The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking 2022 Biometric Technology Rally submissions.
DHS S&T indicated the agency is requesting industry personnel to submit applications to participate in the 2022 Rally slated for the Maryland Test Facility (MdTF) in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, in September 2022.
“Previous rallies were focused on effectively processing individuals one at a time with and without face masks,” S&T’s Biometric and Identity Technology Center Director Arun Vemury said. “However, people often travel in families or groups. Now we plan to assess how well these systems work when identifying individuals within small groups that opt-in to using the system while avoiding bystanders in a crowded environment who have not opted-in.”
Vemury said S&T believes the more difficult and realistic scenario will challenge the biometrics industry to innovate for the benefit of travelers and DHS stakeholders.
The scope of work calls for testing to be performed in controlled scenarios relevant to DHS operations. Face biometric acquisition systems providers and providers of face biometric matching algorithms are encouraged to participate.
Applications are due no later than July 1, 2022, and noted the Rally challenges the industry to develop faster, more accurate, and easier to implement biometric recognition capabilities to improve security and ease use at security checkpoints.