Travel Security Research Articles

Intelligence outsourcing for non-traditional clients: the rise of private sector intelligence providers

ABSTRACT When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, some of the timeliest intelligence was provided not by intelligence agencies, but by private actors. Open-source intelligence is an increasing focus in intelligence studies; however, little systematic attention has been paid to the vendors that collect, analyze, and operationalize intelligence outside of classified national security environments. This research addresses this gap through a new dataset that seeks to capture the expanding array of intelligence providers that serve the private sector. This paper examines how vendors apply intelligence tradecraft to support corporate risk mitigation, including travel security, executive protection, and geopolitical risk analysis.

Cybersecurity in Aviation: A Case-Based Approach to Preparedness

With interconnected systems governing everything from flight management to passenger services, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern. This paper presents a comprehensive case-based review of cybersecurity preparedness in the aviation industry. Through an analysis of notable incidents such as data breaches, system outages, and cyber-attacks, the study explores the vulnerabilities inherent in aviation systems. It examines the impact of these incidents on passenger safety, operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and economic stability. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the effectiveness of existing cybersecurity measures and identifies areas for improvement. Drawing insights from real-world cases, the study aims to provide valuable lessons and recommendations to enhance cybersecurity preparedness in the aviation sector. By delving into the complexities of cybersecurity challenges faced by the industry, this review seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in aviation and the imperative for proactive measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure the safety, security, and reliability of air travel in an increasingly digitalized world.

Analisis Beban Kerja Dan Beban Mental Masinis Terhadap Keselamatan Perjalanan Kereta Api (Studi Kasus: Masinis pada Divre II Sumatera Barat)

As a mode of mass transportation, trains are one of the choices for people to travel. Safety and security of train travel are important factors in the implementation of railway transportation. One of the problems in railways is the low safety performance reflected by the high number of accidents. Machinists play an important role in the safety of railroad trave. The increasing number of schedules and trips as well as the lack of the number of machinists assigned to Divre II West Sumatra resulted in an increasingly dense schedule arrangement that affects the workload and mental burden felt by machinists and of course will also have an impact on the safety of the train journey itself. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research on workload and mental load on machinists. This study aims to predicting the probability of train accidents in terms of factors affecting the level of fatigue, predicting the probability of train accidents in terms of factors affecting workload and mental load, analyzing the relationship between factors affecting workload and mental load felt by machinists in relation to train accidents. The method using modeling with a Bayesian Network Structure (SBN) using questionnaire data conducted on machinists in Divre II West Sumatera which is then analyzed using Gennie 2.2 Software to obtain the probability value of accidents that may occur to machinists based on the machinist classification level and finally find out what factors affect the workload and mental of machinists.

The Role of State Security in Immigration Service

This study enhances the understanding of the function of state security in immigration services. The perspective of state security in national development offers a solution to the current reality of implementing public policy in immigration, which requires a transformation through a more suitable and ideal approach for each immigration officer. One aspect of this study involves strengthening an in-depth interpretation to address and understand the evolving policies, aiming to achieve complex policy objectives. This phenomenon is closely related to the fact that current government policies tend to focus on public services that prioritize public satisfaction. While community demands are urgent for the Indonesian government, implementing public services in the field of immigration involves different dimensional aspects compared to other public services. The main reason is that current immigration issues are becoming increasingly complex, necessitating the adaptation of new approaches. It is crucial to manage the complexity and diversity of factors involved in the immigration service policy process, particularly concerning state security in travel document/passport services, immigration documents, and examinations at immigration checkpoints at state borders.

Prioritizing cybersecurity initiatives in aviation: A dematel-QSFS methodology

The aviation industry's growing dependence on digital technologies necessitates robust cybersecurity measures to counter advanced threats. This study integrates the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method with Quantum Spherical Fuzzy Sets (QSFS) to enable precise and reliable decision-making under uncertainty. Key criteria, identified through expert evaluations, include Threat Detection Systems (TDS), Data Encryption Protocols (DEP), Regulatory Compliance (RC), Incident Response Plans (IRP), User Training (UT), Access Control Mechanisms (ACM), and Network Security Solutions (NSS). Analysis using the proposed method revealed that “Regulatory Compliance” and “Threat Detection Systems” are the most influential factors, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to standards and advanced threat detection capabilities. Additionally, the significance of “User Training” and “Data Encryption Protocols” underscores the importance of comprehensive training programs and strong encryption measures. By incorporating strategic management theories such as the Resource-Based View (RBV), Contingency Theory, and Risk Management Theory, this study presents a strategic framework to assist aviation organizations, policymakers, and researchers in developing effective cybersecurity strategies, ensuring the safety and security of global air travel.

