Tagging Passengers and Airport Security

In a bid to improve airports security air travelers could soon be electronically tagged. Tagging would involve the use of wrist bands or boarding passes embedded with computer chips that would allow authorities to track passenger movement around terminal buildings until their departure.

University College London electronic engineer, Paul Brennan is leading work on the EU-funded Optag system. He said it combines high resolution panoramic video imaging with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to enhance airport security, safety and efficiency. According to Brennan; “It would work if each passenger were issued with a tag, which could allow location to about one metre accuracy,” he said. “The video and tag data can be merged to give a very powerful surveillance capability.”

Dr Brennan said that Optag RFID chips would not store any personal details about passengers, they would simply track movements inside the terminals.

The RFID tags emit a short radio message detected by an electronic tag reader. “They emit a unique ID which is then cross-referenced to the passenger information already on the system - maybe the name and flight number of the passenger. Perhaps in the future that would be extended to things like biometric data.” The tags would be linked to a network of CCTV cameras, which could be used to monitor movement of people around terminal buildings.

Dr Brennan also said they can allow precise tracking of certain individuals thought to be a security risk of any sort. It would also be important in detecting who was still in the terminal in the event of evacuating the airport. An added bonus would be the rapid location of lost children.