Next Generation ABIS Improves Biometric Response to Warfighter
The ability to fix and match biometric identities is taking a great leap forward as the Next Generation Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) (NGA) replaced the current DoD ABIS prototype on Jan. 30 to become the enterprise-level master repository of biometric data and non-intelligence-associated information for DoD Biometrics. In the making for the past year, NGA significantly improves support to the warfighter with faster response times, a four-fold increase of biometric modalities, increased throughput, and decreased human intervention required.
“The new technology and the fusion algorithm are the kickers,” said Greg Fritz, Product Director, Biometric Enterprise Core Capability (BECC). “Not only does the new system provide better matching algorithms against four distinct biometric modalities, it is also able to synthesize what would formerly be ‘maybe’ matches (yellow resolves) in a single modality into automatic matches across multiple modalities. This means that, around the clock, NGA will make more ‘lights out’ automatic identifications, dramatically improving biometric support to Warfighters around the globe.”
| "Next Generation ABIS is able to synthesize what would formerly be ‘maybe’ matches (yellow resolves) in a single modality into automatic matches across multiple modalities," said Greg Fritz, Product Director, Biometric Enterprise Core Capability (BECC) |
According to Sam Aloi, BTF Technical Management Branch Chief, who is currently in charge of day-to-day operations of the current DoD ABIS and will serve as the “customer” for NGA, the new system will greatly improve Warfighter satisfaction. He said the legacy ABIS was originally designed to handle 2 million records, 2000 transactions a day, and was able to give an acceptable turn-around time to the submitter when it began in 2004. However, the database has grown to more than 3 million, resulting in increased response times to our customers. The new system will be able to handle as many as 4.2 million records, 8,000 transactions a day, and give a response in 2 to 10 minutes. “That’s a big deal for our priority customers,” Aloi said. He also praised the multimodality of the new system, which provides not only fingerprint matching and storage, but also face, iris, and palm prints and a new algorithm that revolutionizes the matching capability with trusted software that will reduce the requirement for biometric examination and human intervention.
NGA is a rapid acquisition initiative that builds on the success of the ABIS prototype and will serve as a bridge to the enduring capability in the formal program of record. The current ABIS will remain as a back-up for the NGA. The new system incorporates blade-server technology, which provides an architecture for increased modularity and scalability, said Phyllis Calloway, Assistant Product Manager for NGA. She explained that the modularity will enable this system to “plug in” to other technologies and that the scalability allows for more servers to be added seamlessly to accommodate future growth. “In my opinion, biometrics are here to stay,” she added. The design also allows easier integration of new biometric modalities as the technology matures.
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