Ever since 9/11, airport baggage handling systems have received much more attention than in the past. After all, stricter baggage screening measures, made law through the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, have raised the performance bar.

Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) in Jacksonville, Fla. was one of the first airports to upgrade its system. It designed and built a 100% hold baggage screening (HBS) system integrating the latest explosive detection system (EDS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in order to comply with the stricter baggage screening measures.

The project also included installing new ticket counters, inbound and outbound systems, two baggage sortation lines, a high-speed pier sortation system and software control system.

The previous baggage handling system involved a simple conveyor system, which transported bags from ticketing counters to make-up piers unsorted and with limited security screening.

The new system has many more aspects to it. First, bags are tagged upon arrival at check-in stands. A standard bar coded tag goes on normal baggage. An RFID tag goes on suspicious baggage, determined by a prescreening passenger system. Check-in conveyors transfer bags to a waiting baggage conveyor, which leads to the new 10,000 square foot HBS room located in a separate, secure screening area.

The screening room's matrix design allows for redundant screening of baggage. It eliminates any opportunities for bags to escape unclear. From the waiting baggage conveyors, baggage enters a holding loop prior to passing through one of the five explosive detection machines.

Bar coded bags pass through what is known as level one screening machines. Luggage that fails the automated screening process goes to manual screening stations.

RFID tagged bags are diverted to a level three machine, which provides a more intense level of screening. RFID allows for swift, precise tracking of suspicious bags. It also achieves 99.8% read rates, which increases throughput rates.

A software control system prevents machines from overload by delivering bags at a measured pace. That's why some bags might stay on the loop longer than necessary. By delivering bags at a controlled pace, the system prevents logjams and increases scanning efficiency. It also ensures that no bag escapes the HBS process. Advanced software controls monitor functions of the system. That includes stop/start functions, conveyor route selections, conveyor and diverter status.

"Reducing the hassle factor for passengers while ensuring all bags are EDS screened allows us to offer not only superior security, but quality customer service," says Van Dyke Walker, JIA director of planning and development.

The automated system is built for quick and accurate identification, screening and tracking of more than 10,000 bags daily without causing significant passenger delays.