21 April 2020

Airport raises security bar with facial recognition technology for staff

| Ian Bushnell
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Noahface facial recognition technology in action. Photo: Supplied.

Canberra Airport has launched new facial recognition technology for staff entry to boost security in its most sensitive areas.

As well as being subject to manual and physical ID checks, staff and contractors now have to pass new security points that require a positive facial recognition for access.

The airport is using Noahface, a leader in facial recognition use for door access, employee time and attendance and customer service.

Managing Director of Canberra Airport Stephen Byron said not only did Noahface’s technology limit unauthorised access, it also provided a secure photographic record and timeline of who entered or exited sterile areas.

“We no longer want to rely on security cards and keys alone to secure the most sensitive areas of the airport. We believe the bar must be set higher than that,” Mr Byron said.

The airport has been trialling the technology for months and in most areas, staff are now using a two-factor authorisation that includes a facial reading and a physical key to enter their work spaces.

In the most secure areas, a three-factor authorisation is required—a manual ID check by security personnel, a facial reading and a key, presented after the employee or contractor goes through the same screening as passengers.

“We wanted the best technology to verify that people meet three critical requirements: people are who they say they are, they are only allowed to be in areas where they are authorised to be, and they are there only at authorised times. This system does all of that in about a second,” Mr Byron said.

The technology will soon be expanded to Capital Airport Group’s corporate offices, where it will provide photographic record of office entries and hands-free entry to locked office doors.

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