Security System for an Airport

¶ … Airport Security System The secure operation of the aviation system across the globe is one of the most significant factors in the security and economic development of the United States. The use of the world's airspace should also be secured because aviation has become a major target for criminals. Actually, criminals, terrorists, and hostile nations increasingly consider aviation as a major target for exploitation and attack.

An example of the security threats facing this industry is the 9/11 terror attacks, which highlighted the desire and ability of enemies to generate considerable harm to the United States. Therefore, aviation security is increasingly important in order to protect the country and its citizens from such attacks. According to Federal of American Scientists (2007), aviation security is realized through combination of private and public aviation security activities across the globe. These activities are then coordinated to detect, prevent, deter, and defeat threats that are likely to occur.

In addition aviation security requires the development of an airport security system that enhances capabilities to deal with security threats at airports. Airport Security System Airport security is largely broken in the United States despite efforts by the government to enhance aviation security in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The American government responded to the 9/11 terror attacks by developing an unambiguous, comprehensive aviation security plan that focused on enhancing capabilities and measures to deal with threats in this industry.

This response was characterized by major improvements to existing security methodologies, technologies, and operations through developing security systems in every aspect or component of the Aviation Transportation System. Moreover, the government created a scalable and dynamic security system in the aviation industry with the capability to respond to various levels of security threats. These flexible systems incorporated capabilities to respond to a series of present and future threats to the country and effectively lessen vulnerabilities within the Aviation Transportation System ("Aviation Transportation System Security Plan," 2007).

Some of the major components of these flexible security systems include increased scrutiny of individuals in the aviation system and improvements in detecting threat objects and explosives. Despite these numerous efforts in enhancing security of the aviation system, airport security still remains relatively broken. This is primarily because no single security measure is completely fail-safe and the increased measures by terrorists to develop techniques for defeating established security initiatives. In addition, airport security system is still largely disconnected and bureaucratic from individuals who it seeks to protect.

Hawley (2012), states that preventing security threats at airports requires flexibility and ongoing reevaluation of security threats. This process also necessitates unwavering public support that the current aviation security systems have failed to generate and/or achieve. Airports across the United States have experienced significant challenges in their airport security systems because of relatively wrong approach to risk. While these airports have made several efforts towards improving security, they have ended up complicating air travel for passengers and visitors.

Therefore, the best possible measure for addressing current security challenges with the view of improving airport security is to develop and implement a state-of-the-art Airport Security System. This state-of-the-art Airport Security System is oriented towards a primary commercial service airport in the United States. Actually, the system is targeted towards Greater Rochester International Airport, which is vulnerable to security attacks, particularly cyber attacks. The security systems that are meant to keep the airport safe are vulnerable to threats since they can be easily manipulated in case of an attack.

Some of the security components with major flaws in this airport include explosive detectors, x-ray scanners, and time-clock. The implementation of a state-of-the-art security system will help in enhancing security at this primary commercial service airport. Improved security from this system will be brought by enhanced capabilities to detect, deter, prevent, and defeat security threats. Airport Lay-out and Total Airport Security System The state-of-the-art security system to be implemented in this primary commercial airport is Total Airport Security System (TASS).

Generally, an airport is a complex and multi-faceted environment that is characterized by aircrafts, cargo, passengers, airport infrastructure, and crew. The complex nature of the airport environment and infrastructure generates a huge number of security challenges. This security system is designed to improve surveillance through offering real-time precise situational awareness to the security authorities at the airport. The concept of Total Airport Security System is based on combining and fusing data from various kinds of real time sensors and sub-systems in various modes (Rusu, n.d.).

Some of the modes in these sub-systems include fixed and mobile modes that are appropriate for operation across all environmental conditions in the airport. The array of sensors in this state-of-the-art airport security system is designed based on existing and new technologies. The integration and fusion of these technologies and sensors will create a centralized system that represents an innovative approach towards ensuring the airport is efficiently secured in a manner that does not affect passengers or aircrafts' flow at the airport.

The adoption and implementation of Total Airport Security System at the airport will be a reflection of the increased tendencies by airports to adopt complex security systems. Currently, more than 700 million passengers travel annually, which implies that over 700 million pieces of luggage are screened on annual basis. These pieces are usually screened for any dangerous items including explosives through the use of complex security systems. The purpose of using TASS in the airport is to facilitate the establishment of an advanced, integrated mechanism for enhanced security.

Enhanced airport security is achieved because the system creates a complete airport situation intelligence solution with the capability of providing real-time, accurate situational awareness for all airport authorities and executives (Das, 2013). As a model of integrated security systems at an airport, Total Airport Security System comprises a range of systems and sensors that are developed to interoperate or share intelligence in a timely and coordinated way as shown in the Figure 1.

