Airports are faced with a number of challenges, specifically around management and security. They accommodate potentially millions of passengers on an annual basis, seeing foot traffic of thousands each and every day, not to mention massive volumes of cargo. In addition, airports are spread out over wide areas with multiple levels and different areas. Passengers need to be serviced quickly, and their luggage processed swiftly and securely to ensure it makes it to the correct destination at the correct time. Logistics must be carefully managed, as any issues could cause backlogs in flights that would cost large sums of money says Laurence Smith, Executive at Graphic Image Technologies

Video surveillance is an integral part of ensuring effective management and security. However, this in itself can prove challenging as it must extend across a vast network at all levels, entrances and exits, terminals, processing areas and more. In addition, airports are also host to a number of retail outlets and restaurants, which also require monitoring and management. Airports in reality require hundreds, even thousands, of cameras at various points to ensure proper management. Airports are also dynamic environments that are constantly changing, so any surveillance solution needs to be flexible and scalable in order to accommodate future growth. End-to-end IP video surveillance, managed and monitored from a central location, offers a solution to ensuring the highest levels of security as well as the potential to use video footage for more effective management and operational effectiveness.

While the majority of airports already have video surveillance and security solutions in place, one of the biggest challenges lies in monitoring not only thousands of passengers, but also staff members, personnel and day to day activities. Ensuring optimal functionality while preserving existing investment requires an intelligent solution that is able to integrate seamlessly with current technology to link them all into a network and provide centralised monitoring and management.

An intelligent centralised platform provides primary command and control management software. This platform also delivers the IP network necessary for video surveillance, which can potentially connect many thousands of surveillance cameras located throughout an airport’s passenger terminals, concourse buildings, parking areas, baggage inspection rooms, and baggage conveyor areas. In addition, duty free shopping arcades can also be incorporated on the same surveillance network for enhanced security and management, enabling the stores to manage their own security while leveraging the benefits of centralised surveillance.

Centralising control and monitoring enables video feeds and information to be brought together for improved intelligence. In addition, certain systems also enable third party security systems to be integrated, including access control, flight and gate information, fire alarms, building automation, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), elevators, and other data sources. Furthermore, utilising IP surveillance networks with centralised remote monitoring enables security personnel to not only monitor security from within the control room, but also on handheld portable devices such as tablets and smartphones from anywhere in the airport complex. This gives patrolling security personnel a complete picture of happenings to ensure a more appropriate response.

Further to the benefits of enhanced security, IP surveillance networks with centralised monitoring and third party integration also help to substantially increase operational efficiencies. This comes as a result of the ability to access flight arrival and departure information and integrate this data to automate the switching on and off of lights, HVAC, and other systems at the appropriate gate area. Once a plane departs, cameras can sweep the gate area to confirm there are no passengers and personnel, and once this confirmation is received, the automated integrated network can shut down all systems until the gate is needed for a new flight, whereupon systems can be reactivated.

For retail environments within airports, the centralised platform can also integrate with point of sale systems so that transaction data and boarding pass information can be time stamped onto the appropriate video. These security and data management capabilities allow airports to offer customers improved service. In addition, shop owners can leverage improved inventory control as well as enhanced security and better protection against issues such as theft.

In order to ensure continued value in the future, centralised monitoring platforms can also be integrated with supplementary technologies such as video analytics, to provide improved intelligence around proactive monitoring. In addition, cameras can be added to the system as and when necessary to expand the network in airports that are growing, changing or undergoing renovations.

Security is one of the biggest challenges faced by airports across the globe, and in South Africa in particular. Utilising intelligent centralised monitoring with integration into various other technologies and third party systems can help airport management to improve security as well as leverage the benefits of enhanced operational efficiency and seamless technology solutions across various different areas.