Page 19 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2019 Online Magazine

Fuelled by AI, the scanner allows fliers to stand between two plastic While currently only half of the world’s airlines
walls, approximately four feet apart. Then, with no moving parts, can track bags across a quarter of their net-
the scanner is able to detect suspicious shapes and objects in less works, 60 percent of airlines surveyed by SITA
than a second. Using millimetre-wave technology, the scanner is predicted that advances in technology would
part of a new era of airport security – driven by AI and the need enable them to track bags across three quar-
for speed. Millimetre waves are just below visible light on the elec- ters of their networks by June. “Investment in
tromagnetic spectrum, and they provide the imaging benefits of baggage processing is a high priority for more
X-rays without the harmful radiation. Artificial intelligence takes the than half of the world’s airports and number
scanning process a step further by interpreting any obstructions, four in their list of top investment areas,” says
determining whether the object is harmful or benign. AI identifies SITA in its report.
patterns in the data through behaviour recognition of passengers
at security systems in airports. “Airports are investigating new technologies
to support baggage services, with around half
Similarly, at Oakland International Airport in California, Evolv planning to pump funds into RFID and digital
Technology installed millimetre-wave scanners that scan airport tags over the next three years.” However, “Any
employees as they walk from “land side” to “air side.” Typically, AI platform will rely heavily on good quality
these scanners are able to capture an image in a mere fracture baggage data,” says Peter Drummond, head
of a second. The system also utilizes facial recognition in order to of baggage at SITA. “It is vital that airports and
detect people on a watch list. “With today’s threat landscape, the airlines have the right information of each and
security perimeter has expanded beyond traditional checkpoints,” every bag and where it is on its journey. It is
said Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology and a 20-year also important that this data is shared with all
veteran in aviation security. “Evolv Edge’s flexibility and portabil- the stakeholders.”
ity provides Oakland International Airport with an added layer of
security when it comes to employee screening.” As a result of the bag track data generated
under IATA Resolution 753, Drummond says
According to a recent report by BCC Research “Global Markets that the air transport industry will be pro-
for Technologies in Airport Security, the increasing adoption of vided with a rich stream of data. “This can be
techniques such as machine learning and deep learning in ster- enhanced with AI tools to create greater effi-
ile areas is increasing the demand for the AI. “Currently, artificial ciencies in baggage operations, and ultimately,
intelligence is integrated with airport security systems such as improve our experience as passengers,” he
screening, perimeter security and surveillance since these will explains.
enable the airport authorities to improve the safety and security
of the passengers,” report author Aneesh Kumar says. The global SITA goes on to predict that AI-powered
market of AI technologies in airport security is expected to reach machines will be able to track bags from the
US$281.8 million by the end of 2023 at a five-year CAGR of 9.7 point of a passenger checking in all the way to
per cent. their destination without human intervention.
It states that automatic sortation systems that
Baggage Handling move bags from airports into planes are already
Between now and 2036, the International Air Transport Association being used, and that some airports have even
(IATA) estimates that the number of air passengers will rise from 4 deployed robotic loaders and unloaders to fur-
billion to almost 8 billion. Airports are already processing more than ther automate the process. The air transport
4.5 billion bags each year and with these numbers set to double, a industry has reduced its annual costs from
recent whitepaper – Intelligent Tracking: A Baggage Management mishandling from US$4.22 billion to USUS$2.1
Revolution by SITA has hailed the potential of artificial intelligence billion over the last decade, and SITA says that
to revolutionise airports’ baggage handling systems. AI intervention will further this reduction.

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