Category: Rail

A Spanish technology company specializing in digital identity and biometrics, announced its Voice Biometrics Solution is now available on the Genesys AppFoundry, a marketplace of solutions offering a curated selection of applications and integrations that elevate customer and employee experiences.

With Veridas Voice Biometrics, Genesys says customers can easily identify their users in as little as three seconds.

As a 100% proprietary solution, Veridas Voice Biometric revolutionizes call center authentication with real-time voice recognition. Swift and secure, and powered by top-class NIST-rated algorithms, Veridas replaces lengthy knowledge-based verification methods with passive identity verification, utilizing a text and language-independent solution that provides a seamless customer experience.

“Veridas brings a paradigm shift to the contact center industry,” says Ignacio del Castillo, head of strategic partnerships, Veridas. “Our clients benefit from reducing Average Handling Time (AHT) by 60-90 seconds while increasing client satisfaction and Net Promoter Score (NPS). In today’s digital landscape, ensuring the security of customer interactions is paramount. From just a simple, 3-second conversation, Veridas can accurately address customers by name, guaranteeing their true identity and mitigating the risk of fraudulent activities. With Veridas’ breakthrough capabilities, businesses can confidently embrace a new era of contact center operations, combining efficiency, customer satisfaction, and enhanced security.”

Veridas developed an integration of its Voice Biometrics solution in Genesys Cloud CX to provide customers with a secure and streamlined authentication experience while reducing fraud and improving operational efficiency in contact centers, both in IVR and live-agent interactions. In 2021, BBVA, a global financial giant, successfully integrated Veridas voice biometrics through Genesys to authenticate customers. According to Miguel Villaumbrales, Head of Digital Identity at BBVA, “People readily embrace biometrics when it addresses their needs – something Veridas’ technology has accomplished.”

Veridas application is now available with Genesys Cloud CX, an all-in-one composable solution that helps organizations offer frictionless and connected customer and employee experiences. As a modern, API-first experience orchestration platform, Genesys Cloud CX enables organizations to coordinate every interaction and touchpoint through a full suite of omnichannel options, built-in employee experience, turnkey AI and end-to-end journey optimization.

Air Cargo Screening is mandatory in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), however, it is a complex and expensive activity, mainly because current technologies, mainly EDD (Explosive Detection Dogs) and X-Rays (imaging), don’t fulfill the requirements demanded by the air cargo operators in terms of detection performances (low DR: Detection Rate and high FAR: False Alarm Rate), throughout and versatility, consequently, the screening costs are high and the process is very slow because it requires a lot of manual handling with the need of big warehouses and the involvement of many trained operators.

Even though this fact is well known by security authorities, they are not interested in publicly sharing the details of the inefficient operation in air cargo screening for obvious security reasons, however, TSA reported in 2015 a “95 percent failure rate to detect explosives, weapons, and illegal drugs ” where similar screening technologies are implemented, although the target is different (people vs cargo).
MION, a Spanish-based technological company, has been working on the development of new screening technologies based on vapor detection since 2005, and after almost 20 years of working on the technology and the protocol certification in collaboration with the most relevant EU test centers and security policymakers. Finally, the ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference) has approved the implementation of EVDs (Explosive Vapor Detectors) for air cargo screening in January 2023 according to the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/566 of 10 March 2023, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2015/1998 as regards certain detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security (OJ L 74, 13.3.2023, p. 47).

This is a great advance for aviation security since the level of security will significantly improve and the screening processes will be simplified and cheapened because EVD technology has several benefits. In particular, VPSCAN, the EVD developed by MION, has a Detection Rate higher than 90% and a FAR lower than 2%, has the capacity to detect in bulk mode (complete trucks and containers without the need of unloading the cargo), it is versatile with the capacity to adapt it to many scenarios like pallets, boxes, mail, etc, the database can be as large as needed, it is fully non-intrusive, the results are generated automatically without the need of interpretation from one operator and the complete analysis is done in 6 minutes for a complete truck.
The EVD process is divided into separated 2 operations: i) sampling where an operator takes an air sample from the target container/truck/pallet/skid in 2-4 minutes depending on the size, and ii) analysis in which the collecting filter is automatically analyzed in another 3 minutes.

The air cargo sector is in great luck and EVD is the screening solution that freight forwarders, air cargo operators, and airlines are waiting for a long time, as the director of one cargo screening company at Heathrow Airport says: “EVDs will make our life in a dream”

Smiths Detection announced that it has launched the SDX 100100 DV series, comprising of two dual-view X-ray scanners.

