SECURITY

Security

Next-Gen EDS
Tech company secures funding Reveal Imaging Technologies, Inc., a developer of operationally compatible security inspection systems, secures $10 million in Series A funding from IDG Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, and Greylock. The company will use the financing to further develop and market its next-generation explosives detection systems (EDS) for airport checked baggage screening, government and private facility protection, and inspection of airfreight; www.revealimaging.com. EDS Delivery
Frankfurt airport contracts with Yxlon Yxlon, a subsidiary of InVision Technologies, Inc. enters into a contract for the delivery and installation of XES 3000 X-ray diffraction-based explosives detection systems at Rhein-Main Airport in Frankfurt, Germany. The contract is valued at $11 million and deliveries and installation are expected to begin in 2005; www.invision-tech.com. Security
Investment
Florida airport upgrades security system Sarasota-Bradenton (FL) Int'l Airport completes several security upgrades, totaling some $4.1 million. Projects include: a new 3,500-sq.ft. emergency operations center, an expanded video surveillance system, new electronic locks, surveillance images that are now recorded on digital video recorders, and a programmable computerized access control system. According to Mark Stuckey, airport operations and projects administrator, the operations center is located beneath the passenger gates and features 20 color monitors that receive live video images from 70 surveillance cameras stationed throughout the 1,100-acre facility. The cameras are connected to an alarm system that automatically brings up the camera image when an alarm is tripped. Screening Screeners
TSA revamps hiring process According to the Associated Press, Los Angeles International Airport had more Transportation Security Administration federal screeners fired after investigations uncovered problems following incomplete initial background checks than any other airport in the country. Reports state at least 139 screeners were fired at the airport through June 2003. Nationally, some 1,200 of 55,000-plus screeners were fired for lying on applications, criminal histories, etc. A TSA spokesperson explains that initially, federal screeners were allowed to interact with the public while their background checks were being processed. The TSA has since changed its hiring process so background checks are complete before screeners begin training. O'Hare International Airport had 77 screeners fired after checks were complete, while New York's Kennedy Airport had 55, Hartsfield-Jackson International 43, and Newark's airport 42; www.tsa.gov. Biometrics Reports
Technology reviews now available The International Biometric Group (IBG) released a new version of its State of Biometric Technology Standards report as well as its State of Iris Recognition Technology report. IBG tracks all biometric standards efforts and is active in all critical standards activities in the biometrics industry, including M1, BioAPI, SC37, and x9/84. The iris recognition report offers analysis of Iridian's core technology and the iris recognition industry in general. The report focuses on the use of iris recognition in access control, PC/network access, and identification systems, and compares it to competing technologies such as fingerprint, facial recognition, and hand geometry. The reports are available for purchase by visiting www.biometricgroup.com.