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Enhancing Parking
Security Against Terror Threats BY AMALENDU CHATTERJEE |
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| SECURITY IN THE
AIRLINE INDUSTRY HAS BECOME THE TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR NATION AFTER 9/11
when terrorists used airlines to destroy the World Trade Center (WTC)
causing the death of over 3,000 people, financial loss of travel
industries and suffering of thousands. The impact of this terrorist
act on our economy and also on our lifestyle is yet to be fully
comprehended. Enormous amounts of our national resources are being
explored to prevent a repeat of such disasters. Attention to improve
security is also being given to other components of our economic
infrastructure such as sea ports, nuclear facilities, water supply,
highways, food supply, recreational facilities, etc., where short
disruptions can create economic, political and social disasters. Here, we are making an attempt to raise the level of security attention required in the parking industry. There had been many instances and precedence where cars or explosives in a car were used for terrorism. Considering that parking is a 30 billion dollar industry, serious threats of using parking spaces or cars with explosives cannot be ruled out. We need to explore technological means to minimize such threats. Here is an idea Eximsoft is exploring with the industry to enhance security in the parking industry, especially in airport and other critical government locations in the post 9/11 era. This is called the Trusted Parker Program (TPP). It is similar to the trusted traveler program (TTP) or Computer Assisted Pre-screening Program (CAPPS II). There is enough synergy between the two to combine them together to make air travel and parking safer and comfortable. AIR PASSENGER CODE PLAN IN MOTION Since 9/11, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) of the Federal Government has been using Computer Assisted. Passenger Pre-Screening I (CAPPS I) program to screen air passengers. The Bush administration is expected to order, sometime this year, the first step in setting up databases on all air passengers called CAPPS n, to be used to color-code each air traveler according to his or her potential threat level. The theory behind CAPPS II is to introduce a program this year for frequent flyers who could get through check-in lines at the airport faster if they agree to give the government access to some of their personal information. The larger program, involving the databases, has been discussed in government circles for months and has sparked concerns by privacy watchdogs though. According to the CBS report, the TSA, while noting that many of the comments it received appeared to be based on the same form letter, says on its web site that it has "significantly narrowed how the second-generation system will use passenger information to make flying more secure without impinging on individual privacy rights." The government says the databases will not include bank records, credit ratings, or medical records. We call this the trusted traveler program (TIP) or Frequent Traveler Program (FTP). To tag along with TTP, we are proposing the Trusted Parker Program (TPP) that will include cars and drivers traveling close to terminals and other vital government installations. Concepts are similar, but TPP may have wider appeal because all parking spaces, not just airport parking closer to the terminal, may be made safer. Moreover, parkers will be treated with a VIP-like class of service in exchange for some information that does not violate the privacy act. For parking operators in airports, it will create an opportunity to increase revenues per space in exchange for this kind of privilege. In fact, the parking authority in the airport should take advantage of this technology to jump onto the bandwagon of the government-sponsored program so that security enhancements to cars and parkers reach the same level as screening of passengers. In addition, TPP's overarching technological solution approach can solve some other parking industry problems discussed below. |
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PARKING INDUSTRY WOES The parking industry woes can be summarized in one sentence. It is too fragmented and there is no standard or uniformity in the mode of operation. The industry revolves around the world of yet another plastic (YAP), gates, meters, optical card readers (OCR) or license plate readers (LPR), ticket dispensers, attendants to handle cash. Technology to automate incremental function with no big picture of evolution or customer service has been injected on a small scale. The trend is to install bigger and bigger machines with credit card processing options with features such as pay and display, or pay and park costing thousands of dollars. Handling cash by attendants is still the main way of getting revenues. The general feeling is that parking operators or owners are interested in revenues only, with no incentive to provide customer service. Providing a class of service and integration of new technology to fully automate operations is somewhat foreign or secondary to them. There may be some reasons for it. Either they are not caught up with the concept of customer service to increase revenue per space, or they are not aware of the right technology to automate operations for reduced costs. In some cases, parking violations are encouraged to collect more parking fees by enforcers. A real evolution of the parking industry is possible if the right combinations of technologies are chosen. Examples of technologies are intelligent agents in the server, Geographic Information System (GIS), Geographic Position System (GPS), wireless, internet, desktop computers, web-enabled mobile devices, secured internet payment, digital signature, SIM/SWIM cards in cell phones, smart gates, enforcement with information on the finger tip, etc. Of course, after 9/11, security related technology to enhance security around airport parking and other key public installations is getting some attention. Here is an attempt tosummarize what can be done and should be done for the safety as well as the comfort of the public in general, the parker in particular, and the parking operator. TRUSTED PARKER PROGRAM (TPP) TPP is based on a very simple schema with few basic steps. We view it as an extension to CAPPS II to include parking spaces and cars close to the terminal as part of security risks. Each step may have different templates to collect information that may be customized to cater to a particular parking scenario. Basic steps of TPP are: Registration ProcessThe registration process includes sharing personal information, car information and setting an account or payment method to get preferential treatment during