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Garrison Kaiserslautern tests pedestrian gates for Army

By Christine June
July 10, 2006

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (Army News Service, July 10, 2006) – U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern is testing the Enhanced Security Pedestrian Gate for use throughout the Army.

The new gate replaces onsite guards with remote guards who can see and hear via cameras and speakers. A push-to-talk button also enables pedestrians to talk with off-site guards.

"It enhances the security and efficiency because you have to defeat three or four mechanisms before you can enter the installation," said James Otto, the garrison's force protection and antiterrorism officer, who designed the gate.

The first gate became operational July 10 on Kleber Kaserne. A second one will open on Daenner Kaserne July 14.

The garrison will conduct field testing of the gates through the end of the month. Evaluations and data will then be forwarded to U.S. Army, Europe’s Office of the Provost Marshal before continuing to the Army's OPM General.

"If we can continue to create efficiencies, reduce guard costs and create a product that everyone is satisfied with, we will continue to put those gates in place – not only here in Kaiserslautern, but at other installations throughout USAREUR," said Otto.

A savings of almost $200,000 a year per gate is projected, said Otto.

The gates are based on USAREUR’s recently implemented Installation Access Control System, he added.

To use the gates, pedestrians must place their ID cards into the outside bar code reader. If accepted, the external door will unlock and allow entry into the pod.

"In simple terms, it's providing a mantrap operation," said Richard Lewis, program manger for Johnson Controls, the contractor building the gates.

Once inside the pod, pedestrians place either the right or left index finger on a fingerprint scanner for a second form of security. If the IACS connects the fingerprint with the barcode, the other door will unlock and allow access to the installation.

Otto said there are several other mechanisms, or checks, that detect if something is wrong, such as two people inside the pod. In those cases, an alarm will get the attention of a remote guard who can override the system or implement emergency reactions.

"It's a gate, but it's still a guard," said Otto. "If something goes wrong or is out of the ordinary, a human makes the decision – not a computer."

The new gate makes life easier for Soldiers who live, work and shop on both Kleber and Daenner. Remote guarding now makes it easier to keep gates that were previously open on restricted schedules remain open 24-7.

Staff Sgt. Tyler Hopkins of the 37th Transportation Command lives on Daenner, but moves between the two installations almost everyday.

"I love the gate, especially when I’m carrying a lot of stuff," said Hopkins, who explained that his 20-minute walk between the two posts is now a five-minute one.

Five gates have been funded for the Kaiserslautern community. The other three will be located at Panzer Kaserne, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Kleber Kaserne before the end of the year, said Otto.

"We (Garrison Kaiserslautern) want all of our pedestrian gates that are on the perimeter of our installations to be ESPEGs by the end of 2008," said Otto.

Otto said it took 17 months for his idea to become reality.

(Editor’s note: Christine June writes for U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern.)