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Innovative technology helping airports become safer [Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates)](Emirates News Agency (WAM) (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dubai, 24, 2012: Even as Airports in the Middle East region are gearing up for massive expansions over the next decade, the security systems at these massive facilities are increasingly coming under the scanner with authorities implementing projects, which according to experts involves investments of US$100 million, to adopt the latest technology and systems to ensure safety of the infrastructure, aircrafts and the passengers alike. According to IATA projections, the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan will be among the top 10 fastest growing countries in terms of handling airline passengers, with the UAE projected to rank 7th for handling over 82 million international passenger by 2014.The capacity of the UAE airports will be increased to handle 250 million passengers by 2020. Dubai International alone is expected to spend AED28 billion in the capacity expansion. Dubai is expected to handle about 98 million passengers by 2020. A report by Frost & Sullivan said US$86 billion will be spent by Middle East airports in expansion plans until the year 2025. According to the Middle East Airport Security Market Assessment report, the spending in this sector is estimated to reach US$7?57 million by 2015. Mohamad Bader-Eddin, Show Director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organizers of Airport Show-2012, said the exhibition provided a good opportunity, like the previous years, to the aviation industry decision-makers about the latest technology and futuristic innovations that will benefit the airports. Airport Technology was one of the five themes for this year s Airport Show. Speaking to the Media at the 12th Airport Show at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, John R. Diedam, Vice President, Ingersoll Rand, pointed out that in today s world where terrorists and anti-social elements could virtually come up with the most dire threats to cause wide-spread destruction, security was no longer someone else s problem and that most international airports have been making conscious efforts to protect themselves and remain safest spots. He noted that biometric solutions provide a technology that cannot be replicated and are unique to the user, and delayed egress /exit/ equipment, which prevent intruders and smugglers from leaving the airport vicinity before being frisked - which Ingersoll Rand was also showcasing at Airport Show have been widely used in the airports across the world. Some 920 of delayed egress machines have already been deployed at Dubai Airport. The US$14 billion turnover company is also showcasing electronic and biometric access control systems, credential systems, locks and locksets, portable security devices and Trane Chillers /one of which is installed at the 159th floor of Burj Khalifa/, and nearly 50 such chillers are installed at the Dubai International Airport. He noted that one of the big challenges with security systems these days was the plethora of low-cost providers in the business, who claimed to be able to get their security at a far lower price. He pointed out that as Middle East airports geared up for massive expansion some 25 new airports are slated to open doors in Saudi Arabia alone by 2020 not compromising on quality for the price may make the crucial difference to whether the region s airport security remains on par with the world. Complimenting Dubai and its international airport for their significant deployment of CCTVs and surveillance cameras, which gave visitors and passengers a feeling of being absolutely secure, he said prioritizing security was a key responsibility for all international airports today. Diedam said the highly-debated full body scanners, which Dubai decided not to use for screening passengers, were actually a vital tool in ensuring there were no security lapses, specially because terrorists now attempt to push contraband into their body parts, and infiltrate airport security environment more than ever before. He said the population in the UAE and Middle East was mature enough to accept international security procedures, while adding that body scanners were a short-term solution as more non-intrusive systems were soon going to replace them. Paul Crombie, Solutions Development Leader and Airport Specialist Critical Infrastructure Protection at Honeywell, said that many airports over the world had installed localized security solutions that do not cover the entire periphery of the airport. With more and more Middle Eastern airports launching new expansion programs, the use of Perimeter Intrusion Detection security systems that are not affected by environmental conditions leading to false alarms etc, are vitally needed. He pointed out that about four years ago, the Middle East region had an estimated US$3 billion airport Security, Building Management and Fire Systems investment requirement. This estimate today still holds true, with several new airport projects just getting kick-started. Chandrashekhar Sardesai, Regional Technical Sales Leader /Middle East/ for Honeywell, added that new technology which used Video Analytics and RADAR Video Surveillance were soon likely to be installed across many airports. This would enable identifying multiple targets, prioritizing them on easy to understand GIS map views that enable operators to respond faster and more proactively, making it possible to stop incidents before they occurred. The concept of using advanced Video Analytics was closer to being realized now than ever before, he added. Emphasising the issue of airport security, Zulfiqar Z. Mirza, Chief Executive Officer of Sialkot International Airport, said that one could never underestimate the importance of security in these zones, which were a life-and-death issue, with even one incident ruining the credibility of the region. He said his airport also facilitated ground-handling functions for other operators, adding that exhibitions like the Airport Show were critical networking events for industry players to remain updated with the latest technological innovations, and to forge partnerships that could result in future collaborations. Also commenting ion the issue, Alan Boujeily, General Manager of Bayanat Airports, an airport safety expert, pointed out that all airports today had a similar safety system in place, and that the challenge was always to try and meld the security requirements with the operational requirements. He said the airports in the Arabian Gulf and Middle East regions follow the highest safety standards, and forecast is that in the recent future, it might become possible, indeed even necessary for different airlines and airports, to insist on specific security measures, such as airlines to the US, which already insisted on a Level 5 Security system. "Instead of incurring greater capital expenditure on safety issues, I think the time has come for us to optimize efficiency and reduce taxiing time and waiting time within the airports, make flying a more comfortable experience for passengers, and also for airports to share information and data they may have with one another, leading to smoother operations on the ground," Boujeily said. Materna GmbH, which participated in the Airport Show for the fifth consecutive year, showcased the benefits of automatic check-ins for both baggage and passengers. Achim Schmidt, Business & Communications official at the company, said: "Materna's automatic check-in systems save money and provide ease of travel for the passengers. Simplifying the passenger's journey is our main objective. This system makes the airport experience more efficient and therefore more pleasant." The company is also showcasing check-in with new technologies, making it possible to check-in via the web and mobile and voice secure access and self boarding. Lufthansa already makes use of the automated check-in system, and with the growing expansion in the aviation industry, automated check-in is set to become the norm. Simon Matar from Polaris Automation Systems said that with security one has to follow technology and that it was essential for the Middle East region to have its airports lead from the front in implementing best practices. NAVCANatm s System Engineer Robin Tremblay said that everything the company was presently involved in dealt with safety & security, its primary mandate. "Dubai is expanding and as a result it is important that the whole of the UAE shares information to implement the new technologies, this will in turn lead to an even safer environment in the UAE," he said. (c) 2012 Emirates News Agency (WAM) Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |