As travelers make their way through the hustle and bustle of today’s airports this spring break, they will pass by familiar security measures — TSA officers, metal detectors and surveillance cameras — all visible reminders of a commitment to safety. Yet behind the scenes lies an invisible, tech-powered network that enhances security in ways travelers never see and keep them safe without knowing it.
For decades, airports across the nation relied on vast security networks with thousands of cameras and access control devices monitoring every corner of even the largest terminals. These devices typically feed into a central security management system — the heart of airport security — where teams can instantly pull up footage, track incidents and coordinate swift responses.
But these technologies aren’t enough — now the addition of video analytics and lidar, airport security has been transformed from reactive response solutions into proactive, intelligent networks.
“Advanced technologies are helping airports manage crowds, enhance security and ensure a seamless travel experience“
This hidden suite of advanced technologies — including video analytics and lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors — is designed to enhance safety, streamline operations and ultimately transform the airport security landscape. And as travel demand continues to rise, airports are increasingly relying on these sophisticated tools for real-time monitoring and responding to threats — whether travelers know it or not.
Lidar is especially valuable because it operates seamlessly in three dimensions, even in poor lighting or adverse weather conditions. Unlike traditional cameras and associated analytics, lidar functions through laser detection, mapping the exact spatial position of objects and people within its reach. For airport perimeters, where conditions can vary from bright daylight to heavy rain, lidar provides a reliable solution that visual cameras alone cannot provide.
With the spring break travel season ushering in both large crowds and heightened security concerns, airports often face a shortfall in manpower to manage the surge comfortably, making operational efficiency just as critical as maintaining robust security measures.
It is during these high-traffic periods that advanced technologies like video analytics and lidar truly shine. By monitoring crowd flow and traffic at bottlenecks like check-in areas, security checkpoints and boarding gates, these tools allow airports to dynamically allocate staff based on real-time needs, such as deploying additional personnel to an unexpectedly busy area. Data-driven incident management systems also enable airports to manage external factors like adverse weather, proactively suggesting measures during snow or storms to limit disruptions, keep passengers informed and reduce wait times.
For example, at one of the largest U.S. airports located in the Midwest, Hexagon’s technology helps security personnel respond more quickly to potential issues — a vital function given it would be impossible to monitor its 5,000 cameras with just human eyes.
Passengers in a Malaysian airport
Another major airport in the Southeast is designing proof of concept projects looking to further enhance situational awareness by leveraging lidar technology to create digital twins of its most critical airport environments. Lidar combined with 3D geospatial software would allow the airport to create highly accurate and responsive virtual barriers in areas where traditional systems cannot be deployed or provide high false positive alarm rates. These can be perimeters where infrastructure is cost prohibitive, planes parked on tarmacs and various “blind spots” not easily covered with video or access control devices.
These technological advancements also extend to incident management systems, which allow staff to react to events according to established protocols — a capability that has proven especially valuable at the above referenced Southeastern airport — where this technology has transformed daily security operations.
Today, these innovative tools do much more than just handle crowds and inclement weather; they also enhance the airport’s ability to integrate and maximize diverse security systems across sprawling infrastructures. As technology continues to rapidly evolve and airports expand and modernize, the importance of bridging the gap between new and old systems is paramount. Centralized security management systems do just that, giving security personnel a cohesive view across multiple platforms, regardless of camera or sensor age. This unified view is particularly crucial for large hubs, allowing staff to monitor everything from newer, analytics-enabled cameras to older analog models on a single screen.
Still, while the future of airport security may increasingly lean on such technologies, human oversight remains essential. Video analytics and lidar can streamline detection and improve response times, but the expertise of security professionals provides the critical judgment necessary to interpret and respond to complex scenarios. Above all, one thing is clear: By adopting these technologies, airports can better manage the unpredictability of travel while keeping safety at the forefront — a commitment that the industry will continue to uphold.