A Sequential Stochastic Security System Design Problem for Aviation Security

Alexander G. Nikolaev (), Sheldon H. Jacobson () and Laura A. McLay ()
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Alexander G. Nikolaev: Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Sheldon H. Jacobson: Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Laura A. McLay: Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284

Transportation Science, 2007, vol. 41, issue 2, 182-194

Abstract: Passenger screening is a critical component of aviation security systems. This paper introduces the sequential stochastic security design problem (SSSDP), which models passenger and carry-on baggage-screening operations in an aviation security system. SSSDP is formulated as a two-stage model, where in the first stage security devices are purchased subject to budget and space constraints, and in the second stage a policy determines how passengers that arrive at a security station are screened. Passengers are assumed to check in sequentially, with passenger risk levels determined by a prescreening system. The objective of SSSDP is to maximize the total security of all passenger-screening decisions over a fixed time period, given passenger risk levels and security device parameters. SSSDP is transformed into a deterministic integer program, and an optimal policy for screening passengers is obtained. Examples are provided to illustrate these results, using data extracted from the Official Airline Guide .

Keywords: aviation security; homeland security; threat detection; risk analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:41:y:2007:i:2:p:182-194

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