Monash Uni, Micro-X create 'gender sensitive' new scanners for US airport security

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Long queues and invasive pat-downs at airport security might be a thing of the past thanks to a new system designed by Australian researchers.

Monash University's Design Health Collab and Australian tech company Micro-X have been awarded a contract to bring their compact self-screening concept to life for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transport Security Administration (TSA).

The single booth system is akin to a supermarket self-checkout, letting passengers take themselves through the process. The design combines the current two-pronged security process into one step, according to Monash lead design researcher Dr Nyein Chan Aung.

The single booth system is akin to a supermarket self-checkout, letting passengers take themselves through the process. 
The single booth system is akin to a supermarket self-checkout, letting passengers take themselves through the process.

"Right now, you load your bags in, you stand in a line, you pass through the gate and pick your things up," said Aung.

"All these steps are going to be happening in your own booth now. You take your bags in, do your own scanning, and when you're done you grab your own bags and you go."

One of the technology's main functions will be to minimise 'nuisance alarms', an industry term for when a passenger forgets something in their pockets or luggage, like a water bottle, explains Aung. Scanners will pick this during the on-person screening step, sending travellers a 'pre-warning' alert prompt.

The first working prototype is still about eight months from completion, and it may be a further year before the design team can look to commercialise and roll out the product to the United States.
The first working prototype is still about eight months from completion, and it may be a further year before the design team can look to commercialise and roll out the product to the United States.

"We don't have to pat down everyone and we can tell a bit more clearly if something is a nuisance alarm or an actual threat. We're closely collaborating with TSA and Homeland Security stakeholders to make sure that's handled very effectively," said Aung.

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The compact design would enable travellers to be spread across multiple modular individual booths, as opposed to just two CT scanner lanes. In this way, the system could help alleviate time-consuming bottlenecks.

"In the same space that now fits two CT scanner lanes, we can fit seven individual checkpoints. The CT scanner is smaller, with a very large baggage bin," said Aung.

"Overall the booth is somewhat roomier, but actually we can fit more in a single lane than before."

Another key consideration for the checkpoint overhaul was implementing an approach that would maintain ease-of-use, convenience and dignity for all passengers.

"The main contribution of the Australian design team of this project is about restoring human dignity for the airport experience project," said Aung.

"How can we design a system that does equal service to everybody? We take that very seriously. In fact, one of the collaborators on the project is Monash XYX Lab, whose specialty is to provide gender sensitive design."

Dr Brian Gonzales, chief scientist of Micro-X and the chief executive of the company's US subsidiary, said world-class scanning technology needs to be combined with great design to be effective.

"The interface between the checkpoint system and the person is what makes the technology work for humans. People need to have a good experience and the design needs to consider people's wellbeing, movement and flow."

The first working prototype is still about eight months from completion, and it may be a further year before the design team can look to commercialise and roll out the product to the United States.

The revolutionary checkpoint design project follows chaotic scenes at airports around the world during the peak June and July travel period, blamed on staffing shortages.

This accompanied online backlash in June around incidents of gender discrimination at Australian airport security screenings after ABC journalist Louise Milligan's "embarrassing" security ordeal went viral. In a post to Twitter, Milligan claimed male security staff forced her to remove a fitted business jacket, despite protests she only had a "little" camisole on underneath, and that it left her feeling humiliated and uncomfortable.