Atkins provides consultancy, based on a proven methodology, to manage the delivery of biometric identification systems. This can be complemented by a toolkit that makes integration of these complex components straightforward.

Through many years of implementation experience in challenging environments such as Heathrow and government agencies, we have learned how to translate the performance obtained in laboratory tests into real-world operational systems.

We make sure that the optimal solution is obtained, balancing the competing requirements from all key stakeholders, ensuring that you get the security you need in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

AIRPORT IDENTITY MANAGEMENT

IDENTITY MANAGEMENT SERVICE

Our approach to biometrics balances the competing requirements of:

We understand:• the performance of biometric recognition systems under

laboratory conditions; and

• the translation of this performance into real-world systems.

In the airport context, our consultants are experts in understanding the necessary trade-offs that must be managed when these systems are implemented. All biometric recognition systems can be configured to operate in different ways, for example to reduce the time taken at enrolment, or the time taken to decide whether a verification attempt should continue to operate.

These types of configuration, and their implications for overall process performance, are well understood by Atkins.

It is important to understand that biometric component configuration isn’t the only element that must be addressed. Each implementation must also account for:

• Timing: the need to confirm identity as quickly as possible

• User Experience: the degree of user acceptance and simplification of their interaction with the process

• Accuracy: the certainty that is required before allowing a person to proceed

• Compliance: adherence to the rules surrounding data protection

• Cost: selection of the most appropriate technology and integration with other key components.

The combination of all these elements, using our extensive expertise, allows us to help you achieve an optimally-working system that supports the required operational process. This consultancy is supported by the Atkins Identity Management Toolkit which we can provide within our overall service.

Atkins has extensive experience in the delivery of Identity Management solutions, ranging from departure security in airports to fraud detection for government.

TimingUser Experience

Compliance

AccuracyCost Technology

ATKINS IDENTITY MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT

Our offer can also include the Atkins Identity Management toolkit. This is a software package that offers:

• Web services that provide standard interfaces to support biometric identity process definitions such as ENROL, VERIFY, IDENTIFY and SEARCH.

• Managed database which persists the identity related information and provides standard reporting for analysis of data captured.

• Configurable workflow engine that allows business process to be generated quickly without the need for costly and time-consuming software development and deployment.

The toolkit is designed to allow the simple integration of biometric checks, offering flexibility to engage different biometric components using simple or complex business process as required. This means that the calling application does not have to be changed as developments to the biometric components occur. Atkins manages detailed changes under the hood based on hard won experience on how to make these biometric components work to their best capability. The standard interface presented by the Atkins toolkit is only changed in exceptional circumstances.

The managed database segregates identity related data making the application of data protection and security simpler to implement, making it easier to demonstrate compliance to the relevant authorities.

The in-built workflow capability allows business process to be introduced without complex (costly) development with out-of-the-box connectors to existing systems increasing the richness of the rules that can be executed. It can easily implement complex functions such as biometric fusion; and also enables the phased roll-out of biometric processing as airline- or gate-specific rules permit biometrics to be used only when needed.

CASE STUDY – INTEGRATED DEPARTURE LOUNGE PROTECTION AT HEATHROW

The Challenge: Protect the Airside BoundaryHeathrow operates Integrated Departure Lounges (IDLs) in Terminals 1, 2 and 5, with International and Domestic travellers sharing the same space airside. The challenge is to prevent IDL passengers swapping boarding passes, and hence by-passing UK border entry checks. The UK Border Force (UKBF) required biometric identification to be deployed to provide the protection required.

Atkins Approach: Evolution and IterationHaving previously trialled several biometrics in-terminal, from both technological and operational viewpoints, the Atkins solution was implemented with infra-red face recognition.

In order to achieve the optimum overall performance, a balance between the following areas had to be achieved.

• Security – zero false accepts, minimal false rejects

• Performance – minimising the average times for successful enrolments and verifications, but also the timeouts for unsuccessful enrolments and verifications

• Passenger experience – instructions to remove glasses, implementation of exception processes

The evolution from the system working acceptably to working optimally was achieved by iterating through several sets of system configurations. This process required data to be gathered from real passengers in–terminal, both quantitative

(such as transaction timings, image quality scores and biometric match scores) and quantitative (such as observation of geometry and overall system ergonomics), each time providing feedback to suggest the next configuration set with changes getting progressively smaller.

The initial PASS2 implementation consisted solely of manned desks, with many of the enrolment desks subsequently replaced by (unmanned) self-service Automatic Ticket Presentation (ATP) gates. Planned in-terminal data gathering and observation trialling indicated that the ATP gates required a different configuration to the desks to optimise the overall system effectiveness.

The feedback gathered by Atkins during these iterative configuration updates and functional expansions led to several significant improvements of the core biometric technology; including: additional image quality checks for passengers wearing glasses; development of handheld cameras for exception process use; and development of camera poles with in-built screens to improve the usability of ATP gates (allowing passengers to read instructions without looking away from the biometric cameras).

The fully configured system has now been in successful operation for over two years, processing millions of transactions each year.

Find out more: www.atkinsglobal.com/identitymanagement

Positive Boarding: Innovation and Flexibility Building upon the core system for IDL protection, Atkins added a solution known as Positive Boarding. This award winning implementation provides configurable business process by using a workflow engine to connect the system to any number of existing data sources. Positive Boarding evaluates workflow and rules, built up in “real-world” terms via an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI), in real time. Workflow changes can be made and deployed rapidly, without the need for detailed technical or domain knowledge of airport IT systems; or costly and time-consuming software development, testing and deployment.

Positive Boarding provides messaging to individual passengers, improved security to Heathrow and a real-time view of the location and status of all passengers on a flight to the airline. For example: a departing passenger who is running short of time will be given a message prior to security to hurry to a specific gate; a passenger who is too late (and hence cannot fly) will not be permitted to continue airside, and in both cases the airline can make accurate and timely operational decisions.

Future Challenges: Smoother Journey via Self-Service OptionsOngoing challenges include provision of further self-service options such as self-service bag drop units and self-boarding gates, and “one-to-many” / “tokenless” biometric identification where a passenger is quickly and accurately “found” from a population of passengers – everyone enrolled for a given flight, say – without first having to present a travel document. A successful outcome will require Atkins to continue to use innovative and proactive design and implementation to marry the capabilities of the underlying technologies to the operational needs and constraints of the project stakeholders.

Nick WhiteheadEmail: Nicholas.Whitehead@atkinsglobal.com Phone: +44 7717 58 0430