Intelligent video surveillance detects, records, and instantly plays back 'wrong-way' motion

FEBRUARY 20--Cernium Inc. (St. Louis, MO;www.cernium.com) has installed its ExitSentry product, an FAA-approved intelligent video surveillance system, in the exit lane for Concourses C and D at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. It marks the third such deployment at Lambert, which also is home to the original ExitSentry installation that's been operating in Concourse A since 1997. In addition, the intelligent video surveillance system was installed in the airport's East Terminal in 1999.

Because deplaning passengers at Lambert's C and D concourses leave through the same exit lane, the recently completed ExitSentry installation serves exiting passengers from both concourses. The system detects and immediately alerts security guards to "wrong way" motion--travelers attempting to bypass screening and enter the concourse through the exit lane, which is what happened in a recent Lambert incident.

ExitSentry features real-time video playback, instantly takes a "snapshot" of potential perpetrators, and can eliminate the need to abandon airport concourses in the event of an attempted exit-lane security breach. This can avoid delays for thousands of travelers and save airports and airlines money.

In 1996, the system successfully completed a thorough and lengthy FAA testing process at Lambert in which the federal agency tried to defeat the system with surprise visits and clever techniques known to terrorists. ExitSentry also is installed in concourses at 15 other North American airports, including Dallas/Fort Worth International, Salt Lake City International, Orlando International, Cleveland Hopkins International, William P. Hobby (Houston) and Calgary (Alberta) International.