The SDX 100100 DV HC features a high conveyor and is specifically designed to meet the needs of airports, parcel services, carriers, customs facilities, and other high security environments, while the low conveyor model SDX 100100 DV LC supports screening oversized baggage and break-bulk freight reaching up to 100 x 100cm in size. 

Harnessing the power of dual-view X-ray technology, the scanners provide a horizontal and vertical view of the screened object, facilitating reliable inspections of tightly packed objects and shortening inspection times. Both versions are available with either a 0.2 m/s or 0.5 m/s belt speed, delivering high throughput for a faster and more efficient screening process, without compromising safety. 

Any of the SDX 100100 DV configurations can be easily integrated into external material handling systems as well as into one intelligent network that allows Central Image Processing. The new hardware and software provide best in class image quality for increased operational efficiency. To further enhance security outcomes, the scanners can be supplemented with Smiths Detection’s automated threat detection software for weapons and lithium batteries, iCMORE. 

“We are thrilled to launch the SDX 100100 DV series, further enhancing our family of security screening technology,” said Dr. Philo Daniel, global director aviation and urban security from Smiths Detection. “The range of configurations help to meet specific user requirements and regardless of model, provide efficient, accurate screening solutions that can be easily integrated and, crucially, deliver the highest security outcomes.”

Dynatrace announced that Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), the largest airport operator in Italy – serving nearly 50 million people annually via more than 100 airlines and the Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci and Ciampino airports – is using the Dynatrace platform to keep travelers flowing through its airports quickly and efficiently. Digital systems are at the heart of ADR’s efficiency, underpinning all critical airport processes, including security checks, border control, baggage handling, airside operations, and traveler information systems such as those used for check-in and travel updates. 

Previously, the ADR team had limited in-house visibility into its applications or the underlying on-premises and cloud infrastructure. They relied on multiple third-party systems integrators to share information on the performance of their software and its impact on travelers’ experiences and satisfaction. This reliance on multiple systems and manual triaging, with no single source of truth, complicated efforts to resolve issues quickly or optimize experiences. Dynatrace has enabled ADR to overcome these challenges by unifying observability and security data from its hybrid-cloud environment. 

Dynatrace’s powerful, causal AI enables ADR to use this data to uncover the root cause of performance issues and security vulnerabilities and proactively resolve them before they impact travelers. This has helped ADR process 90% of travelers through security in 3 minutes, enable punctual arrivals and departures for more than 99% of its daily flights, and guarantee that 13 million bags reach more than 200 destinations each year. Thanks to these service levels, Fiumicino Airport was recently rated “Best Airport in Europe with Over 40 million Passengers” by Airports Council International (ACI) for the sixth consecutive year. Fiumicino also received a 5-Star Airport Rating from Skytrax earlier this year, making it the second European airport to achieve this rating. 

“Performance issues and security vulnerabilities in our software may have significant real-world ramifications for travelers’ experience in our airports,” said Emiliano Sorrenti, chief information and technology officer at ADR. “If one of our critical applications is offline even for a few minutes, it can lead to huge queues at check-in, border control, or baggage handling desks, which could cause travelers to miss their flights. The Dynatrace platform enables us to optimize and safeguard the systems our customers rely on easily and proactively. That means we can create a better airport experience for our travelers and, ultimately, get more of them to their destination on time.”

The Dynatrace platform’s extensive automation capabilities enable service optimization and issue resolution often without human intervention. Dynatrace also seamlessly integrates with ADR’s IT Service Management solution, which has enabled significant operational efficiencies. Dynatrace automatically creates tickets when it discovers problems, identifies the root cause, and instantly routes them to the right team within ADR to facilitate proactive resolution. This has reduced the time teams spend triaging issues by 70%. In addition, Dynatrace alerts ADR to any new security vulnerabilities as they emerge in its environments, while automatically prioritizing them based on the risk to the airports’ systems and travelers. These insights enable the ADR team to resolve any issues quickly, minimizing airport disruption.

“Dynatrace has revolutionized how we manage service incidents and software vulnerabilities, enabling us to create more seamless airport journeys for our travelers,” continued Sorrenti. “The platform’s extensive automation and causal AI capabilities mean we can now have a ticket raised that points to the exact cause of the issue and can have that in the hands of the person who needs to resolve it within milliseconds. For many types of incidents, we’ve even been able to create automated workflows to enable our applications to self-heal without the need for human intervention. As well as improving the reliability and security of our critical airport services, these automations have enhanced our operational efficiency by eliminating the need to triage problems and scan for vulnerabilities manually. Instead, the answers from Dynatrace empower us to jump straight into a resolution with our partners. Ultimately, that keeps travelers flowing through our airports with ease.”