Figure 1: Total Airport Security System The effectiveness of this state-of-the-art security system in enhancing airport security is attributable to its capability to deal with a wide range of security challenges or risks at an airport. Some of these challenges relate to airplanes, terminals, control tower, vehicles, hangars, passengers, crew, gasoline, and cargo as shown in Figure 2. Total Airport Security System is the next generation of security intelligence systems adopted by airports such as London's Heathrow Airport.

Actually, this system can be described as fusion-based airport security intelligence system that provides the whole airport security and information sharing solution. Airport Security Threats (Conventional and Non-conventional Threats) Airport Security Challenges Airplanes Control Tower Terminals Vehicles Passengers Gasoline Crew Hangars Cargo Total Airport Security Solution i.e. TASS Figure 2: Airport Security Challenges and Solution As a fusion based airport security intelligence system, TASS will enable location-based video surveillance, which is a crucial aspect in enhancing airport security.

In this case, the surveillance system will automatically direct CCTV cameras to a particular location depending on target location as obtained by external AVL/APL system. Moreover, location-based video surveillance provided by Total Airport Security System involves automatic video tracking after a moving target since the utilized cameras are soft and hard handover. The other attributes of Total Airport Security System include lessening false security warning or alerts, three dimension (3D) indoor and outdoor visualization, integration of existing airport security technologies, and no interference with passengers flow.

The lack of interference with passengers flow helps in avoiding delays in the current check-in and boarding procedures (Hazzani, 2011). Through these guiding attributes, this state-of-the-art airport security system has numerous benefits for end-users like security agencies and airport and transportation authorities. For airport and transportation authorities, TASS promotes emphasis on daily security (i.e. security flavor) and high level of regulation with regards to security and service. For security agencies, the system promotes emphasis on intelligence (i.e.

intelligence flavor) and deals with the various components of security in the airport including borders and customs as demonstrated in Figure 3. The intelligence flavor provided by the system helps in prevention of security threats before target arrival at the airport's terminal whereas the security flavor helps in prevention of security threats after target arrives at the airport's terminal.

Figure 3: Security Flavor and Intelligence Flavor Airport & Transportation Authorities Security Agencies End-Users Security Flavor Intelligence Flavor TASS Fusion The Security Force One of the most important elements towards the successful implementation and use of the Total Airport Security System is the security force. While this state-of-the-art system has the capability of enhancing security at the airport, these capabilities may be hindered if suitable personnel do not exist to promote effective implementation and use.

Generally, human factors play a crucial role with regards to adoption, implementation, and use of airport security systems. This implies that the security force mandated with the responsibility of implementing the system should be adequately trained and prepared to help realize the full potential of the security system with regards to detecting, deterring, preventing, and defeating security threats and/or attacks.

In relation to implementing Total Airport Security System at Greater Rochester International Airport, a primary commercial airport in the U.S., the security force will be carefully selected, organized and trained. This is primarily because the implementation of an integrated and coordinated security system requires security force or teams made of selected, cross-trained, and motivated personnel who carry out suitable tasks. The performance of these varying tasks should be accompanied with constant evaluation and feedback regarding the teams' performance relative to enhancing security.

Selection of the Security Force The identification of a suitable security force or team will be based on selecting individuals or personnel with the capability to carry out the various tasks in an appropriate or suitable manner. In this case, the selection process will involve examining the level of necessary knowledge and skills, capability to address a range of security tasks, and compliance with organizational procedures. These elements will act as crucial employment considerations that will help in identifying and selecting a suitable security force.

However, since Total Airport Security System is a relatively new system, its implementation will require selecting employees with capabilities to utilize diverse technologies and manage the complexities associated with this fusion based airport security system. To this extent, capability to utilize diverse, complex technologies will be included as selection criteria for potential candidates.

In essence, the selection of the security force of personnel to deal with security issues at the airport through implementing this new airport security system will involve examining the common qualities and characteristics of airport security personnel and incorporating new dimensions. The common characteristics of airport security personnel will help in determining a suitable pool of probable candidates whereas the inclusion of new dimensions in selection criteria will be customized based on the demands of the new security system.

Through this measure, the selected individuals with have the capabilities to implement the Total Airport Security System at the airport effectively. Organization of the Security Force In addition to ensuring suitable selection, the organization of the security force is also important because it determines the responsibility structure for each individual in the security department at the airport.

