Objectives

In order for SMILE to successfully realize its vision, a set of objectives are set, covering the project’s scientific, and technological aspects throughout its duration as well as the exploitation of the project’s results after its end. The overall project success will be defined by the efficiency and effectiveness of the appropriate synthesis, as well as the individual quality of the specific achievements related to the project’s objectives.

Provide efficient, hierarchical (weak and strong) and unobtrusive, on-the-move security control

Automatic verification (1:1) of IDs for individuals and groups, while also utilizing background information for frequent travellers. Depending on the individuals ID, and risk level, change the level of BCP control from weak controls to strong controls, tailored to the needs of land BCPs using on the move biometry.

Introduction of the concept of biometrics based pre-registration

Introduction of a biometric based pre-registrationservice as a key element in land border crossing points of the future, so as to minimize the risk level by changing the level of BCP control from standard controls to strong controls. For that reason, we need to identify the pre-registration rules and the properties that can characterize/emphasize the identity of an individual. Given that the key characteristics of this procedure will be either some preregistered travelling information or other attributes (i.e. soft biometrics). There are several issues that need to be addressed within this scope regarding collecting information, so as to stay in line with the privacy related legislation for the further utilization of this information for BCP controls.

To introduce mobile equipment and Extension of eElectronics services for BCP checks

Introduction of a biometric based pre-registrationservice as a key element in land border crossing points of the future, so as to minimize the risk level by changing the level of BCP control from standard controls to strong controls. For that reason, we need to identify the pre-registration rules and the properties that can characterize/emphasize the identity of an individual. Given that the key characteristics of this procedure will be either some preregistered travelling information or other attributes (i.e. soft biometrics). There are several issues that need to be addressed within this scope regarding collecting information, so as to stay in line with the privacy related legislation for the further utilization of this information for BCP controls.

Development of a robust context-aware biometric authentication framework

SMILE will analyse traditional and next generation biometric approaches and develop novel algorithms for optimising the multimodal verification performance under varying contexts. The project will investigate the use of mobile embedded or add-on sensors in order to extract discriminative features, reliable for user authentication (research on 2D and 3D face, iris, fingerprint, voice, and palm vein all combined in a multimodal way. Research will focus on the selection of the most appropriate modalities or features based on the actual context of use and the development of novel algorithms to enhance both verification and authentication performance.

Robust multi-factor and multimodal authentication system for BCP cases, enhanced by soft biometrics

SMILE aims to deliver a context-aware multimodal fusion for increased reliability and higher flexibility (standard and strong authentication). A multifactorial framework will be also supported via different authentication profiles at land BCPs according to the constraints imposed by the surveillance environment (e.g. checking speed, infrastructure space) will be generated. This will be also achieved by utilizing background information for frequent travellers using Privacy Enhancing Technologies for identity management and confidentiality. Depending on the traveller id, and risk level, change the level of BCP control from standard authentication checks to strong ones. Moreover, the utilization of soft biometrics (e.g. the fully exploitation of facial soft biometrics towards the enhancement of 2nd and 3rd generation biometrics in passports) is expected to provide enhanced security and increased performance of the proposed system.

To propose and develop services running on BCPs that will enable their interconnection in a secure, interoperable and secure manner

Investigating on the existing technologies utilizing Single point of Contact (SPoC), SMILE project will improve the current border control infrastructure by extending it and by providing a secured (from attacks) and safe storage for personal biometric data via advanced security mechanisms. Moreover, it will allow the seamless contact and interconnection between distant BCP around the globe so as to provide services for more accurate authentication and efficient flows (i.e. group based authentication, strong authentication via extra biometrics, etc.). Within the project both centralized and decentralized strategies will be investigated towards enabling the BCPs of the future to interconnect based on standard data interchange formats. Moreover, on the centralized approach, SMILE envisages the delivery of appropriate BCP services on the cloud for security, compatibility and efficiency reasons.

Provide legal guidelines that should be adopted and taking into account for further designing and delivering of BCP-related technologies.

The current project will design and deliver an enriched set of Privacy Enhance Technologies that can be embedded in the local mobile nodes (e.g. tablets, mobile equipment) and in the cloud, based on the existing valid legislations worldwide (i.e. Schengen, non-Schengen zone) and standards but also taking into account the particularities of certain areas/countries.

To create a scalable and holistic paradigm for secure inner and cross-border data exchange, storage and overall handling of travellers data in a legal and ethical way both at national and European levels.

SMILE project will deliver a vendor and platform independent cloud-based data security infrastructurefor digital security of travellers related data on a systemic level. SMILE will research and develop a federated cloud-based security and privacy infrastructure that will be designed as a versatile, scalable, trusted toolbox adopting a holistic approach able to guarantee secure data handling to a wide range of biometric solutions and to a broad operational context against partially trustworthy cloud servers. SMILE’s vision is to provide the architecture, deliver the infrastructure and validate the performance of a digital security network based on a distributed inclusion of platforms and systems, including i)homomorphic encryption mechanisms, (ii)Physical Unclonable Function (PUF)-based security solutions relying on photonic technologies, and (iii)a customised STORK-compliant eID.

To provide a detailed comparative study, about the cost reduction that achieved by each SMILE technology in relation to the offered improvement in BCPs operation.

SMILE project will propose a set of different technologies which are aiming to cover different parts of BCP control and management system. In order to this, SMILE will continuously estimate the cost of each implemented solution (individually) and for the case that is a part of BCPs legacy systems during project duration providing, controlling in that way the cost efficiency of the proposed solution . Furthermore detailed cost benefit and effectiveness analyses of the proposed SMILE ecosystem (as a whole) will be provided, in order to demonstrate the total cost reduction that can be achieved, considering on the other hand the significant operational improvement that offers (through pilots).

Demonstration, Validation, and Evaluation of the SMILE BCP equipment in the context of a real BCP.

To evaluate the proposed system in the proposed pilot scenarios of specific installations by demonstrating the capabilities of the proposed framework in real life conditions and scenarios addressing different user needs and potential framework requirements: Two scenarios related in a Schengen - non- Schengen zone transition. All aforementioned scenarios will be evaluated both i) for individual and ii) group-based mobile authentication at BCPs. Evaluation should address the cost reduction that will be achieved through comparative testing of SMILE technologies, tools and systems andthe ethical and privacy implications that cross border controls services may expose and to propose countermeasures and recommendations for the developments. Among others, the ICAO passport standards and the existing will be assessed. Finally, pilots will be designed in strict collaboration with the ethical help-desk of the project and will also be submitted for approval by the relevant national independent committee.

SMILE technologies innovation, exploitation management and cost benefit analysis.

To perform all required activities, e.g. formulate the appropriate exploitation and settle IPR procedures for pushing the outcome of SMILE Ecosystem as a set of novel and cost effective technologies in the relevant research and SME market, and also to the corresponding stakeholders and authorities as an integrated operational and secure framework, in order to improve the overall control procedure performance of EU land BCP and to create a seamless and secure information system by offering a wide variety of tailored information security services by exploiting COTS mobile handheld devices and novel biometric authentication techniques.