Human factors approach to study border control automation impacts and needs: Methodology and preliminary results of field studies

Abstract

Passenger flows are continuously increasing in Europe and the number of border guards does not increase as quickly as it needs. The use of automatic systems such as e-gates and kiosks is envisaged to enhance security and to facilitate the border crossing. Border control activity should be thoroughly studied in order to understand in which ways it would be impacted by the introduction of more technological systems. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current border guards’ activities from a human factor point of view and to provide recommendations and requirements regarding the introduction of the future regulation and the use of automatic systems. The paper introduces the methodology used to investigate human factors at four types of borders based on a systemic human factors approach, organizational factors, technical tools and environmental aspects.