Since airport security forces usually have limited capabilities to operate as a legal police force, the airport will employ a third-party security company to work together in conducting screening and access control at the airport (Yoo, 2009, p.38). This partnership will not only be geared towards handling screening and access control but also address other security issues and aspects at the airport.

This partnership will help in ensuring the effective implementation of Total Airport Security System with the objective of improving airport security by detecting, preventing, and defeating security risks and threats. The security force will be organized in different levels depending on the different levels of security operations. The first level will be airport security administrative officers who will supervise and manage all security operations.

These officers will act as leaders of the security department of the airport and comprise the designated leader of the third-party security company and the internal leader of the security operations at the airport. They will work collaboratively to ensure smooth operations of all security issues at the airport and handle all implementation activities of the new Total Airport Security System. The second level of airport security system will involve security officers or personnel who deal with major security tasks and functions.

These major security tasks include passenger screening, baggage security control, cargo security, access control, and crisis management. With regards to passenger screening these officers will use existing and new technologies brought by the Total Airport Security System to scrutinize all passengers and visitors at the airport. Apart from new technologies, the officers will utilize X-ray machines and metal detectors. For access control, the security officers will supervise access to restricted aircrafts, buildings, and areas in the airport.

Baggage security control will entail examining baggage or pieces of luggage being loaded at cargo departments in the airport. In relation to crisis management, the officers will carry out tasks and activities that are developed to handle and respond to emergency situations brought by security incidents or risks. Cargo security involves tasks for ensuring control of unaccompanied mail, cargo, and other goods in passenger and cargo planes.

The third level of security operations at the airport using the Total Aviation Security System is activities that focus on evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the system relative to desired security objectives and goals. Moreover, security officers will provide recommendations for further improvement of the system and operations based on their evaluation. These evaluation tasks include accountability, effectiveness of security, cost efficiency, efficiency in processing, and response to security incidents.

Accountability entails ensuring security tasks are carried out relative to the ultimate obligation of improving security whereas effectiveness of security relates to job performance. In this case, job performance will be evaluated based on how effective they search and detect dangerous items, explosives, and weapons (Yoo, 2009, p.43). Efficiency in processing involves examining decision making processes, screening speed, and flexibility to change to the condition whereas response to security incidents revolves around capability to effectively react to unprecedented and incidental situations when implementing the new security system.

Cost efficiency will entail examining the costs for achieving similar level of performance of security measurements in comparison to the current system. Security officers handling evaluation roles and responsibilities will play a crucial role towards improving the overall effectiveness of the system and ensure it achieves its security goals and objectives. Training the Security Force The other important element in ensuring the effectiveness of the security force through successful implementation of Total Airport Security System is adequate training.

After the selection of suitable individuals for the airport's security force, the personnel should be adequately trained to handle all security issues and implement the system. As previously mentioned, security teams should not only be selected but also cross-trained to perform suitable tasks with ongoing evaluation and feedback regarding performance (Harris, 2001). The first measure for training the security force at the airport is creating an appropriate security training program. The training program is important for effective implementation of the new system and preventive security measures mandated by the state.

This training program will include all aspects of the airport's layout and components of the Total Airport Security System. The program will also involve the responsibility structure of security personnel at the airport based on its layout and the implementation of this new system. The second aspect of training the security force is ensuring all recruits and individuals in the airport's security department are trained before they carry out their functions and activities.

In essence, all security officers and new recruits for this department will obtain comprehensive training based on the developed program prior to performing any aviation security duties, roles, and responsibilities. This will help ensure every security officer is aware of the security needs at the airport, the system being utilized to ensure security, and their varying expectations based on their specific roles and responsibilities. Third, the training will be provided to the security force based on the specific roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the individual security officer.

This is primarily because one of the major aspects and principles of airport security training is ensuring that security officers obtain only the training that is pertinent or relevant to their respective job duties and responsibilities. This will help in enhancing the overall effectiveness of every individual personnel in the force relative to the overall objectives of the security department. System for Screening Passengers Passengers' screening for any dangerous items, weapons, and explosives is an important element in ensuring and enhancing airport security.

The system for screening passengers at the airport will be based on the Total Airport Security System. From a conceptual perspective, Total Airport Security System (TASS) is a multi-segment and multi-level intelligence and surveillance framework that focuses on developing a security monitoring solution for a whole airport ("TASS Report Summary," 2015). Actually, this system essentially enhances the efficiency and reliability of the process of security screening of passengers while protecting their privacy and rights.

