Embedding a distributed simulator in a fully-operational control and command airport security system

Abstract

Command and Control (C2) airport security systems have developed over time, both in terms of technology and in terms of increased security features. Airport control check points are required to operate and maintain modern security systems preventing malicious actions. This paper describes the architecture of embedding a fully distributed, sophisticated simulation platform within a fully operational and robust, state-of-the-art, C2 security system in the context of airport security. The overall system, i.e. the C2, the classification tool and the embedded simulator, delivers a fully operating, validated platform which focuses on: (a) the end-to-end airport security process for passengers, airports and airlines, and (b) the ability to test and validate all security subsystems, processes, as well as the entire security system, via realistically generated and simulated scenarios both in vitro and in vivo. The C2 system has been integrated with iCrowd, a Crowd Simulation platform developed by the Integrated Systems Lab of the Institute of Informatics and Telecommunications in NCSR Demokritos, that features a highly-configurable, high-fidelity agent-based behavior simulator. iCrowd provides a realistic environment inciting behaviors of simulated actors (e.g. passengers, personnel, malicious actors), instantiates the functionality of hardware security technologies (e.g. Beacons, RFID scanners and RFID tags for carry-on luggage tracking) and simulates passengers’ facilitation and customer service. To create a realistic and domain agnostic scenario, multiple simulation instances undertake different kind of entities - whose plans and actions would be naturally unknown to each other - and run in sync constituting a Distributed Simulation Platform. Primary goal is to enable a guided and streamlined procedure from land-side to air-side and into the boarding gates, while offering an operationally validated innovative concept for testing end-to-end aviation security processes, procedures and infrastructure.