Biometrics in Bangalore airport is a process which aims at providing a seamless and contactless process for passengers. This includes the e-boarding system, face recognition technology and the self bag drop facility.
Face recognition technology
A facial recognition system at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru will help passengers check in. The new technology has been implemented by Portuguese company Vision Box.
This technology will make it possible for passengers to enter the airport without having to carry ID documents or a boarding pass. When a passenger uses the Digi Yatra app on their smartphone, the facial features of their face are recognised and their identity is verified.
In addition, the e-gate will be installed at the airport to take a picture of the passengers’ face and store it in a database. Once the face is identified, the e-gate will open the gate. Passengers can also use their digital boarding passes to access the building and the security area.
These systems are expected to increase the speed of the entry process and improve efficiency in the airport. They are part of an end-to-end solution for paperless air travel in India.
Several airports in the country are implementing facial recognition software, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Eventually, these technologies will be used across all airports in the country.
Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding system
The Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) has started a pilot project for Aadhaar-enabled entry of passengers. According to the executive director of BIAL, Hari Marar, the aim of the project is to create a secure, fast and smooth access to the airport. He believes that the project will also enhance security.
BIAL is partnering with Safran Identity & Security in this endeavor. They will use the fingerprints of a passenger to match it against the data stored in the Aadhaar database. This will be done at the control gate.
Currently, the process takes around 25 minutes, whereas a biometric e-boarding system will allow the screening to be completed in less than five seconds. It will help to eliminate delays at the airport and improve resource efficiency.
Domestic flights will be covered by the new system by October 4. After that, all international flights will be included. By December, the entire process will be automated.
Aadhaar-enabled entries and e-boarding systems will also simplify the check-in and boarding processes, allowing for faster verification of a passenger’s identity. Moreover, it will help to increase the security of the airport.
Self-bag-drop facility
The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is a prime example of how the airport industry is catching up with advances in technology. As a result, the facility has a self-bag-drop system that makes traveling easier and faster.
In addition to the self-bag-drop, the airport has a facial recognition system that is expected to be implemented in the near future. This technology will provide a faster and more efficient security check.
While the self-bag-drop facility is a big deal, the facial recognition feature is a smaller one. Unlike the self-bag-drop, the facial recognition feature will not be available to passengers who are carrying excess luggage.
However, the face recognition feature is a part of the larger Digi Yatra project. It is a government initiative that aims to improve the digital experience of air travellers. Among other things, the system uses facial recognition to allow passengers to go from “kerb to gate” without physical identification.
Along with the facial recognition feature, the self-bag-drop facility is accompanied by an automated tray retrieval system. This feature will eliminate the need to manually push bags into X-Ray machines. Once bags are in the machine, they are automatically weighed and measured.
Aims to achieve contactless, seamless processing of passengers
BIAL has recently introduced the parking to boarding contactless journey at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. This initiative is in line with the vision of Digital India. It will further enable seamless and contactless processing of passengers at the airport.
The project has been initiated by the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia. He has also introduced the program at three airports in India.
As per the DigiYatra program, the identity of the passenger is stored in a secure wallet on the phone of the passenger. Once the user enters the terminal, the identification details are retrieved using a sensor. Passengers will then be scanned at a kiosk. Afterward, the QR code on the digital boarding pass will enable the passenger to access the building and security area.
The facial recognition system will ensure enhanced security at the airport. The CISF will verify the government-issued photo ID of the passenger. Moreover, the airline staff will hand out a kit to the passenger with a face shield.