ION Science has launched a new, upgraded version of Titan, its fixed benzene-specific monitor, called the Titan 2. In accordance with recent legislation changes, Titan 2 offers enhanced stability and sensitivity, supporting ION’s continued mission of protecting lives and preserving the environment.

“Benzene is a toxic, carcinogenic gas representing a serious threat to many workers, as well as the environment,” explained Duncan Johns, ION Science Group managing director. “It is therefore vital that staff are protected by monitors that can continuously measure benzene at the low levels required by increasingly stringent international regulations. Titan 2 is the only commercially available, truly selective, fixed continuous benzene monitor worldwide that can meet this requirement.”

Titan 2 delivers unrivalled accuracy and sensitivity in benzene detection and is ideal for use in a variety of sectors, such as oil & gas, bulk storage facilities, chemical manufacturing and processing, and asphalt production.

Users of the original Titan will be familiar with the instrument’s accuracy and performance, however, within the new Titan 2 they will see core enhancements, such as a new rugged manifold, a piezoelectric micro pump for enhanced stability, a lower limit of detection, and updated PC software for easier management and control.

An occupational exposure limit (OEL) for benzene of 100 ppm was originally recommended in 1946. Following further associations with leukaemia, the OEL was reduced to 50 ppm and then to 1 ppm as the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit (U.S. OSHA, 1987). However, further health problems have been reported at levels below 1ppm so there is pressure in many countries to lower the limit further. For example, NIOSH recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 0.1 ppm (10-hr TWA) and 1 ppm during any 15-minute work period. Similarly, the current EU 8-hour TWA for benzene is 1 ppm (3.25 mg/m³). However, from 5^th April 2024, the long-term exposure limit will be reduced to 0.5 ppm – and will be cut again from April 2026 to just 0.2 ppm. – Directive (EU) 2022/431 of the European parliament of the council, March 2022.

Regulatory requirements are therefore driving the need for greater sensitivity, and these needs are met by Titan 2. Thanks to innovative technology in conjunction with industry-leading PID sensor technology, the Titan 2 has a reduced likelihood of cross-sensitivity and can detect benzene rapidly at levels as low as 0.02 parts per million (20 parts per billion). At the other end of the scale, it can detect benzene at up to 20 ppm, delivering high speed and high sensitivity.

Titan 2 captures a gas sample once every 60 seconds. The sample is then conditioned within a further 60 seconds to allow precise benzene measurement, ensuring a consistent flow of real-time data. The piezoelectric micro pump in the latest version delivers enhanced pressure and flow accuracy to ensure a rapid response and unrivaled reliability. 

Titan 2 also features visible alarm capability, triggering an alert when benzene concentrations reach either of two operator-configurable levels. Twin relay outputs enable the user to integrate the unit with existing site alarm systems, while easy-to-use firmware allows a simplified calibration procedure. For analysis of readings captured by Titan 2, both 4-20mA and RS485 MODBUS communication protocols can be utilized.

A proven, robust separation method ensures specific readings for benzene, with an easy-to-read display. An internally regulated heating system ensures stable operation even at extremes of temperatures, and the new robust housing reduces contamination risk and allows for extended use in the harshest environments.

Titan 2 has been designed to comply with international safety standards, including ATEX and IECEx, making it safe for use in any environment, as well as featuring an IP65 Ingress Protection rating. ION Science’s photoionization detection (PID) technology has been independently verified as the best-performing on the market, providing reliable, accurate solutions backed by outstanding product support. Importantly, the new, unique to Titan 2, MiniPID T2 10.0 eV Sensor features a patented design to nullify potential humidity interference, whilst ensuring a fast response, the highest levels of sensitivity and market-leading reliability.

The Titan 2 service module is designed to be backwards compatible, so in conjunction with a simple firmware upgrade now provides existing Titan customers with a quick and convenient upgrade opportunity.

Summarizing, Johns added, “Benzene is one of the more dangerous VOCs so the Titan 2’s ability to reliably speciate this gas is extremely important in the protection of lives, and with lowering regulatory limits, the instrument’s enhanced sensitivity is a major advantage.”