Auto Tix: Automated Bus Ticket Solution

This paper presents AutoTix, an automated bus ticketing and exit control system aimed at transforming public transportation. By leveraging modern software technologies like Python, PyQt, NLP, pyqrcode, and speech recognition, AutoTix addresses issues such as long queues, fare calculation errors, and security vulnerabilities inherent in traditional systems. Through streamlined operations and enhanced security measures, AutoTix sets a new benchmark for convenience, security, and accessibility in bus travel. With its potential to reshape urban mobility amidst rapid urbanization and growing demand for efficiency, AutoTix offers passengers a seamless journey experience.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Future Immigration and Border Control

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into immigration and border control systems represents a pivotal advancement in ensuring the security and efficiency of global travel. This research paper investigate the transformative impact of AI technologies on the future of immigration and border control, addressing their profound implications for security, operational efficiency, and the overall traveler experience. Methods employed in this exploration encompass comprehensive data collection and analysis, leveraging diverse sources ranging from immigration records to biometric data. AI-driven tools, such as facial recognition powered by deep learning algorithms, have been implemented and rigorously tested at key border crossings and airports. Additionally, predictive analytics, real-time threat detection systems, and automated chatbots have been deployed to streamline processes, enhance security, and offer travelers a more seamless experience. The results and discussions within this paper reveal the substantial enhancements achieved through AI adoption, including heightened security measures, improved operational efficiency, and the importance of addressing privacy and ethical considerations. Furthermore, international collaboration facilitated by AI technologies is emphasized as a critical component of bolstering global security efforts. As AI continues to evolve, its role in immigration and border control will remain instrumental in shaping the future of these critical domains. We have also identified various challenges and remedies to overcome the challenges. While challenges related to privacy and ethics must be thoughtfully navigated, the benefits in terms of security and traveler satisfaction underscore the importance of responsible AI integration in immigration and border control systems.

An innovative approach to passport quality assessment based on the possibility q-rung ortho-pair fuzzy hypersoft set

This research article aims to evaluate the quality of passports issued by different countries. Passport quality assessment is critical in ensuring secure and efficient international travel. By leveraging this novel structure, we address the limitations of existing methods and provide a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of passport quality. Our proposed PQROFHS (possibility q-rung orthopair fuzzy hypersoft set) based structure integrates various attributes related to passport quality, considering the inherent uncertainties and imprecisions associated with each attribute. Through extensive experimentation, we demonstrate the superior performance of our approach, achieving higher accuracy, reliability, and consistency than traditional methods. The flexibility of the PQROFHS framework allows for a nuanced representation of uncertainty, enabling informed decision-making in real-world scenarios. Implementing the presented approach can enhance global travel security, streamline immigration processes, and facilitate seamless international travel experiences. An explanatory example of a real-world problem is shown to demonstrate the suggested method.

Bargaining with the Machine: Technology, Surveillance, and the Social Contract by Robert M. Pallitto

In an increasingly technology-mediated world, individuals constantly make decisions about when and how to interact with technologies. Traditional regulatory paradigms tend to treat these interactions as entirely driven by agential control, despite research showing that external forces intervene and shape individual choices. Against this fundamental tension of the information age, Robert M. Pallitto proposes a conceptualization of the interaction between individuals and technologies as “a form of bargaining” (3). Pallitto attempts to harness the analytical benefits of the bargaining framework while maintaining a somewhat critical stance towards the classic economic conception from which it arises, which views the individual as a rational decision-maker. He then applies this framework in order to explain the irresistibility of the adoption of technologies due to their efficiency, convenience, and ubiquity, coupled with the obscurity of the data collection practices which surround them. These parts of the book are helpfully supplemented by accessible descriptions of the implementation of these facets in several prominent technologies, including those connected to smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), and customer loyalty and air travel security clearance programs. The final parts of the book offer a cursory treatment of potential avenues of resistance individuals can employ and a rather short exploration of the connections between surveillance and social contract theories.