The effectiveness of the system in passengers' screening is attributable to its provision of real-time accurate awareness of situations of all facilities and surroundings at the airport including people, airplanes, cargo, and vehicles. Passenger screening using this system will be based on a layered framework or approach with at least three overlapping layers. Through this approach, customers will be screened against no-fly lists as well as vetting of crews before they reach the airport (Jim, 2008).

These overlapping layers create a step-by-step process through which passengers will be screened to help improve security at the airport. The step-by-step process for screening passengers using the various overlapping layers include Boarding Pass The first layer or step in screening of passengers is handing the passengers a boarding pass and an ID that will be utilized by a travel document checker by the Transportation Security Administration. This layer of passenger screening will involve examining the validity of travel documents and individual holding them.

During this case, people with suspicious travel documents will be referred to local law enforcement for extra scrutiny. Notably, a passenger will obtain a level of screening depending on his/her designated category. A passenger subjected to normal screening will be granted a boarding pass and permitted to proceed to the screening checkpoint in an ordinary way ("Security Flight Passenger Screening Program," 2011).

However, a no-fly passenger will not be given a boarding pass but will be referred to law enforcement officials who will determine whether the individual can proceed to the screening checkpoint or further scrutiny or action as shown in Figure 4. Figure 4: Passenger Screening System ID Identification Using Commercial Databases Normal Screening of Passengers The second layer or step is screening passengers based on whether they need normal screening or no-fly screening. In normal screening, passengers will walk through trace detection portals such as explosive trace portals are equipments.

These equipments will be tested and approved by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before use at the airport. The main function of the portals is to detect any explosives, dangerous items, and weapons carried by passengers (Elias, 2009). Threat Image Projection (TIP) equipments will also be used since they offer the ability to overlay, virtual, computer created objects identified during ordinary screening operations. The major function of these equipments is to provide images of concealed items carried by passengers that may be dangerous to the overall security of the airport.

No-fly passengers will be subjected to law enforcement officers who will determine appropriate action after additional scrutiny. The travel documents of these passengers will be crucially scrutinized as well as other aspects of their travel. During this process, the officers will utilize the same equipments used in normal screening though the individual is subjected to thorough screening. A PNR record relating to the passenger will be removed from the airport's Secure Flight storage database temporarily if the passenger needs to undergo additional questioning or be arrested.

Screening Carry-On Baggage The third layer or step in screening passengers at the airport is screening carry-on baggage, which will help in detecting any explosive, dangerous items, and weapons carried by passengers. This step in the process of screening passengers will involve the use of X-ray images and metal detectors. X-ray systems will be effective in screening carry-on baggage since they have the capability to offer several image views i.e. an overhead view and profile view of the X-rayed item (Elias, 2009).

Metal detectors also help in primary identification of any dangerous items, weapons or explosives in the carry-on baggage. To enhance the efficiency of X-ray imagery and metal detectors in effective screening of carry-on baggage, these systems will incorporate computer image interpretation algorithms that are integrated into the Total Airport Security System. The image interpretation algorithms will improve security through automatically searching for dangerous items, weapons or explosives and alerting security officers if a suspected threat item like an explosive or weapon is detected.

Integration of Systems for Maximum Efficiency The ability of the security system to function effectively is integrating systems for maximum efficiency. In this case, passenger screening system should be integrated with the other airport security components like barriers, closed circuit television systems (CCTV), and access to the airside operations area. Integration of these systems helps in ensuring they work seamlessly and in a coordinated manner to enhance security.

Actually, the lack of integration generates several challenges and difficulties which may compromise the level of security at the airport and its various facilities. The first aspect of integrating systems for maximum efficiency is establishing pre-screening zones that instruct and direct passengers for efficient screening flow, which helps in avoiding delays and generating discomfort. These zones will consist of signs that show prohibited items, warning signs by TSA, film advisory, and carry on requirements by the airline ("Security Checkpoint Layout Design," 2006).

The pre-screening zones will also be fitted with video monitors that demonstrate prohibited items and other components of passenger screening. Passengers will be subjected to a pre-screening process for assessment of their risk level at the various barriers at the airport. Biometric identification technology will be used at pre-screening and screening points as well as barriers to help ensure passengers and airport visitors cannot procure or steal identity of others (Gillen & Morrison, 2015, p.10).

The biometric identification technology will be linked to the Total Airport Security System, which is a fusion-based surveillance and intelligence system. Information from these identification systems will be automatically sent to the TASS and accessible at the other screening points in the airport. The second aspect of this process is linking screening points with the overall system of security at the airport i.e. Total Airport Security System.

Given the increased number of people passing through passenger or visitor checkpoints, the improvement of screening efficiency in the airport will involve linking all equipments used at the screening points i.e.