[PROJECT NAME] Smart Passenger Inspection at Airports
[SUBMITTED BY] Shanghai Customs District
[PROJECT OVERVIEW] Today, the imbalance arises between rising cross-border passenger flows and limited Customs manpower. To address this challenge, China Customs has implemented remote technology solutions for passenger clearance management, including networked transmission of audio/video feeds, image processing, structured data exchange, electronic storage, and big data analytics. A centralized Customs Command Center has also been established to oversee multiple terminal inspection sites. By pooling specialists in various areas such as plant and animal quarantine, narcotics detection, and firearms control at this Customs Command Center, real-time remote support is provided to frontline officers handling inbound, outbound, and transit procedures. This optimized deployment enables effective large-scale port supervision with minimal staffing.
[PROJECT DETAILS]
I. Key Approaches
1. Smart Boarding Inspection for Aircraft. On-site officers conduct inspections using Augmented Reality (AR) glasses, enabling real-time collaboration with the Customs Command Center. Through the AR glasses, officers capture document images, record information, and film videos. The AR glasses also facilitate rapid temperature screening of passengers and quick identification of inbound/outbound individuals with potential quarantine risks.
2. Remote Imaging Analysis for Baggage. Inspection equipment and tracking systems are integrated into the baggage transfer process from aircraft to the baggage claim area, enabling simultaneous machine inspections. CT-based baggage screening images are transmitted to the Customs Command Center in real time, with AI-assisted image analysis completed within 6 seconds. Expert officers conducted manual targeting concurrently, and, when necessary, Customs security seals can be applied automatically to suspicious baggage.
3. Remote Quarantine and Inspection. During quarantine procedures, travelers self-scan passports and relevant documents via remote devices. Customs Command Center officers conduct real-time health inquiries and epidemiological investigations for passengers showing infectious disease symptoms, enabling contactless quarantine procedures to reduce the risk of disease transmission. For inspection operations, Customs Command Center officers provide on-site colleagues with targeted guidance on high-risk items and their locations. After inspection, travelers can pay duties/taxes and print receipts by their own.
II. Achievements
1. Optimized Workforce Allocation. A single Customs Command Center can enable the simultaneous deployment of multiple remote inspection posts, realizing standardized supervision for various aircraft, passengers, and baggage. Officers are trained to meet diverse operational requirements, allowing flexible cross-post adjustments based on real-time workload changes in boarding, inspection, and quarantine tasks. On-site officers require only lightweight equipment to complete inspections across different scenarios, with smart devices supporting extensive recording, querying, and verification tasks.
2. Expedited Clearance Process. Smart devices deployed at clearance checkpoints enable passengers to self-scan travel documents. Remote information verification streamlines on-site procedures, reducing baggage inspection time by up to 50%.
3. Enhanced Supervision Precision. A unified baggage tracking system automatically monitored all baggage with Customs security seals. It proactively delivers supervision priorities, risk alerts, and operational prompts to relevant on-site posts, enabling officers to conduct swift and targeted inspections.
III. Scaling and Application
Remote technology demonstrates universal demand and high adaptability in the inbound and outbound passenger clearance, as reflected in the following three aspects:
1. System functions can be deployed modularly. All smart devices and relevant technologies can be deployed modularly across various operational stages, forming multiple independently functional operational modules. Customs authorities in different countries/regions can select suitable equipment based on their operational realities, budget constraints, and regulatory priorities. By leveraging the supporting technologies of the Customs Command Center, they can freely combine these modules to establish either a simple inspection system or a comprehensive regulatory framework, addressing the diverse needs of different countries/regions and ports.
2. Application scenarios are expandable as needed. The functionalities of the Customs Command Center support customizable designs aligned with the mandates of each country’s (region’s) Customs authority. For instance, additional features such as port quarantine zone patrols can be incorporated as needed.
Third, standardized integration can be applied across borders. The remote monitoring capabilities of the Customs Command Center enable standardized interfacing with other regulatory systems or smart devices. This lays the groundwork for cross-border collaborative supervision.