Fast, Fully-Automatic Characterization of Metallic and Water-Based Threat Objects for Millimeter-Wave Personnel Screening Systems

Efficient characterization of concealed person-worn objects enhances the security of air travel and reduces the inspection time. Mm-wave nearfield radar can detect metallic objects such as guns or knives, as well as water-based materials that might be associated with peroxide threats. However, it cannot discriminate these potential threats from benign objects to decrease the nuisance alarm rate. Moreover, distinguishing these potential threats from benign objects in the presence of human skin is even more challenging. The authors have previously developed a method using mm-wave imaging to estimate the nominal body contour (NBC) with attached objects. This paper extends the image-processing-based algorithm to identify concealed metallic and water-based objects, as thin as 1 cm, attached to arms, legs, torso, and the pelvic region. The algorithm determines if the anomaly in the image is due to lossless or conductive material seen respectively as a depression or protrusion relative to the NBC. Next, high-loss water-based objects are distinguished from metallic and benign low-loss objects. The developed method is verified experimentally via actual images of human subjects, with foreign attached objects of various types and sizes. The images were captured by the High Definition-Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) scanner, a laboratory prototype system developed recently by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The developed codes resulted in zero miss and 7% rate of false alarm, while the rest of objects were either characterized correctly or referred to for a secondary pat down. Our method is performed fully-automatically and within a few seconds.

Analyzing Rail Traffic Diversion Based on Machine Learning Technique considering Transportation Security

Based on a stated preference survey, we comprehensively analyze the travel psychology of residents and the advantages and disadvantages of rail transit and conventional buses, travel time, travel cost, travel security, and vehicle comfort and investigate the relationship between the relevant influencing factors and the transition probability from rail transit to buses. A stochastic utility theory is introduced to describe the transfer behavior pertaining to travel modes, and a binary Logit model for diversion transfer is constructed. The decision tree is also used to predict the diversion transfer. Then, based on the large amount of travel willingness data obtained through the stated preference survey, a maximum likelihood estimation method is used to calibrate the parameters of the binary Logit model. The performance of the binary Logit proves to be better than that of the decision tree. Results show that the travel time most notably affects the passenger flow transfer, followed by the vehicle comfort. Finally, Guangzhou Rail Transit Line 3 is considered an example, and the diversion route planning and design are performed according to the constructed diversion transfer probability model to verify the effectiveness and practicability of the model. The research provides an effective theoretical basis and technical reference for other cities to perform rail traffic diversion planning. Based on these results, the following suggestions can be made: (1) the organization of public transportation routes, delivery volume, and travel speed outside should be improved; (2) undertaking combined operation of bus and rail transportation and integrated development is preferred; (3) the transportation management should focus on the comprehensive function development and hardware support of public transportation stations. The convenience and comfort of rail transit are closely related to the facilities and functions of the stations and their connections, which should be highly valued.

Russian Tourism Enterprises’ Marketing Innovations to Meet the COVID-19 Challenges

This paper discusses the results of a study aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the Russian tourism market and how local tourism enterprises respond to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Summarizing their experience of doing business in crisis conditions can allow a more efficient response to similar crises in the future and contribute to a more resilient tourism sector in the aftermath of the pandemic. In order to meet the research objective, we combined various sources of operational statistical information about the state of the industry with the results of a survey conducted in the Nizhny Novgorod region and in-depth interviews with representatives of tourism enterprises. We found that Russian tourism enterprises have proved to be quite resilient by looking for additional opportunities, and paying special attention to staff development and team consolidation. However, there are problems faced by local tourism enterprises in obtaining state support. Therefore, tourism enterprises that rely on themselves and innovate to create services and products adjusted to new customer needs and preferences have a better chance to survive. In particular, the wider use of digital marketing instruments helps SMEs to propose a new value for customers aligned to the new requirements and trends in tourism, such as travel security, prevailing interest in individual and short-term trips for short distances, and the sharply increased demand for domestic tourism destinations.

Application of Cloud Model and Bayesian Network to Piracy Risk Assessment

Piracy is a major threat to maritime safety. Assessing piracy risk is crucial to ship safety, travel security, and emergency plan preparation. In the absence of a thorough understanding of the factors and mechanisms that influence piracy, no perfect mathematical equation can be set up for such risk assessment. Therefore, the major factors that influence piracy were identified to construct an indicator system for assessment. These factors were analyzed, keeping in view the overall hazard, vulnerability, and antirisk properties, and then the Bayesian network was introduced into the risk assessment model to fuse multiresource information. For some indicators, which have only qualitative information or fragmentary statistical data, the cloud model theory was adopted to realize prior probability settings of the Bayesian network and thus made up for the deficiency in parameter settings. Finally, the inherent hazard of the South China Sea was assessed, as an example for the model, and two real piracy cases were studied to validate the proposed model. The assessment model constructed here can be applied to all cases, similar to the ones studied here.

