Smart Airport Passenger Processing System (SAPPS) will replace the human ID control, Airport check-in and boarding-pass process.
The new airport will have faster process timing and better security with SAPPS. The passenger will not interact with any officer at the airport with SAPPS. There will be no direct human interaction at the airport. The passenger will simply walk through a passage surrounded with hidden cameras and other remote readers.
Once SAPPS installed, in the new airport, the passenger will walk through a passage surrounded with cameras, microphones and other remote readers to do “ID control, Airport check-in and boarding-pass process” all at the same time. ID control, Airport check-in and boarding-pass process will be done while the passenger is walking from terminal entrance to his/her seat in the aircraft. The passenger will not interact with any officer at the airport.
In the new airport, passenger will get RFID bracelet at automated kiosk, this is an ATM type machine has face recognition cameras, finger-print reader and connection to DMV and IRS to authenticate the passenger and update the Airport database. This is the only step where passenger will stop and wait for the machine to put the RFID bracelet on his/her wrist. Then, passenger with RFID bracelet never stops until seating in the aircraft. One Centralized database will record and authenticate each passenger in the airport terminal.
You as the IT Manager for SAPPS were expected to address the following questions
Question 1 SAPPS will need new software for ID and passport control, Airport check-in and boarding-pass processes. How can you fulfill the software needs of SAPPS project? Provide the list of software package and answer the following questions; What would be your software acquisition method? And, what type of Software Development Options you would recommend for each software package? And, explain your reasoning for the solution you selected? Why?
Sample Solution
Question 1
How can you fulfill the software needs of the SAPPS project?
To fulfill the software needs of the SAPPS project, I would recommend the following:
Software Packages
- ID and passport control:
- Facial recognition software
- Fingerprint recognition software
- Passport OCR software
- Airport check-in:
- Passenger check-in software
- Baggage handling software
- Boarding pass processing:
- Boarding pass generation software
- Boarding pass scanning software
Full Answer Section
Software Acquisition Method I would recommend a hybrid software acquisition method for the SAPPS project. This means that some of the software packages would be acquired through commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, while others would be developed in-house or through a custom software development vendor. Software Development Options The following table shows the software development options that I would recommend for each software package:| Software Package | Software Development Option | Reasoning |
| Facial recognition software | COTS | Facial recognition is a complex technology, and there are a number of COTS software packages available that meet the needs of the SAPPS project. |
| Fingerprint recognition software | COTS | Fingerprint recognition is also a complex technology, and there are a number of COTS software packages available that meet the needs of the SAPPS project. |
| Passport OCR software | COTS | Passport OCR software is a relatively well-developed technology, and there are a number of COTS software packages available that meet the needs of the SAPPS project. |
| Passenger check-in software | Custom development | Passenger check-in software is a critical component of the SAPPS project, and it is important to have a system that is tailored to the specific needs of the airport. |
| Baggage handling software | Custom development | Baggage handling software is another critical component of the SAPPS project, and it is important to have a system that is integrated with the passenger check-in system. |
| Boarding pass generation software | Custom development | Boarding pass generation software is a relatively straightforward system, but it is important to have a system that is integrated with the passenger check-in system and the boarding pass scanning system. |
| Boarding pass scanning software | COTS | Boarding pass scanning software is a relatively well-developed technology, and there are a number of COTS software packages available that meet the needs of the SAPPS project. |
- Complexity of the software: Facial recognition and fingerprint recognition are complex technologies, so I recommended COTS software for these packages.
- Availability of COTS software: There are a number of COTS software packages available for facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, and passport OCR.
- Criticality of the software: Passenger check-in and baggage handling are critical components of the SAPPS project, so I recommended custom development for these packages.
- Need for integration: Passenger check-in software, baggage handling software, and boarding pass generation software need to be integrated with each other. Therefore, I recommended custom development for these packages.
- Availability of resources: If the airport has the in-house resources to develop and maintain the software, then I would recommend custom development. However, if the airport does not have the in-house resources, then I would recommend outsourcing the development to a custom software development vendor.