CNN Features Flatirons Solutions Project

BOULDER, Colo. — Flatirons Solutions is playing a major role in protecting our airports from threats of terrorism by assisting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with evaluating new and emerging security technologies. As a part of its ongoing initiative to improve airport security, TSA has initiated a program to evaluate access control systems in at a least twenty airports and air cargo facilities. The Airport Access Control Pilot Program (AACPP) involves the application of biometric technologies such as fingerprint readers, voice recognition, iris scanners and video motion surveillance systems. CNN featured the program in an April 25, 2005 article by Mike M. Ahlers. The article discusses the program and the technologies that will be evaluated at five international airports.

Flatirons Solutions leads the data collection and analysis efforts for the program. Flatirons developed the database schema and the APIs used to collect the voluminous amount of data generated by the integrated pilot system, including the data generated by the broad range of biometric devices. As the project evaluators, Flatirons staff reviews the empirical data received from each pilot system and makes quantitative and qualitative analyses on the viability of the technology to mitigate security risks. Flatirons' reports will contribute to a knowledgebase that TSA will use to advise airport Security Directors on the operational and environmental suitability of access control technology.