The Impact of the Trans-Sumatran Highway Development on Logistic Cost Efficiency

The development of transport infrastructures of the Trans-Sumatran Highway is the policy of the Indonesian government to boost the economic growth. However, on the other hand, this idea needs to be proven since Indonesia has unique regional characteristics in terms of natural, social, and cultural conditions that bring impacts on congestion, low levels of travel security, and illegal costs or surcharges. This problem triggers inefficient logistics activities which can be seen from the high costs of shipping, transportation, and administrative. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the impact of the Trans-Sumatran Highway construction on logistics cost. The result of this study indicates that there are several benefits obtained from the toll road development. For the manufacturers, they may get a faster shipping process so that inventory turnover is getting higher. High inventory turnover can make inventory costs lower. While for the transporters, faster travel times and smooth toll road conditions can reduce the costs of vehicle maintenance and fuel. In addition, the toll road is able to eliminate the surcharges that previously often arise on trips between Lampung and Palembang. This paper argues that the Trans-Sumatra Highway can enhance the transportation and logistics activities.

Low Cost Mobile Tracking Android Application

Nowadays there has been an increase in the crime rate due to which people are more worried about there loved ones especially their children. In the present research, we attempted to create a personal tracking system called “Location Buzzer”. Personal Tracking System is the tracking devices specially built up for personal use of information. An Android application should be introduced on an android telephone and the user needs to register to hyper track that will give them a novel key that when placed in the android application empowered the client to begin tacking and travel security. Location of the user is provided in the form of longitude and latitude coordinates that are further stored in the HyperTrack database.

Gendered politics in rural roads: gender mainstreaming in Tanzania's transport sector

This paper explores the impacts of gender mainstreaming initiatives in Tanzania's transport sector on the everyday reality of rural women's lives, including those facing multiple forms of discrimination. Using qualitative methods, including co-investigation with community members, data were triangulated from diverse sources: vulnerable women and other residents in two Tanzanian districts, road contractors, professionals engaged in supporting the country's transport programmes and staff in donor agencies. The results indicate that progress in mainstreaming has been slow. Despite government directives, few women have benefitted from employment in road construction except through two national programmes: the Village Travel and Transport Programme and the Tanzania Social Action Fund. However, most women, particularly those disadvantaged, derive benefit from road improvement, even if only as pedestrians or wheelchair users taking advantage of a smoother surface, or better travel security when vegetation is cut back. For women with the funds and independence to access the expanded transport services that tend to follow road improvements, there can be significant benefits – faster travel, improved access to farms and markets and sometimes lower transport costs. Nevertheless, women's constrained resources and prevailing cultural mores continue to militate against them directly operating transport, whether for personal or business use.

International Travel Security and the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration

AbstractThis article examines the security dimension of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Migration and explains how the global compacts expand international cooperation on travel security. Although the Global Compact on Refugees contains relatively few security‐related provisions, many of the Global Compact for Migration's commitments are largely devoted to increasing security by strengthening border controls, improving travel documents, collecting data, using new technologies, like biometrics, and sharing data. By agreeing to increase cooperation on international travel security aimed at reducing irregular migration, migrant origin states have won commitments from migrant destination states to improve conditions for their nationals working abroad. Given that both global compacts are non‐binding and states may take actions to realize some of the compacts’ commitments but not others, the actual consequences of the compacts may vary greatly and lead to unanticipated outcomes.

The future security of travel by public transport: A review of evidence

This evidence review considers future security of travel by public transport and addresses three questions: (1) What are the current security challenges for public transport networks? (2) What are the emerging future security challenges? (3) What technologies will have the biggest impact on security of public transport in the future? The review identified current personal and operational security challenges associated with: convenience and privacy; interoperability and communication; risks and benefits of increasing connectivity; and skills requirements for the public transport sector. Important emerging security challenges relate to: user and service provider security in a future of data-driven mobility; design and evaluation of security measures for all modes; knowledge-exchange and coordination in research and action to enhance security; and the need to better understand passenger behaviour, needs and attitudes in relation to travel, technology and security. The biggest impact technologies were identified as Vehicle (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and Electric Vehicles) and ICT (Internet of Things; social media; mobile platforms; Open Data, and Big Data). In relation to ICTs, impacts relate to connectivity and data sharing which represent both vulnerabilities and strengths. For vehicle technologies, automation and connectivity were the factors most influencing impact for good or ill.

