Enhanced Airport Screening: Artificial Intelligence May Soon Be Integrated into Security Scanners for Faster Processing
In a significant stride towards modernising airport security, Germany is set to introduce AI-assisted luggage screening and advanced 3D scanners by 2024, with a nationwide rollout planned by 2028. This move is expected to boost efficiency, improve threat detection, and reduce wait times at airports across the country.
The collaboration between American tech company BigBear.ai and Analogic is at the forefront of this development. Their AI-driven threat detection system, integrated into CT scanners used for luggage screening, enhances real-time analysis of scans, thereby increasing threat detection accuracy and lowering false positives. This innovative technology also offers an open-architecture platform, allowing airports, including those in Germany, to adapt to evolving security threats without extensive system overhauls.
The British provider Smiths Detection is behind the new 3D scanners currently in use at German airports. These scanners, similar to a CT scan, create three-dimensional images of carry-on luggage, enabling prohibited items to be detected more easily without the need to unpack laptops or liquids. Frankfurt Airport has already converted a quarter of its lanes to this new technology, with Berlin aiming to complete its transition by 2025.
The sales department at Smiths Detection reported generating around 400 million euros in sales from control technology, primarily from 3D scanners, by early 2025. The company, which holds a market share of 70-80% in Europe and 60% globally, is expected to continue dominating the market as more airports adopt these advanced security measures.
The AI technology has undergone successful tests with Fraport and the Federal Police, and its implementation aims to streamline the security check process at German airports. Initial reports suggest that these new procedures are contributing to a decrease in wait times, as reported by the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung".
Furthermore, changes are planned for body scans, allowing passengers to walk through a control area without having to remove their belts, watches, or shoes. This development is expected to further improve the efficiency of security checks and enhance the overall passenger experience.
As the world continues to grapple with rising passenger volumes and sophisticated threats in a post-pandemic recovery phase, the adoption of AI-enhanced security systems is a crucial step towards ensuring the safety and efficiency of airport operations. Germany's airports are poised to join the global movement towards modern, adaptable, and efficient security solutions.
The collaboration between American tech company BigBear.ai and Analogic, responsible for the AI-driven threat detection system, is expected to revolutionize the lifestyle of travelers by increasing efficiency and improving threat detection through the use of technology in luggage screening. While the new 3D scanners currently in use at German airports, developed by the British provider Smiths Detection, are expected to enhance the detection of prohibited items in carry-on luggage, making travel more secure.
