Airport Demand Boosts Smart Cards

Nov 1, 2002 12:00 PM, Paul Rothman

           

Smart card shipments to the U.S. and Canada have doubled in the past year from 14.77 million in January through June 2001 to 31.2 million in the same span of 2002, reports the Smart Card Alliance — and the technology has not been lost on U.S. airports.

Increases in procurement of airport security devices and technology have boosted the demand. Smart cards — ID cards that include an embedded microchip loaded with data — are being quickly adopted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in several applications.

“Our vision is to have one credential that a transportation worker will wear,” said Gregg Hawrylko, program manager for the Department of Transportation's Credential Project Office, at the Smart Card Alliance's conference in Washington, D.C.

The smart cards would contain basic information about an employee, including a biometric identifier (likely a fingerprint). The card would also be able to grant access to secure areas and computer networks. The TSA has confirmed that 20 to 25 smart card pilot projects will go into effect in January at airports throughout the country.

Smart cards are also being considered by the TSA for so-called Trusted Traveler cards, designed for frequent flyers wishing to speed through the security line.

“Such a program would involve the use of foolproof I.D. cards, using available biometrics and anti-counterfeiting technologies,” Air Transport Association President Carol Hallett told the California Chamber of Commerce. “Persons carrying such cards would be screened separately, using a less-time-consuming level of security scrutiny.

“To get one of these cards you will be asked to provide personal and financial information and a fingerprint or other biometric,” Hallett continued. “But the choice would be up to the traveler — use a card or stand in line.”

TSA Chief Adm. James Loy has confirmed that airports in Los Angeles and Philadelphia are among the test sites for the Trusted Traveler cards. He also confirmed that travelers who want to sign up for the card would have to submit to the background checks. “We will know more about them from a security standpoint than anonymous passengers who present themselves to screeners at the airport,” Loy told the Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee.

Of course, universal traveler and airport employee ID cards have drawn their share of criticism. “There's really no way to prevent smart terrorists from getting smart cards if it's opened up to the public,” Aviation Consumer Action Project Executive Director Paul Hudson says. “Identity theft and false IDs are a way of life for smart terrorists and criminals.”

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

SUBSCRIBE

Select an Issue April 1, 2008 March 1, 2008 February 1, 2008 January 1, 2008 December 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 1, 2007 August 1, 2007 July 1, 2007 June 1, 2007 IP Security Supplement May 1, 2007 April 1, 2007 March 1, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 1, 2007 School Security December 1, 2006 November 1, 2006 October 1, 2006 September 1, 2006 August 1, 2006 July 1, 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 1, 2006 March 1, 2006 February 1, 2006 January 1, 2006 December 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 October 1, 2005 September 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 July 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 May 1, 2005 April 1, 2005 March 1, 2005 February 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 December 1, 2004 November 1, 2004 October 1, 2004 September 1, 2004 August 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 June 1, 2004 May 1, 2004 April 1, 2004 March 1, 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 October 1, 1997 September 1, 1997 August 1, 1997 July 1, 1997 June 1, 1997 May 1, 1997 April 1, 1997 March 1, 1997 February 1, 1997 January 1, 1997

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue