| Video security is as much a part of airports | | | | With intelligent video security, cameras do |
| as planes and runways. It is unthinkable for | | | | not only monitor movement, they report |
| an airport - any airport - not to have video | | | | aberrant or suspicious behavior. Cameras |
| security. In fact, in the wake of the events | | | | classify behavior as suspicious if they |
| of 9/11, the video security of airports have | | | | deviate from the patterns of normal activity |
| undergone remarkable transformations. | | | | coded into the video security system. Once |
| | | | anomalous behavior from a passenger is noted, |
| Innovations in Airport Video Security | | | | a video clip is sent to a responder, via |
| | | | pager, laptop, cell phone, or the control |
| If there is anything that the tragic events | | | | center. Should the first responder fail to |
| of 9/11 revealed, it is this: airport | | | | act, the video clip is sent to another |
| security, no matter how sophisticated, is not | | | | responder. |
| infallible. Anyone determined to beat the | | | | |
| system may do so, provided that he has the | | | | Face Recognition in Video Security |
| gadget and technology needed. With this in | | | | |
| mind, experts are now rethinking their | | | | Another upgrade to airport video security is |
| approach to airport video security. Instead | | | | face recognition. It is already in use in |
| of collecting data after an incident, the | | | | some airports, although application is |
| focus is now on anticipating events and | | | | limited to airport personnel for the time |
| addressing problems even before they take | | | | being. Face recognition is highly useful in |
| place. Additionally, they have introduced two | | | | verifying identity. It is used in two ways in |
| technological breakthroughs to airport | | | | airports. The first is in watch list |
| surveillance and video security, namely, | | | | screening. Live images of passengers are |
| intelligent video and face recognition. | | | | compared to a database of known criminals. |
| | | | The second is in regulating access to |
| Intelligent Video Security? | | | | restricted areas or airport controls. Badges |
| | | | and uniforms can be stolen easily and |
| Intelligent video is the latest offspring of | | | | quickly; it will require plenty of work to |
| the marriage between established video | | | | steal a face. |
| security and newly plumbed video | | | | |
| technologies. How does it work? A software is | | | | Experts believe that integration of face |
| made to work with existing airport CCTV | | | | recognition in the video security of all |
| systems. This software revolutionizes the | | | | airports is a cost-effective solution not |
| detection process. Traditional video security | | | | only to security concerns, but also to lags |
| requires that personnel keep close watch of | | | | in paper processing. With face recognition, |
| the images captured. This system is flawed | | | | it will become easier to identify people and |
| because no matter how many personnel an | | | | match the face to existing records. |
| airport employs, it still is possible to | | | | |
| overlook an area, for example. After all, how | | | | It is unanimously accepted that video |
| can one lock into a threatening situation | | | | security helps improve travel safety. Having |
| quickly and reliably when one has hundreds, | | | | the best video technology in the world, |
| if not thousands, of CCTV cameras to watch? | | | | however, is not what's important. It's what |
| | | | you do with it that counts. |