Facial Recognition: Building a Robust Smart Transportation Ecosystem

The modern digital world relies deeply on the Internet of Things (IoT) and the technologies that come with it. As a prominent result of this rapid transformation, global economies are heavily investing in smart city initiatives to further automate day-to-day operations, specifically transportation. It includes integrated transport networks, centralized traffic control, vehicle movement trajectories, and commuters’ database management, extending to the security and convenience of a unified ecosystem. According to recent reports, the global smart transportation market size is expected to amount to USD 340 billion by 2032, indicating the reformative role of security technologies to streamline transport operations and ensure commuter convenience.

In order to maintain the stability of one of the most critical infrastructures for a state, the footprint of AI and advanced technologies is rising to further strengthen the security operations. Facial recognition is one such technology that has sought a center stage in the smart city landscape, unveiling tremendous opportunities for operational unification and fast-paced digitization.

Enhanced Smart Parking Security

Facial recognition technology in smart parking systems offers advanced security, revolutionizing how we access parking facilities. By registering facial data while entering a smart parking space, routine commuters can enjoy seamless entry and exit, as the system quickly verifies their identity and links their profile with the details of the vehicle. This not only eliminates the need for physical tickets or cards; it also streamlines the parking experience and reduces the cases of vehicle theft. Facial recognition-enabled access cameras vigilantly identify the individual behind the wheels and raise alarms when a potential breach is committed. The concerned person as well as the security staff are notified, allowing rapid response. The potential for enhanced user convenience and the efficiency of automated parking solutions make facial recognition a compelling technology.

Elevate Security at Smart Transport Terminals

Smart terminals and ports endorse interactions with cloud-based services, allowing access to public transport resources, but remain vulnerable to security threats. In most instances, threats to property, resources, and lives could be prevented if the concerned person was identified at the entry point itself. AI-powered Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) enhance the capabilities of the existing video management system to enable real-time monitoring and accurate identification using face images. It helps deter security infringements and uphold security protocols. By mapping the entire facility into the FRS, specific zones and locations can be monitored by switching between screens.

Robust Support in Security Operations

FRS allows security personnel to categorize people’s profiles into classified lists, like stop-list, VIP, daily commuters, repeated offenders, etc. It identifies when a person of concern enters the protected transport terminal’s perimeter, so the security staff are able to timely deploy countermeasures. Moreover, any unidentified suspected individual can be kept under constant supervision using watch lists. As and when a breach is committed, the security operator receives alerts, facilitating them to prevent issues from escalating.

Convenient Travel

Facial biometrics-powered solutions not only allow live monitoring but are also exceptionally instrumental in enhancing the commuter experience. Interactions at transport terminals improve as a result of stringent security measures. Additionally, the system translates commuter data into comprehensive reports. So, the visitor statistics for various criteria like gender, age, and healthcare protocols can be easily inferred, enabling data-driven decision-making. This also promotes inclusivity by preparing for the convenience of commuters with special needs, particularly during peak hours.

Chong Nonsi Metro Station: RecFaces’ Id-Guard for Secure Travels

Following a critical security incident at the Chong Nonsi Metro Station in Bangkok, the authorities sought an advanced, AI-powered solution to mitigate security risks and accelerate investigations. In response, RecFaces deployed the ready-to-use Id-Guard solution within the Video Management System (VMS) at the station. 

• Id-Guard is a facial biometric solution that performs real-time monitoring of visitors and identification of stop-listed people through their face image
• It enabled searching for an unwanted person from the archived biometric data and speeding up the investigation process
• By equipping the video management system with facial biometrics, tourists and residents of Bangkok using Chong-Nonsi station for travel can feel safe

The successful implementation of the facial recognition system in one of Bangkok’s busiest metro stations is a classic example of how this new-age technology can enhance security in smart transportation.

Smart Transportation: Unveiling Exponential Growth

Technology is constantly permeating our lives and transforming even routine activities, including how we travel. Rigorous testing is being conducted to ascertain the feasibility of automatic ticketing systems and contactless payment systems using facial recognition technology. The ticket holder can be guided across the terminal, ensuring entry authorisation by ticket class and reducing cases of fraudulent ticketing. With pilot projects already implemented in Spain, Brazil, and South Korea, biometrics offer promising prospects for enriching commuter interactions, making them more secure and convenient. It augments the transport system to build a more inclusive and accessible service ecosystem.

According to Eugenia Marina, Business Development Director, RecFaces, “Smart city initiatives call for reliable technology solutions that are here to stay. And facial recognition systems have unprecedented potential in reinforcing security and convenience within the smart transportation ecosystem.”