Roadmapping as a futures studies method in the field of security - application and challenges

In developing technologies for security applications, awareness is growing that only systemic perspectives can ensure that the various and often diverging needs of citizens, public authorities, operators of critical infrastructures or producers of security technologies are met. Many of the innovations to be developed are systems innovations which are of great concern for the public, integrate many different stakeholders and exhibit a high degree of market regulation. This paper shows how such a perspective can be turned into a participatory technology roadmapping process to arrive at a common understanding of the shaping of future developments and research strategies. This contribution is based on an empirical case where a roadmapping workshop on future sensor technologies in the field of personal security controls and luggage inspection at airports was conducted, for the period from 2009 to 2025. The findings show that within the field observed the roadmapping method is well suited to stimulating the public debate and the participatory formulation of public research strategies.