Page 20 - Security Today, September 2017

Landing the Proper Security The airport perimeter: Preventing threats from the outside in
By John Distelzweig
Events in recent history con- cerning attacks on transporta- tion hubs have increased the importance of safeguarding airports around the world and further highlighted the need for accurate, re- liable and smart security systems to protect aviation assets. IP cameras, access control systems and biometric technologies are play- ing an integral role in recognizing prohibited materials and suspicious individuals that pass through an airport’s doors. However, it remains imperative that airport directors, operations managers, integrators and install- ers also turn their attention to threats from
the outside. If the perimeter is not properly secured, the entire operation is at risk to in- truders and attacks.
Meeting the Challenges
“Airports provide many unique security de- sign challenges. The amount of property to be protected and the perimeters can be enormous,” said Ted Wheaton, senior sys- tems project manager at Ross & Baruzzini, a global engineering, architecture and consult- ing firm headquartered in St. Louis.
For example, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest airport in the United States and occupies more than
seven square miles of land. The task of se- curing such an expansive area such as this is daunting for any security executive, not to mention expensive. Costs can rack up quick- ly when implementing even the most basic of physical perimeter defenses, like fences and camera poles, which require weeks of trenching, cabling and installation. However, the cost of implementing advanced perim- eter solutions is small when compared to an airport or runway closure resulting from an intrusion. Shutting down runways for even minutes can result in significant losses for airports. Having the ability to quickly detect and address an incident is essential for main- taining optimal airport operation.
Another hurdle that staff must manage for perimeter security is controlling the vari- ous portals that people travel through. For example, in order to board any plane people move from an unsecured side of the airport to a secured side (through Transportation Security Administration), and then from the gate onto the plane. There are hundreds of portals, or doors, that lead to concourses or terminals. As such, system integrators must decide which ones warrant additional mea- sures such as electronic badging with special- ty cameras. Protecting against unauthorized entry and preventing people from going onto the airport tarmac is another level of this obstacle that security personnel are all too familiar with. It is not only a serious breach of security, but also a notable inconvenience, as it causes air traffic to stall, which can re- sult in lower customer satisfaction and loss of revenue for the airlines.
By far, the greatest challenge airport di- rectors face, when it comes to security, is an overall lack of capital needed to make the ideal system improvements. More often than not, airport operation managers must work within small department budgets to improve electronic security, modern IT infrastruc- ture, maintenance and operational training. When money is designated solely for security improvements, it is typically allocated for in- terior security systems. Investments usually go to things like internal screening devices and baggage-handling technologies used for identify verification and recognition of weapons, drugs and other illegal substances. Rarely do airports get money for outdoor pe- rimeter systems to proactively detect threats from the exterior.
Hiring for security staff can be affected by the limited funding received. Many air- ports lack the desired manpower for op-
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