Chicago's O'Hare Airport to use Fingerprint Recognition for its 55,000 employees
In the first-ever large-scale use in aviation, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport will upgrade its existing building access-control system based on fingerprint-recognition technology from SecuGen Corporation. Beginning this fall, new smart card fingerprint-verification readers using SecuGen's technology will be installed on approximately 1,100 doors at both O'Hare and Midway airports.
The readers verify the smart-card holders' identities and allow only authorized employees to enter restricted airport areas such as jet ramps, baggage handling and other secure rooms...
O'Hare International Airport Chooses Fingerprint Recognition by SecuGen Corporation to Beef Up Security;First Large-Scale Use of Fingerprint-Recognition Technology in Aviation
"We chose the solution presented by SecuGen to upgrade our building access-control system for two key reasons," said John Becker, O'Hare's assistant commissioner of information technology.
"First, SecuGen was able to integrate its technology and effectively provide a 'plug-and-play' solution that was compatible with our existing security system. This makes the upgrade easy to install with almost no downtime. Second, their reader solution was affordable, costing just about what our current mag-stripe readers do."
Here's how the system works:
-- The airports' approximately 55,000 employees will register their
fingerprints using a SecuGen optical fingerprint sensor.
-- The sensor captures data about the fingerprint, converts it into
templates -- similar to 40-digit security codes-and stores the template
on a smart card issued to each employee. (Employee privacy is protected
because templates cannot be used to reconstruct fingerprints, and
fingerprint images are never stored anywhere on the system.)
-- Employees insert their smart cards into a SecuGen reader at the door.
The reader then prompts the employee to place his or her finger on the
optical sensor.
-- The reader makes sure the employee's fingerprint data matches the
template in the smart card, then grants or denies access to the door
based on the employee's access level.
"By choosing SecuGen technology, O'Hare is clearly demonstrating that the security of its employees and passengers are its primary focus," said Dan Riley, vice president of software development of SecuGen Corporation. "Because fingerprint-recognition technology relies on a characteristic unique to each individual that can't be stolen or forgotten, it provides reliable advanced security that can effectively control accessibility throughout the airport."
In May this year, SecuGen delivered smart card fingerprint door units and smart cards to O'Hare. Currently, units are installed on several doors and a test panel in secured areas of the airport. SecuGen Corporation is working with SecurCom, Inc., a Chicago-based security company, and Biometric Solutions Group, one of SecuGen's OEM partners, to implement the new building security system.
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