, meanwhile, a programme called Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST) is currently being assessed. FAST involves hi-tech polygraph-like tests - including facial movement scans - being carried out on certain passengers. A demonstration of FAST was performed in 2009 and, here, Robert Burns, its project manager, highlighted how the tests could be carried out surreptitiously, as well as actively. In other words, whole lines of passengers waiting at airport security checkpoints could be assessed, without them even knowing.

Current plans see physical trials of FAST taking place next year.

When we’ll see either of the above future airport technologies being actively deployed is not yet known. However, their benefits are many and varied. The obvious one is that they will hopefully boost the ability of airports to home in on terrorist activity or potential terrorist activity before it actually takes place. Furthermore, however, they will also remove the need for random airport security checks to take place (and so free up airport staff’s time more), by homing straight in on likely suspects.

See also:

New Advance in Airport Scanning Technology