Airport security cameras could soon be using sophisticated face recognition computer software to single out and detain internationally wanted criminals and terrorists, says a European firm on a trade mission to Dubai to sell biometrics technology.
Biometrics uses human physical attributes such as fingerprints, the eyes, a person's voice and facial structure to determine a person's identity.
In a presentation to business officials, LogicaCMG said that its face-recognition software is now being used in a trial programme at an undisclosed European airport.
“Even if the person is wearing a disguise such as glasses or a moustache, the criminal will still be spotted,'' said Liaquat Parkar, LogicaCMG lead consultant.
“The technology sees through these things and recognises the bone structure of the face enough to recognise the person.''
Each person has a number of highly individualistic points along their cheekbones and jaw line that make up a very distinct image that can be uncovered by intelligent computers, he said.
The electronic software uses a realtime video recording that is compared with an existing international photographic database of wanted criminals.
When a match is found, an immediate red alert is dispatched to airport police on the ground who are armed with handheld devices that will display the criminal's mugshot as well as the existing realtime image of the travelling suspect, said Parkar.
Ideally, many of the cameras will be hidden in signs within the airport which attract traveller's attention. For example, an area that contains television screens reporting departure and arrival times would be an ideal place for a camera because it can capture an accurate image of the viewer's face, he said.
“These are good places because the cameras can get a full frontal facial shot,'' Parkar said after his presentation to a workshop hosted by Dubai Quality Group, a non-profit organisation formed to boost the local business environment.
Airports are not the only places being targeted, he said.
Shopping mall Zuidplein in the Netherlands has recently implemented the LogicaCMG facial recognition software to identify and eject shoplifters.
And football hooligans who thought they could sneak into PSV Eindhoven games in Holland are also being rooted out by the facial recognition system, he said.
By 2010, it is estimated that $5 billion (Dh18.36 billion) will be spent by corporations on new biometrics technology.
Good to talk
LogicaCMG is also in discussion with banks across the UAE and the Gulf region to encourage them to adopt voice-authentication software given that it may be the most reliable of all options for activities such as telephone banking. Voice software uses up to 100 personal voice traits to positively identify a person.
Each person has a number of highly individualistic points along their cheekbones and jaw line that make up a very distinct image that can be uncovered by intelligent computers.