entry to the parking area and also during screening. Parkers can access the system and its services from a variety of locations and terminals such as wire line, cellular phone, web-enabled THE PARKING INDUSTRY WOES CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN ONE SENTENCE. IT IS TOO FRAGMENTED AND THERE IS NO STANDARD OR UNIFORMITY IN THE MODE OF OPERATION. wireless device, web terminal or PC. Of course, Government CAPPS II databases, drivers licenses (DMV) and vehicle identification number (VIN) can be used to check the information collected through this process. The registration captures user details such as user name, mobile phone number, preferred mode of payment, etc., using a template that can be customized to cater to any parking scenario. During registration, parkers can choose an Identification (ID) and a password to access the account whenever needed for managing his or her account, print receipts, or make reservations. The system will generate PINs and inform the parker via e-mail. Reservation ProcessThe reservation process is the next step after registration. This process is initiated when you need a real space. You will use your PIN or any other ID given by the system. The system will create a record of your reservation and confirm that via the e-mail. It can also generate a bar code to be printed. This bar code or the PIN can be used as an entry mechanism if the operation is automated or can be used for scanning during entry. Voice XML has been integrated so that the system can guide you through proper steps of guaranteeing a space depending on the parking scenario. Scripts for voice XML can also be customized. Authentication/Authorization (Digital Signature) This is a mechanism that can be integrated into the system to authorize payment using cell phones during the reservation process. It is used in case cell phones with SWIM cards are used for authorizing payment. It is applicable for the Global Service Mobile (GSM) cell network where PKI certificates (usually called digital signature) are embedded in the SWIM card. For other networks, similar secured payment processes can be introduced. Voice Response/Biometrics IdentificationIt is natural to forget PINs or lose the cell phone. Alternative safety mechanisms can be built-in using voice response or biometric authorization as a back up security protection. Biometrics, if the form of smart cards is being integrated in the credit card and DMV's driver's license application is used. Cell phones with video capabilities are also available to enable parking application to introduce TPP. Enforcement (WiFi Network and Hand Held Device)Enforcement capabilities and templates may vary with the parking scenario. At a high level, network architecture may be common for all scenarios with IN SIMPLE WORDS, THE PARKING AUTHORITY MUST MOVE INTO THE REALM OF CUSTOMER SERVICE TO LIFT THE BURDEN OF TRAVELERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A SENSE OF FEELING IMPORTANT AND PROUD. WiFi Network and Hand Held Devices, but scripts will vary. The system sends all data of parking activation and deactivation notifications to the enforcement authorities. Hand Held Devices will be widely used for such enforcement. The Hand Held Device with memory can download all parker records to check each park-er's spot, or it can do so, in an interactive way, on-line. Enforcement can be automated with Optical Card Readers (OCR) or License Plate Readers (LCR) with no manual intervention. INDUSTRY EVOLUTION CONCEPTS TPP may be one added dimension in changing our lifestyle and social responsibility after 9/11. Several other elements and factors must be considered to make a seamless evolution of the parking industry. These elements and factors may be grouped as traveler related or parking authority related. Travelers would like to see the predictability of the space within a short walk to their destinations, guaranteed space, peace of mind, time saving, a differentiation of service in exchange for extra fees a guide to find the parking location and space availability, flexibility of having the space in an instant. Simply, they should know where to park as soon as they step into the car, whether they are traveling for pleasure, business, socially. Any parking authority's priorities may be more revenues per space, simple operations, going cashless, automation with less attendants, product differentiation for competition, customer segmentation, customer data mining for additional offerings and non-aggravating enforcement. In simple words, the parking authority must move into the realm of customer service to lift the burden of travelers and provide them with a sense of feeling important and proud. The parking authority can even engage other auto service companies to make use of the idle time of cars providing additional services such as oil change, car detailing, etc., for busy executives. With the advent of wireless technology, internet, Voice XML, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), a good marriage of traveler's expectations and a parking authority's motivations is possible. This will be done in a simple mechanism of process integration. Many of those features and functions have been demonstrated in a lab with a simple architecture as shown in Figure 1. We are ready to commercially deploy the architecture soon in some sports arenas and airports. The patent pending Cashless Meterless Parking & Reservation (CMP&R) System of Eximsoft is an overarching solution for the parking industry. The same system is applicable for all of the following parking scenarios: Street Parking; Garage Parking; Event Parking (e.g. sports arena/ concert venues) with premium reservation options; and Airport Parking -- with premium reservation options. FUTURE OF PARKING EASE (BIG PICTURE) What we described may sound very complicated and the U.S. market may not yet be sophisticated enough to accept these concepts. The U.S. has play catch-up with Europe and Japan in this area. It is not very far off when a button in a car can lead us to where we are going with a simple Q&A dialog. Examples are: tell your car where you want to go and the car will lead you there with simple basic steps. The car will tell you where to park as well. In other words, the manual interaction of General Motor's North Star features can be totally automated. Amalendu Chatterjee, PhD, is vice-president of technology at Eximsoft International. A Nortel and Fujitsu alumnus, Chatterjee did pioneering work in the area of packet networks, ISDN, digital switching, ATM and wireless technology. He brings over 25 years of particular expertise and specific knowledge in the information technology and telecommunications field. This article was published in The Parking Professional magazine on May 2004. |
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