Risks Management in Travel Business: Peculiarities, Types Criteria of Estimation

The article considers important issues on the security of travel business as a component of the state’s social and economic system and methods of its impact on risks. The major purpose of this article is to identify the main principles that substantiate the peculiarities of risk assessment in the travel business as the main element contributing to the achievement of travel security, as well as to study instruments and types of risks on the travel services market. The study subject is the security of the travel business. The study object is the market of travel services.The development of tourism technologies is the leading trend of the world economy stipulated by social restructuring of the modern society. The Russian Federation has defined the economic task of the state policy related to travel services. This is to turn tourism into a competitive, innovative, sustainable and highly-profitable sector of the national business. Travel business involves a comprehensive system of relations between suppliers and consumers of the relevant services, between travel agencies and their competitors, as well as among business partners. The operation of a travel agency on the market includes the following: selection of a market niche; development of a travel product; determination of the volume of services provided; improvement of pricing formation; expansion of advertising activities; scientific research; attraction of investments; interaction with other companies, and relations with government bodies. Currently methods and models are intensively implemented in the formation and development of travel management systems, which is associated with the increased competitiveness of the products offered on the travel market.The identification of risks in the operation of a travel company can become a guarantee of its successful and well-coordinated activity. It is possible to quickly and timely identify risks of a travel agency by using the SWOT analysis as a strategic management instrument.

ANALISIS FAKTOR PENUNJANG PENGOPTIMALAN KINERJA TERMINAL KABUPATEN KAPUAS

Kinerja terminal yang telah dibangun oleh pemerintah Kabupaten Kapuas masih belum optimal. Oleh sebab itu, dirasa perlu untuk melakukan penelitian guna mengidentifikasi, menyusun hirarki, menganalisa indikator pengaruh yang memiliki bobot yang siginifikan dalam mempengaruhi kinerja terminal serta mengetahui lokasi terminal yang paling diminati. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode analisis kluster serta Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Melalui analisis kluster faktor-faktor yang berpengaruh signifikan untuk meningkatkan kinerja Terminal Kabupaten Kapuas terdiri atas 5 (lima) indikator utama yang dijabarkan menjadi 20 (dua puluh) indikator kinerja kunci serta 10 (sepuluh) kluster dengan susunan hirarki yaitu aksesibilitas, waktu tunggu keberangkatan (headway), ketersediaan sarana dan prasarana terminal, biaya transportasi, kapasitas terminal, keamanan lingkungan terminal, tujuan dan arah perjalanan, ketersediaan jumlah dan jenis armada angkutan, kepadatan arus lalu lintas dan kenyamanan lingkungan terminal. Indikator pengaruh yang memiliki bobot yang siginifikan dalam mempengaruhi kinerja Terminal Kabupaten Kapuas pada kondisi eksisting adalah aksesibilitas dengan bobot 13,5% dan lokasi terminal dan sub terminal yang paling diminati adalah sub terminal Danumare dengan bobot sebesar 59,4%. Untuk mengoptimalkan kinerja terminal Kabupaten Kapuas sangat diperlukan adanya peningkatan aksesibilitas menuju ke lokasi terminal, ketepatan jadwal kedatangan maupun keberangkatan angkutan, ketersediaan sarana dan prasarana terminal, biaya transportasi yang bersaing, kapasitas terminal, keamanan lingkungan terminal, tujuan dan arah perjalanan, ketersediaan jumlah dan jenis armada angkutan, kepadatan arus lalu lintas dan kenyamanan lingkungan terminal. Hasil AHP pasca pengoptimalan menunjukan adanya peningkatan bobot dari indikator kinerja yaitu aksesibilitas (31,0%), waktu tunggu keberangkatan/headway (11,9%) dan ketersediaan sarana dan prasarana terminal (9,2%) serta lokasi terminal dan sub terminal yang paling diminati adalah terminal Kabupaten Kapuas (45,3%), sub terminal Danumare (29,0%) dan sub terminal Teratai (25,6%). Jadi, peningkatan kualitas layanan terminal sesuai dengan indikator kinerja kunci sangat berpengaruh terhadap peningkatan kinerja terminal.