Automation of Aviation Security-Outlook of Level of Automation of Security and its Impact

Abstract

Passengers dream of using air travel without even experiencing the mandatory security and identity checks. The way to make this dream come true is based on the automation of security processes. Since there have been many attacks in the aviation sector, especially on airports and aeroplanes, the requirements for security systems and their development have risen sharply, with the consequence that passengers have to accept increasingly deeper intrusions into their privacy. To ensure these requirements, passenger and baggage screening systems must meet the highest standards. In this paper, we present opportunities, risks, and impacts of a fully automated security system on passengers. To this end, we examine processes at the airport and their current level of automation with a focus on security. Using Airport 4.0 as an example, the degree of complete digitalization, which serves as the basis for automation, is evaluated in the context of airports. Thereby, the prerequisites for digitalization, concerning effort and costs, is elaborated. Automation through digitalization is examined using the example of the application of Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, we evaluate the progress of automation in various areas by way of examples. The existing degree of digitalization and automation, especially through the use of artificial intelligent, makes the realization of the dream of using aviation without even realizing the mandatory security and identity checks seem closer. However, digitalized systems may be subject to cyber-attacks manipulating e.g. databases, containing biometric data. Therefore, future work will address cyber-security on the one hand, and on the other, a method that applies the power of Artificial Intelligence to control all parts of the security infrastructure, such as cameras, access controls, and border controls. Automation combined with Artificial Intelligence can be trained to detect hidden correlations that reveal potential threats.