Security solutions provider Morpho has signed a five-year contract with the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) to install nine next-generation eGates at Auckland Airport before the end of 2015. The company will also provide new and replacement gates for major New Zealand airports when required until 2020.
The agreement includes a biometric research partnership that will see NZCS and Morpho collaborate to advance global research in facial recognition technology. The objective is to improve the accuracy of the recognition algorithms embedded on the eGates, and contribute to an even higher level of security at the border while further reducing the false rejections of legitimate travelers.
Carolyn Tremain, comptroller of NZCS, said, “SmartGate has been very well received in New Zealand, with over 13 million travelers having successfully used the technology since its introduction in 2009. We are expanding the capability to ensure we continue to stay at the forefront of passenger processing efficiency and border security, and enhance the passenger experience.”
Tim Ferris, managing director of Morpho Australasia, said, “The new generation SmartGate is a clear reflection of our collaborative approach with NZCS to pave the way for the future of border control solutions in the region. This new technology has the capability to further simplify and speed up border processing while offering the highest level of security for our borders.”
Since 2009, New Zealand’s Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports have been using SmartGate technology to give eligible travelers the option of self-service through passport control. The system uses facial recognition technology to compare facial images of the traveler against the data contained in the e-passport’s chip.
The new generation SmartGate speeds up traveler processing with a one-step process, eliminating the kiosk and ticket part of the current system. It uses e-Gates that have a smaller footprint to meet the space constraints of airports while also having Morpho’s latest workflow and biometric matching software. The solution is also capable of adding other biometric capabilities such as fingerprint or iris recognition modules.
