US military bases add biometrics to visitor passes

The U.S. Air Force has developed and implemented a biometric identification system at multiple military bases across the country. The technology aims to streamline the visitor pass process and decrease foot traffic on base.

Developed by the Air Force Security Forces Center (AFSFC), the Defense Biometric Identification System Visitor Enrollment System (DVES) integrates with the access control system currently used by security forces personnel on military bases.

Together, the two web-based systems function to “link requestors, sponsors and visitor control centers in a virtual environment,” said Melia Goodman, installation access control chief in the AFSFC Law and Order Division.

Visitors complete the pre-enrollment registration using any computer or smart device. They then receive unique QR and alpha numeric codes that they provide to the sponsor along with a scanned copy of their driver’s license. The sponsor does the rest.

After a 90-day field test across multiple U.S. bases, all locations reported substantial decreases in both pass processing times and foot traffic at visitor control centers (VCCs). One of the test sites, Ellington Field, reduced processing time by 50 percent and saw a 70 percent decrease in VCC throughput.

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