Enhanced 3D facial recognition can transform Middle East security practices, says Motorola

Speaking on the sidelines of the Identity Summit in Dubai from March 25-28, Patrick Gilmore, Director, Biometrics for Motorola Middle East and Africa, highlighted the enhanced accuracy and reduced costs that 3D facial recognition delivers over more traditional facial recognition systems or two-dimensional photo biometrics.

"Motorola has a long history as a leader in Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), with more police forces in Europe using Motorola than any other system. However, when you look at the civil market, different considerations become important, with one of the primary factors being a perceived invasion of privacy. 3D facial recognition technology is proving to be less invasive than other biometric security solutions, partly as it requires minimal user cooperation, while retaining critical levels of accuracy required,"

said Gilmore. "Earlier technology was highly sensitive to factors such as lighting, facial hair, eyeglasses, and other headwear, and could be more easily spoofed by video or photography. 3D is a more viable option for businesses in the Middle East because it delivers both higher security and better user convenience."

The 3D camera that captures the facial image permits both day and night vision, and is both affordable and flexible to deploy. The underlying software, provided by Motorola partner A4Vision who will also be exhibiting at the Summit, enables the 3D facial recognition technology to map an individual's underlying skull structure, which is unchanging, and can provide analysis, matching, and identification in less than a tenth of a second, even in identical twins.

Motorola Biometrics has enjoyed considerable success across the region with partnerships such as the Royal Oman Police force spanning twenty years. The police in Oman have been utilizing the Motorola AFIS system to ensure high levels of accuracy for decades and continue to work closely with Motorola Biometrics for the security of the Sultanate.

With planned airport expansions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Muscat, Doha, and Jeddah estimated at more than $20 billion, Motorola's introduction of 3D facial recognition technology to the region is ideally timed. However, in addition to secure access control for airports, defense sites, energy plants, banks, hospitals, and other locations, Motorola's 3D facial recognition technology can also be deployed to support enrolment and issuing of national ID cards and passport documents. Motorola is a leading provider of Mission Critical communications solutions, including civil biometrics solutions and Automatic Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) to help governments and public safety agencies track and accurately identify individuals. Motorola is one of the world's leading biometric companies, with solutions in more than 37 countries.