Abstract
Research Overview
Increasing Concerns over Terrorist Attacks Raises Emphasis on Homeland Security
With the increase in terrorist threats across the European Union (EU),
countries are placing a greater emphasis on improving homeland security
through the monitoring of entry and exit points. Further, the expansion of the
EU has made borders relatively more porous and policing the borders more
effectively is crucial to checking the inflow of illegal immigrants. Hence,
with the stress on improved security within the EU, there has been a surge in
demand for technologies that helps detect threats at airports, seaports and
borders. Consequently, demand for biometric identification/authentication
systems, radio frequency identification and explosive detection systems are
expected to increase significantly over the next ten years.
Improvements in Air Travel Security Drives Demand for Biometric Technologies
Post September 11, air travel security has been accorded greater priority and
the present the focus has been tuned towards making air travel more safe and
secure, checking the entry of people with weapons and false identities
onboard, rebuilding customer confidence and also keeping the entire airport
procedure convenient and effective. In this scenario, biometric technologies
are viewed as optimum solutions to enhance overall security right from proper
passenger identification to secure access control. Also, with the increase in
airline passenger numbers, use of biometrics could allow airports to reduce
the number of space consuming check-in kiosks (and their related staff), as
well as create a more self-service oriented environment, while still
maintaining necessary security levels.
Among the screening technologies, portable screening technologies are likely
to gain preference at airports since they are cheaper and more flexible in
comparison to traditional screening methods. European seaports are also
showing a strong demand for high-end screening equipment as it increases the
number of containers screened and prevent delays in the supply chain. "Despite
recent trials at both Amsterdam Schiphol airport and London Heathrow airport,
the deployment of radio frequency identification device (RFID) equipment for
baggage tracking is unlikely to gain much industry acceptance," says the
analyst of this research service. "However, with the need for enhancing
supply-chain efficiency and increasing security capabilities, seaport
container tracking is likely to be one of the main contributing applications
to the RFID market growth in the near future."
Knowledge of Regional Market is Crucial for Improving Business Prospects
Europe is a huge market for security equipment and is second only to North
America in terms of market share. However, it also comprises of heterogeneous
markets that differ in their security requirements, security funding and
purchase structure among other regional variables. Hence, knowledge of
regional markets and strategic partnerships with regional participants could
help companies better understand the way business is undertaken and thus
ensure better returns in the long term.
"Borders are likely to generate the least demand for screening technologies in
the first half of the period 2005-2014, but spurred by the demand for unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs) overall demand from the border sector is expected to
increase in the second half of the forecast period," says the analyst. "During
the same period, airports are expected to display significant demand levels
for identification/authentication and screening technologies, while seaports
are likely to see a greater uptake of screening and especially tracking
technologies."
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