Regional airports, seaports, and border crossings from Kuwait City to Jeddah to Abu Dhabi are turning to biometric technology to ensure security, while easing passenger and cargo congestion.
Among upcoming biometric projects are an Abu Dhabi Police e-gate turnkey solution for a fast-track frequent traveller facility at various international airports in the UAE.
Others include a 'Traveller Biometric Identification Project' sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior (MoI), to develop and implement a biometric identification system at all KSA border entry and exit points; and a border security system deployed by the Kuwait Ministry of the Interior to use biometric technology for all border entry and exit points.
"The Middle East is one of the world's fastest adopters of biometric technology, and soon nearly every airport and border crossing in the region will be considered state-of-the-art in terms of its ability to quickly and accurately positively identify individuals," said Tony Murphy, COO of Daon.
"At Gitex, we are demonstrating our software product capabilities for iris, finger, and facial technologies."
Daon is currently involved in a number of large international projects, including the TSA's Registered Traveller Programme, the US Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Phase III Programme, biometric employee access control in London City Airport, as well as an integrated employee physical and logical access control solution for Clarendon Insurance in New York city.
On the Registered Traveller Programme in the US, the company is providing the core biometric software to three of five airports, at Los Angeles, Houston, and Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport. The three represent three of the top 15 largest airports in the world in terms of passenger traffic.
The pilot program started in early July in Minneapolis and has now rolled out successfully to all airports using iris, finger, and smartcard technology.
Gulf News
