International. In order to cope with the large influx of international tourists visiting Japan this year, NEC Corporation announced that it will offer from March an electronic system of customs procedures that will use facial recognition for the inspection areas of six of Japan's largest airports.
The airports are Chitose New Airport, Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu International Airport, Kansai International Airport and Fukuoka Airport. Collectively, these account for about 90 percent of the annual passengers entering Japan.
The digital identity system combines biometrics and video analytics applications, which has taken on great relevance not only in Japan, but also in airports around the world that seek to improve the user experience and their security. In fact, some airlines operating in Mexico already have plans to use biometric technology in the near future to give users a better travel experience.
According to data from Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA), in conjunction with the Ministry of Communications and Transport, Mexico registered in 2019 an increase in the arrival of passengers at the different airports of the country of 6.1 percent over the previous year. Facial recognition technologies such as those offered by NEC would allow airports to respond efficiently to high passenger demand by streamlining their processing at different checkpoints.
Among other benefits, this system allows to improve the fluidity of check-in processes and make electronic payments through the use of NEC's facial recognition technology as well as electronically report luggage through the use of smartphone applications.
What is the electronic system of customs procedures?
This system consists of applications that simplify customs and baggage declaration procedures through an electronic declaration terminal and an exit door that allows passengers to transit through facial recognition systems.
Exit door
The exit door is equipped with NEC's "NeoFace" artificial intelligence engine and the core technology of the "Bio-Idiom" biometric identification portfolio.
The system works by taking a facial image on an electronic declaration terminal installed in the customs inspection area and is combined with a facial image taken by a facial recognition camera at an exit door.
This reduces congestion in customs inspection areas and shortens the waiting time for travellers.
Customs declaration applications and electronic declaration terminal
These allow for an easy and efficient electronic declaration for customs inspections.
Such processes consist of travelers entering the contents of their portable goods using customs declaration applications, obtaining a QR code, and then reading their passport and code with an electronic declaration terminal installed in the customs inspection area, which is considered simpler and easier compared to the preparation of conventional forms for the "Declaration of personal effects and unaccompanied items".
In addition, during the activity of the electronic declaration terminal, a traveler is photographed with a built-in camera and compared with his facial image embedded in the IC chip of his passport. The facial image taken on the terminal is used exclusively for identification processes, so it is deleted after use properly.
NEC has positioned its security business as an engine for its global growth under its medium-term Management Plan, from three years to fiscal 2021. The company has already provided biometric identification systems, such as facial recognition, to nearly 50 airports around the world, adding to its efforts to develop safer and more prosperous cities and communities.
Image: Conceptual image of an electronic gate of customs procedures in a customs inspection area. Exit door (left), Electronic declaration terminal (right).
