Designing a State-of-the-Art Airport Security System

Assignment Instructions

Using the material available in your course and online and/or from other sources, devise a plan for setting up a state-of-the-art airport security system. You must discuss the following points as a minimum:

1. The security force – selection, organization, training.

2. Airport lay-out – suggest a design which maximizes security management efficiency and passenger flow while minimizing discomfort and delay to air travelers. You may use diagrams to supplement your work.

3. Passenger screening system – describe the process step-by-step, explaining each piece of equipment used and its function. You may diagram this system if you wish.

4. System integration – describe how you would integrate systems for maximum efficiency.

5. Security management of freight air carriers – discuss briefly.

Your paper should be oriented towards a primary commercial service airport in the United States. This is a best-case scenario so consider the budget funded. Discuss passenger screening in terms of concentric ring theory (defense-in-depth). In other words, passenger screening must consist of at least three overlapping layers. In terms of system integration, discuss the integration of passenger screening system design with other security components used at the airport, i.e., closed circuit television systems (CCTV), barriers, access to the airside operations area, etc.

Technical Guidance:

• Your paper should be at a minimum 15 pages for the body of your work (the Title Page and References page will be additional pages).

• Type in Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced.

• Provide a separate heading for each question (these are sections).

• Students will follow the APA 6 Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. See: APA Guide PDF.

• Use scholarly or other relevant sources.

• Points will be deducted for the use of Wikipedia or encyclopedic-type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents (may be electronic), and valid websites (use caution with these).

Portfolio Management (FINA 401)

Simulation Group Project

Project Description

Working in groups of no more than 4 students, you will manage (fictitiously) a stock portfolio initially worth US$ 1,000,000 over an 8-week period. You will pick stocks, track the value of your portfolio, and possibly rebalance it over the course of the semester.

You should:

• Track the value of your portfolio at least once weekly.

• Report stock prices, portfolio value, and major indices.

• Keep track of the main financial news events that affect the value of your portfolio (using the Internet and/or any newspaper/magazine of your choice).

Students will use the Stock-Trak Portfolio Simulation program (www.stocktrak.com) to manage and track their investment portfolio.

Rules

• Select an investment objective carefully. To inspire you, review mutual fund descriptions at sites such as Fidelity.com.

• Portfolio composition must reflect your investment objective and outlook on the economy and securities.

• You may rebalance your portfolio following market changes, but it is not required. You must justify all trades or decisions not to trade.

• Portfolio will consist of regularly traded US equities.

• Flat commission: $10 USD per trade.

• Transaction limit: 200 trades during the simulation.

• Margin trading and short selling are allowed but not required.

• Short-term interest rate (for cash investment/borrowing): 0.01% per day.

• Start date: September 28, 2018 (Friday).

• Closing date: November 23, 2018 (Friday).

• Final report due: November 29, 2018.

Resources

Helpful free online tools include:

• finance.yahoo.com – stock screeners.

• Fidelity.com – detailed fund descriptions and holdings.

• “Top picks” stock lists from financial news websites.

Use of these tools is encouraged, as long as you justify your holdings in your own words.

Final Paper Guidelines

• Length: 10–15 pages (excluding appendices such as tables, graphs, and references).

• Include quantitative analysis of risk and return.

• Compare performance with at least one major stock index and one or more mutual funds with similar objectives.

• Include at least two charts:

  • Initial portfolio composition.

  • Evolution of portfolio value vs. indices/funds.

• Format: well-organized, concise, typed, double-spaced, professional.

Suggested Structure

1. Investment objective & strategy

   • Example: growth, capital appreciation, capital gain.

   • Example strategy: large market capitalization and large blend.

2. Initial portfolio composition (with detailed justification).

3. Additional trades (if made) with justification.

4. Key economic/financial news affecting portfolio value.

5. Consistency with objective – evaluate performance.

6. Reflections – what you would do differently based on the course and readings.

Conciseness and clarity of style will be highly appreciated.

Sample Answer

Designing a State-of-the-Art Airport Security System

The Security Force: Selection, Organisation and Training

The cornerstone of aviation security lies in the quality of the security force. Recruitment should emphasise psychological stability, critical thinking, and communication skills rather than sheer physical presence. Candidates must undergo background checks compliant with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) standards, drug testing, and federal vetting.

The organisational structure should consist of tiered roles: frontline screeners, behavioural detection officers, canine units, and supervisors integrated into an airport-wide command hierarchy. A centralised Security Operations Centre (SOC) should coordinate real-time intelligence sharing with the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement.

Training programmes must extend beyond equipment operation to include crisis management, crowd psychology, cultural sensitivity, and cyber awareness. Regular simulation exercises involving active shooter scenarios, bomb threats, and insider-risk drills reinforce readiness. Certification should be renewed annually through TSA-accredited assessments.

Airport Layout and Design

Airport design plays a crucial role in reducing vulnerability while ensuring smooth passenger flow. A concentric-ring model underpins the layout:

1. Outer perimeter (Ring 1): Fenced boundaries with controlled vehicle entry points, licence plate recognition cameras, and blast-resistant bollards.

2. Intermediate zone (Ring 2): Landside terminal access with randomised vehicle inspections, CCTV coverage, and patrols.

3. Inner zone (Ring 3): Secure airside operations with biometric access control, sterile corridors, and anti-tailgating systems.

Passenger circulation must follow a “clean to dirty” gradient, with arriving and departing flows separated to minimise bottlenecks. Large open atriums should be avoided to reduce mass-casualty risks; instead, modular check-in halls, distributed screening lanes, and advanced signage maintain throughput.

Natural surveillance, such as glass façades and open sightlines, reduces blind spots and supports CCTV effectiveness. Seating areas and concessions should be placed post-screening to incentivise passengers through checkpoints earlier, easing peak congestion.

Passenger Screening System: Step-by-Step

Passenger screening is the heart of aviation security. A layered process enhances resilience:

1. Pre-screening (Ring 1): Passenger data is collected via Secure Flight and cross-checked against watchlists before arrival. Behavioural detection officers observe queues for stress indicators.

2. Primary screening (Ring 2):

   • Identity verification: Biometric kiosks (facial recognition) linked to passports.

   • X-ray scanners: Baggage passes through CT scanners detecting explosives, weapons, and contraband.

   • Millimetre-wave body scanners: Detect non-metallic threats concealed on the body.

   • Explosive Trace Detection (ETD): Swabs from random passengers and bags.

   • Walk-through metal detectors: Secondary layer for metallic items.

3. Secondary screening (Ring 3): Triggered by anomalies. Manual bag checks, pat-downs, and canine explosive detection units are applied. Special assistance lanes for families, elderly passengers, and persons with disabilities maintain equity and efficiency.

All checkpoints must integrate wait-time monitoring, redistributing passengers dynamically to shorter lanes via digital signage.

System Integration

For maximum efficiency, disparate security technologies must converge into an integrated platform:

• CCTV networks with AI-based video analytics detect suspicious loitering, unattended baggage, or restricted-area breaches.

• Access control systems (biometric and RFID-based) link with staff identity databases to prevent insider threats.

• Command-and-control software consolidates feeds from screening, perimeter sensors, and law enforcement communication into one dashboard.

• Incident response protocols synchronise alarms, lockdown mechanisms, and emergency services to ensure rapid containment.

Cybersecurity overlays are critical: intrusion detection systems, encrypted communication, and regular penetration testing safeguard sensitive passenger and operational data.

Continued...