The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $160,902 to London-based startup CrowdVision Ltd. to develop an integrated proof-of-concept for an airport passenger counting and measuring system for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

CrowdVision received its Phase 1 award to lead a team that will integrate three technologies currently deployed in various international airports into a single system for CBP queues at airports. CrowdVision’s computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) technology,

Today, we are delighted to announce an exciting and progressive new partnership with Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

On a continuing mission to improve the passenger experience of more than 21 million annual passengers, CrowdVision technology will be used to optimise the full passenger experience beginning with arrivals ‘curbside’ at terminal 4.

Focusing on 3 key areas, CrowdVision will analyse ‘curbside’ actions to manage passenger arrivals and vehicle congestion.

It’s a weird thing. Airports seem to be going to the market saying, “I want to buy some queue measurement sensors” and sometimes even specifying what type of sensor they’re looking for. The trend for defining sensor types (the how) rather than the outcomes, insights, analytics and data they need (the why and what) drives some of us crazy. But it’s a scene that’s out there so we have to engage with it. Here’s a CrowdVision view.