ATOM

Airport detection and Tracking Of dangerous Materials by passive and active sensors arrays

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The overall objective of project is to contribute to improve the security in the airport area and, thus, on board of departing aircrafts by: • detecting and identifying, without interfering neither with the normal passengers flows, nor with the normal airport operations, the presence of hazardous materials or tools, concealed (under clothes or inside bags) by ill-intentioned people circulating inside airports and that could deliver attacks; • tracking the movements of those threatening people concealing those forbidden items, so that they can easily be localized by security operators. The project intends to study, design and develop the functional prototype of an innovative multi-sensor based system integrating active and passive radar sensors, able to survey wide airport areas without requiring the passengers cooperation by detecting hazardous materials/tools and tracking threatening people or containers; the system will increase the security level not only in the gate area (behind metal detector), but also at a preliminary stage, starting from the airport arriving/departure halls. The approach to be followed foresees two separate and integrated controls: 1. one at the Terminal accesses (between sliding or revolving doors, etc ..) equipped with innovative active devices, not interfering with passengers transit and able to detect and identify dangerous tools (guns, knifes, non-metallic weapons, explosives, etc.) concealed under clothes or inside bags, without requiring passengers to remove their clothes or to empty out their bags; 2. the other in the airport halls before the gate area equipped with new passive RF sensors not interfering with passengers transit and able to track suspicious people/containers. The integrated controls information will be managed in a secure way within the airport information networks allowing security operators to face threats in the most suitable way, minimizing the risk to other people inside the Terminal area.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A European consortium is developing sensor technology to enhance airport security. Identifying and tracking suspicious materials and persons upon their entrance into the terminal will help minimise threats to safety.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Security associated with airports and air travel has become an important global issue. Travellers are well aware of the numerous measures taken at the checkpoint to enter the boarding areas. Metal detectors and trained personnel scan persons and baggage and often ask passengers to empty their bags for further inspection.

Identifying and tracking suspicious persons throughout the airport terminals even before passing through the official security check could help minimise threats posed by concealed and forbidden items. A European consortium initiated the 'Airport detection and tracking of dangerous materials by passive and active sensors arrays' (ATOM) project to develop the necessary technology to realise such a breakthrough.

Scientists are designing functional prototypes of a system integrating radar sensors capable of surveying large airport areas without interrupting normal passenger flow and airport operations. The sensors will be placed at the terminal access (revolving and sliding doors communicating with external spaces) and in airport halls located outside of the security area covered by current security measures.

ATOM system architecture has been defined and detection and tracking sensors are being studied. Scientists are developing the data management system that will enable integrated control of information from the sensors. Real-time analyses will enable security personnel to act quickly and in an informed way to minimise risk to other persons in the airport. Scientists have carried out the first simulations of the data management system. Particular attention has been given to compliance with ethical considerations of uninformed surveillance regarding personal health, data and overall privacy. ATOM technology should provide a significant enhancement in airport security translating to fewer in-flight incidents.