A mathematical framework for passenger screening optimization via a multi-objective evolutionary approach

Ana Lisbeth Concho, Jose Emmanuel Ramirez-Marquez

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    8 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Concerns regarding the smuggling of dangerous items into commercial flights escalated after the failed Christmas day bomber attack. As a result, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has strengthened its efforts to detect passengers carrying hazardous items by installing novel screening technologies and by increasing the number of random pat-downs performed at security checkpoints nationwide. However, the implementation of such measures has raised privacy and health concerns among different groups thus making the design and evaluation of new inspection strategies strongly necessary. This research presents a mathematical framework to design passenger inspection strategies that include the utilization of novel and traditional technologies (i.e. body scanners, explosive detection systems, explosive trace detectors, walk-through metal detectors, and wands) offered by multiple manufacturers, to identify three types of items: metallic, bulk explosives (i.e. plastic, liquids, gels), and traces of explosives. A multiple objective optimization model is proposed to optimize inspection security, inspection cost, and processing time; an evolutionary approach is used to solve the model. The result is a Pareto set of quasi-optimal solutions representing multiple inspection strategies. Each strategy is different in terms of: (1) configuration, (2) the screening technologies included, (3) threshold calibration, and consequently, (4) inspection security, inspection cost, and processing time.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)839-850
    Number of pages12
    JournalComputers and Industrial Engineering
    Volume62
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - May 2012

    Keywords

    • Airport security
    • Evolutionary algorithm
    • Multi-objective
    • Optimization
    • Passenger screening

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