AGENCY: Datacom, 2018
A TRAVELLER’S JOURNEY
ROLE: Research, Journey map design
Travelling is one of the most stressful things we do
As rewarding and exciting as it is, air travel has quite a number of challenges for both the traveller and the airport to overcome in order to ensure security and safety for all involved.
We were tasked by Auckland Airport to identify ways that biometrics could could make these challenges easier to deal with, and create a more efficient journey… saving time for both traveller and airport staff.

Mapping out the journey
We mapped out the journey for both the departing and arriving travellers, identifying each point where the biometric technology could be utilised. We then identified the current state of the technology for each identified point, what would be needed to implement the biometrics, and the benefactors for each.
Once a traveller has been scanned in the system, they no longer have to pull out their passport at every point in their journey, such as boarding because they are recognised by the cameras. I know it sounds a bit big brother-ish, but it would also protect and reduce criminal activity, such as luggage theft.
As a frequent traveller (pre-Covid)… sigh
I could truly relate to many of the situations and challenges we were trying to make more manageable.
As just one agency/cog in the project…
Our research will be put forward to inform the other agencies, such as the ones creating the technology. This project will be onging for quite some time, and will continue to evolve.
The new challenges with COVID
It will be interesting to see how the future plays out, and how implementing more biometric technology can help eliminate fraud around vaccination status.
Looking forward to 2022
As New Zealand and other locations in the world start to allow travel again. We have been quite lucky to be here, as opposed to anywhere else really!