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Biometrics
Facial recognition systems are based and crew entering or leaving the United of a person's various body parts move
on computer software that can either Kingdom in advance of their journey. By over time. It has already been used in a
identify or verify the individual from an December of this year, 60% of all number of high profile cases in Sweden.
image, whether a photographic still or a passengers will be monitored. The Home Police there successfully used it to
frame from a video recording. Office’s aim is that by December 2010, identify a robber involved in a bank raid
Traditionally, the technology has been the system will be monitoring 95%. Total in which a customer was killed.
based on taking the features from an coverage is not expected to be achieved Clearly, this technology could have key
image of the individual’s face. For until 2014. So far around 8m to 10m UK applications in the fight against terrorism.
example, some algorithms analyse the biometric passports, containing a Criminals could, in the future, be made to
position, size, and shape of the eyes, computer chip holding the carrier's facial walk similar tunnels to aid identification
nose, cheekbones, and jaw, and the details, have been issued since they were and the device could be deployed in
distance between each. These attributes introduced in 2006. The last non- airports. According to Professor Mark Nixon
are then used to search for other images biometric passports will cease to be valid from Southampton University:
with matching traits. However, a number after 2016. “It’s extremely difficult for someone to
of newly emerging trends within the facial Commercially, casinos have become disguise the way they walk. We can
recognition sphere are becoming more one of the principal vendors of the identify them whether they are casually
prominent. Three-dimensional face technology, using it to identify known strolling or sprinting from a crime scene.
recognition is developing rapidly. This cheats and blacklisted individuals. The airport application is one that we are
technique uses 3-D sensors to attain However, facial recognition is not keen to explore in more detail. Gait
information about the shape of a face. without its problems; the number one recognition is non-invasive and people
This information is then used to calculate issue has been the excessive quantity of can be tracked at a distance without
distinctive features; for example, the false positives. their knowledge. As part of a larger suite
contours of the nose, chin and eye of biometrics, I believe gait recognition
sockets. Compared with the traditional Gait Analysis has a major part to play in the crackdown
method, 3-D technology has the Gait analysis is simply the study of against both crime and global terrorism.”
advantage of not being affected by human locomotion. Its applications Engineers from Southampton’s School of
differences in lighting. range far and wide. Commonly, Electronic and Computer Science are
Facial recognition systems are already podiatrists use gait analysis to map a already working on an application that
widely in usage within a number of person’s feet in order to detect foot could be implemented at airports.
difference spheres. The German Federal problems; this is something that has Although only in the developmental stage,
Police uses FRS to authorise voluntary become an integral part of sports they say that much interest has already
subscribers to move through fully science. Medically, gait analysis to detect been expressed from around the world.
automated border controls at the Frankfurt changes in walking pattern can be an
Rhein Main International airport; although, early indicator of the onset of Parkinson's Iris Recognition
the system’s subscribers must be disease, multiple sclerosis and normal Iris recognition technology combines
European or Swiss citizens. pressure hydrocephalus. computer vision, pattern recognition,
In the UK, facial recognition has However some scientists believe that a statistical inference, and optics. Its
become an integral part of several Home person’s stride pattern is not only purpose is real-time, high confidence
Office initiatives. The so-called Project identifiable from others, but can be used recognition of a person's identity by
Semaphore has been in place since early as a method of screening hostile intent mathematical analysis of the random
2005, the first stage in the government’s and identifying criminals. The power in this patterns that are visible within the iris of
counter-terror E-Borders programme. The technology lies in the fact that a person's an eye from some distance. Because the
computer system became operational walking style is very hard to disguise. iris is a protected internal organ whose
last year, receiving details from the travel Gait recognition by radar focuses on random texture is complex, unique, and
industry and carriers of all passengers the gait cycle formed by the movements stable throughout life, it can serve as a
kind of living passport that one need not
remember but can always present, much
in the same way as a fingerprint.
So far, the major applications of this
technology have been: substituting for
passports (automated international border
crossing), general aviation security and
controlling access to restricted areas at
airports, and so-called ‘watch list’
screening at border crossings. Elsewhere,
it has been applied in database access
and computer login, premises access
control, and hospitals, for example in
maternity wards to ensure that mothers
are matched to their babies.
Passenger using an iris recognition camera (Credit: Canada Border Services Agency)
Several airports across the globe, over
30 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting www.asi-mag.com August 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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