When an on-site reporter detailed how the boy managed to slip through a web of manpower and technology, including an extensive network of IP security cameras and a workforce of 3,000, charged with handling security. It wasn't until she went into detail describing how he had managed to evade Sega-riding security officers and a foot patrol accompanied by German shepherds made regular patrols while an overhead camera swept the scene, including a corner of the airfield formed by the angle of a traffic-filled freeway and its exit ramp that I instantly recognized the locale. Simultaneously she confirmed it with the words "The incident occurred at the 1,050 acre Mineta San Jose International Airport." My reaction changed instantly from "How could it be?" to "I believe it."
Some Relevant Facts
Some Relevant Facts
Mineta San Jose International Airport was my home airport for fifteen years although it was just San Jose International Airport at the time. In fact when I first moved to the San Jose area in 1979 it was just San Jose Airport. If I wanted a direct flight to New York I had to drive to San Francisco since San Jose's landing field was too small for a a jumbo jet. If I did fly on a smaller jet there was no such thing as a jet port because there was no such thing as a big terminal. One had to trek out onto the field and ascend the shaky metal steps that had been rolled up to the plane's door.
Sometime in the mid-80's when Silicon Valley made San Jose a bonafide destination, American Airlines made San Jose a hub, built their own terminal, scheduling international flights and the rest is history. Other airlines added direct flights to the airport, and in 2010 San Jose International Airport once again underwent a major overhaul, making it a state-of-the-art facility.
But one thing remains, Highway 101 still borders the west perimeter of the airport and its freeway ramp still forms a portion of the south perimeter.
Only a six foot high fence topped with barbwire separates air traffic from road traffic. It is one of these fences that the young stowaway scaled. I said to myself, "If there's an airport in need of tight perimeter security it's certainly San Jose."
This incident brings up the question, Are American airports doing as much as they can to maintain security outside terminals? Rafi Ron, former security head at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, possibly the most secure airport in the world, told the Associated Press, of his own experience. "We were investing all our resources at the front door which was the passengers and their bags.
And we left the back door open. And that was the perimeter and access to the aircraft."
But one thing remains, Highway 101 still borders the west perimeter of the airport and its freeway ramp still forms a portion of the south perimeter.
Only a six foot high fence topped with barbwire separates air traffic from road traffic. It is one of these fences that the young stowaway scaled. I said to myself, "If there's an airport in need of tight perimeter security it's certainly San Jose."
This incident brings up the question, Are American airports doing as much as they can to maintain security outside terminals? Rafi Ron, former security head at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, possibly the most secure airport in the world, told the Associated Press, of his own experience. "We were investing all our resources at the front door which was the passengers and their bags.
And we left the back door open. And that was the perimeter and access to the aircraft."
Perimeter Security
Perimeter security is an attempt to monitor sprawling areas. "Attempt", because, as any security official will tell you,no system is foolproof. That's why perimeter security solutions make use of several different surveillance technologies
IP Camera Video Surveillance
In years past, installing hard-wired security cameras was an expensive and labor-intensive project with the need for digging trenches and running cables. However the installation of today's wireless IP camera surveillance systems call for neither. Since each camera occupies a node on an Ethernet network, with its own IP address, they merely need to mounted and connected to the airport's network. Additional cameras can be added quickly, and should a camera need to be moved, relocation is all that's needed.
Once added, the cameras can be monitored from any PC or mobile device.
However, keeping one's eye on all this video is a monumental task, as Mr Paul attested. "What happened at San Jose can happen, as we speak, at other airports, because nobody can watch all these monitors." This is why video management software is so important as part of a total surveillance solution.
However, keeping one's eye on all this video is a monumental task, as Mr Paul attested. "What happened at San Jose can happen, as we speak, at other airports, because nobody can watch all these monitors." This is why video management software is so important as part of a total surveillance solution.
Video management software
Pan Tilt zoom cameras can be programmed to range back and forth, covering a specific area of the airports boundaries, and with Video Management Software installed can alert security, should motion be detected, or a parcel that wasn't there on one sweep of the area appears on the next. In both cases, a pushed video alert would stream the video to the PC or video wall at the security stations and/or to roving guards' mobile device screens so they can respond immediately.
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging cameras can provide "insurance" coverage. Since they function by detecting heat, conditions that interfere with the light needed by conventional cameras, do not interfere with thermal imaging. They are able to provide coverage through dust, glare, the uneven lighting available at dusk and dawn, or even in the darkness of night. Using special adaptive analytics,VMS, and video encoders, footage can be recorded and stored, or should security be breached, push alerts can go out to security as noted above.
The Experts Weigh In
The San Jose Mercury News included the response of Jeff Price, a professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver and an author who has written extensively on security. "You've got enough layers in the system. It's just a matter where it seems the system didn't work."
The Mercury News also quoted Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Director of Terrorism, Intelligence, and Security Systems Richard Bloom as commenting "This doesn't mean we should radically change the way we do airport security. It's just that with all these layers of security, none of them is 100% accurate. Each has its own vulnerabilities."
This was apparent because after the boy was discovered wandering the airfield in Hawaii, he told authorities that he had gained entry by climbing a fence. And indeed, review of the stored video back in San Jose revealed footage of what appeared to be the youth on the field. Apparently no one monitoring the video feed had noticed him.
Stating the Obvious
While stored video can be invaluable in reconstructing a forensics scene, it can only be effective in real time if someone is carefully monitoring their screen.
Thermal imaging cameras can provide "insurance" coverage. Since they function by detecting heat, conditions that interfere with the light needed by conventional cameras, do not interfere with thermal imaging. They are able to provide coverage through dust, glare, the uneven lighting available at dusk and dawn, or even in the darkness of night. Using special adaptive analytics,VMS, and video encoders, footage can be recorded and stored, or should security be breached, push alerts can go out to security as noted above.
The Experts Weigh In
The San Jose Mercury News included the response of Jeff Price, a professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver and an author who has written extensively on security. "You've got enough layers in the system. It's just a matter where it seems the system didn't work."
The Mercury News also quoted Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Director of Terrorism, Intelligence, and Security Systems Richard Bloom as commenting "This doesn't mean we should radically change the way we do airport security. It's just that with all these layers of security, none of them is 100% accurate. Each has its own vulnerabilities."
This was apparent because after the boy was discovered wandering the airfield in Hawaii, he told authorities that he had gained entry by climbing a fence. And indeed, review of the stored video back in San Jose revealed footage of what appeared to be the youth on the field. Apparently no one monitoring the video feed had noticed him.
Stating the Obvious
While stored video can be invaluable in reconstructing a forensics scene, it can only be effective in real time if someone is carefully monitoring their screen.
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