Evolv Technology’s timing couldn’t have been better.
The security company’s artificial intelligence scanners first made available for large-scale venues, like sports stadiums since 2017, were expanded to the attractions industry just as the COVID-19 pandemic pressed the pause button in March 2020.
During the shutdown, safety and security professionals in the attractions industry began looking for new ways to keep people from congregating as much as possible.
One of those chokepoints? The security screenings at the entrance to an attraction.
Evolv says its Evolv Express product can screen up to 3,600 people per hour—10 times more than the typical metal detector. The Walt Disney Company and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation were among major companies that turned to Evolv’s products upon safely reopening.
Filling a Need in the Industry
These scanners allow guests to pass through a security checkpoint one at a time, without having to wait to pass through a metal detector, have their bags inspected by an employee, or stop to remove phones, keys, and other items from their pockets.
“There was a lot of conversation in the industry in general about how do we become more efficient; how do we move people more freely,” says Gina Claassen, vice president of safety at Herschend Enterprises. “We want to make sure we have the right product to fill our need. Now you’re really starting to see that technology roll out to the industry as a whole; COVID-19 really drove us to do that.”
Claassen believes guests have an overall expectation for high-level safety and security procedures, but don’t want to be actively reminded of it. She says one of the roles that many attractions play is to provide guests an escape from the real world. Implementing passive systems to go with active procedures—like front-of-the-park screening—is a point of emphasis at attractions around the world.
“There’s a balance of making sure we continue to provide the right things but also about providing the right level, whether its perceived and not seen by the guests or whether it’s out in front of them, we just have to strike the right balance,” Claassen explained.
Security Behind the Scenes
At Puy du Fou, a historical theme park in western France, around 20,000 guests visit on a traditional operating day. Chief Operating Officer Laurent Martin says security at the park has evolved over the 20 years at the attraction.
“We have 500 security cameras and control centers in different areas of the park,” Martin shares with Funworld. “We started with handheld scanners and now have quite a sophisticated system for the security of our guests.”
Martin says that guest relations staff helps get parkgoers through the screening at the park’s entrance more efficiently. Once inside, Puy du Fou is ready for any situation that might require outside assistance.
“We share our building plans with the fire department, police officers, and emergency response crews so everyone can respond quickly,” Martin added.
At Belgium-based Tomorrowland, there are some unique challenges. Instead of implementing security initiatives at a fixed location that welcomes guests throughout the year, organizers are literally working in the field.
Tomorrowland stages outdoor festivals this year in France, Belgium, and Brazil. Tomorrowland Winter, held in March, sold out in advance, with more than 21,000 festivalgoers in attendance.
At each location, an “Event Control Center” is established that is composed of in-house security along with fire, police, and other emergency personnel from the local community.
“This way, our organization is advised by experts and can react in good time [to emergencies] and quickly intervene,” says Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen. “These experts have an advisory role and with this, the organization wants to focus primarily on prevention. There are dozens of situations that have been worked out by the risk manager.”
Along with the groups mentioned above, those in the control center include a meteorologist, someone assessing the volume of the music being played, crowd-watchers, a food safety inspector, and someone who communicates to guests via the festival’s app and on-site screens. The coordination of the expansive crew ensues the safety and security of guests enjoying the event.
Innovations Prove Tough to Predict
Evolv’s scanners and other passive forms of security are some of the most current innovations. As far as what’s next, Claassen prefers to evaluate on a case-by-case basis to ensure it makes sense for the attraction and guest experience.
“We don’t always have this perfect timeline of when we want something once it comes out. It’s about what’s the need, what do we anticipate the need being in the future?” Claassen shares. “We always want to be better, and we want to be collectively better as a whole, especially when it comes to the safety of our guests and employees.”
