Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Quebec, Canada, has installed an innovative anti-intrusion solution for its baggage handling system (BHS) that combines thermal imaging cameras with smart pattern recognition software.
The new solution has been designed to instantly stop the BHS should a child or other person attempt an unauthorized entry of the system via the carousel. The FLIR AX8 thermal imaging camera captures the image of any heat signature above a certain temperature, which is then analyzed by pattern recognition software. The innovative software is able to distinguish between human heat signatures and warm luggage left in the sun in the majority of cases, but is also capable of referring the image for manual inspection if necessary.
Engie Services, the facilities management company for Montreal Airport, developed the solution following a series of conveyor belt incidents in the terminal.
David Casaubon, automation expert, Engie Services, said, “The cost-effectiveness of the FLIR AX8 was one of the main reasons why Engie Services opted for this camera for integration into its anti-intrusion system. It is also compact which is highly relevant as airports want monitoring systems to be as discrete as possible.”