AcSys Biometrics Corp. announced that its Face Recognition System has been deployed at Thunder Bay International Airport, the first Canadian airport to deploy facial-recognition technology. The solution was deployed by CompuBlox Inc. in cooperation with integrator Conquest Alliance Group.

CompuBlox installed a security system featuring the AcSys FRS Entry face recognition system, as well as proximity cards to create secure access control to the airfield. Authorized users swipe their proximity cards, and are verified by the FRS in less than one second. An optical turnstile will also be installed at the site, addressing the possibility of tailgaters. The turnstile will passively count personnel as they enter, and they must pass single file through a gateway to ensure they are counted individually.

"The number one challenge we are facing today is the sudden increase in human resources and expense to provide enhanced security and clearance of all airport personnel," said Ed Schmidtke, commercial manager, Thunder Bay International Airport Authority. "This project will be successful if we can provide a turnkey access control system that reduces the need for manpower and provides a solution that is both reliable and affordable. In other words, allowing airports to use their resources more efficiently and deploy their security personnel more effectively, thereby improving the overall security protocol," said Collin Sutherland, president of Conquest Alliance Group.