Simulation and MCDA-based framework for border crossing process design with static and dynamic control of passenger flow

This paper presents an approach combining simulation and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to model and evaluate options for passenger service organisation at a terminal. The methodology is motivated by changes planned by the EU concerning the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) for advanced border control of passengers crossing the Schengen border having an impact on a passenger flow at the Border Crossing Point (BCP). The primary outcome is the selection of a recommended process configuration, including the types and number of servers required to ensure an efficient passenger flow within the BCP, and satisfactory service levels from the passenger's perspective. The authors propose a methodology that relies on a multi-stage and multi-level graph structure of the BCP. It enables the implementation of alternative technological solutions supporting border control, i.e., Manual Border Control (MBC), and automated solutions such as e-Gates (e-Gs) and Self-Service Kiosks (SSKs) to create a complex BCP structure. Unlike traditional approach, in this research both static and dynamic phenomena of traffic flow modeling, allowing for comprehensive control of passenger movement at the BCPs, is proposed. The research integrates traffic control, the composition of technical resources, staffing considerations, and spatial analysis into a single evaluative framework, providing a methodology to find the compromise solution for the process design. It consists of six stages: 1) analysis of the current state, 2) design of process variants and formalisation of evaluation criteria, 3) simulation models development for variants, 4) simulation of the current state and process variants, and analysis of results, 5) selection and application of the decision aiding method to find the compromise variant, and 6) result analysis. The proposed methodology has been applied to redesign the border control process at an airport terminal in the context of new border control procedures. Assuming that 39% of passengers require 10–120% more processing time due to new procedures, the recommended process includes new equipment configuration, increasing the total number of units by two. At the same time, the number of border guards remains unchanged, and the space required for passengers waiting in the queues is reduced by 30%.