Base accessed by hand scanner

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Karen Petitt
  • Air Force Communications Agency Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) --  Air Force officials kicked off a 90-day test period June 23 for the first large-scale use of hand-scan technology that could allow thousands of people to enter the base with just a wave of their hand.

People wanting to access the base from the new Shiloh-Scott MetroLink station now use a hand-geometry reader that unlocks the gate. The MetroLink is a light-rail train system for the St. Louis airport and the downtown metro area.

“When we knew we were going to have to create another access gate for the base, our first thought was how we could use technology to free up our manpower resources, yet still meet all the security requirements,” said Tech. Sgt. Douglas Larsen, of the 375th Security Forces Squadron’s physical security section. “We didn’t want to use a card reader because that presented its own challenges … so we came up with using a hand scanner. That’s when we connected with the Air Force Communications Agency, and (officials there) helped us get what we needed.”

The 375th SFS airmen worked with Ed Thoman, the Air Force biometics lead command manager, and his staff, who procured the scanners.

The hand scanner, commonly called a hand key, takes geometric readings of a person’s hand -- its size, length, thickness and surface area. It does not record handprints or fingerprints, but instead creates a three-dimensional model that is coded mathematically and stored it in the computer’s memory. Each time the hand is placed on the machine, the information is automatically updated.

For instance, if a person gains or loses a large amount of weight or if the hand becomes scarred or disfigured, the geometry of the hand is updated. Each person punches in the last six digits of his or her Social Security number before placing the right hand in the machine, and this is, in part, how the machine is able to update the information.

“This is really great for getting in and out of base fast,” said Mark Ainscough, an Army and Air Force Exchange Service employee who commutes to work.

Besides the hand scanner, there will be a way for people to access the gate if they are not loaded into the system, such as for those who are on temporary duty.

There is a face and badge scanner installed with cameras that can compare the ID card photo with the person presenting the ID, according to Larsen. Once the match is authenticated, a security-forces airman can allow access remotely. Other security measures such as video cameras will add additional protection for the gate, and a security-forces person can be reached via telephone should the need arise.

During the test period, there will be a security forces presence at the gate to help educate people and get them enrolled in the program. The hand scan will be the primary means for entrance through this gate unless the base goes into a higher force-protection condition. At that point, a security-forces airman will be guarding the entrance.

“It only takes about 30 seconds to load the information into the hand reader, and we’ve already seen that it’s allowing for much quicker access than if they have to pull out an ID, get if verified, wait for us to unlock the turnstile and then enter the base,” he said.

Once on the base, people can ride a shuttle bus to get to where they are going. Those routes are located at the MetroLink station.

In the past, the Air Force has used hand readers on smaller scales for building access at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Aviano Air base, Italy; and in the communications agency building here. To have this work on a large scale will be “exciting to see,” Thoman said.