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Welcome to the Smart Resilient Airport. An Airport that is a true Customer delight.
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This article has been assembled with the input from the world’s leading Airports. Some of the contents have been sourced from the Internet. This [s an attempt to just try to mould the prevailing systems and practices throughout the world in the Indian Context to the next generation “ Smart Resilient Airport”. It is to also exhort to introduce neo -technologies to sustain the competition at the world level and to meet the aspirations of teaming billons of people of India. The Airports all over India are already making tremendous progress in achieving economic, environmental and social sustainability in Passenger and Cargo based initiatives and in the creation of newer jobs. These efforts will certainly help to meet the aspirations of people. |
The smart resilient airport explores the trends that are driving the global phenomenon. How these technologies and systems can be introduced in the Indian context. |
A resilient airport is one that has the people, capabilities, processes and structure to thrive in any environment and to respond rapidly as changes emerge.
Airport business model has to be all about Resilience because of the long gestation period required for the mega investments to be recovered which are made for the Airports.
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Resilience has three elements: Strategic, organizational and operational. |
A smart Airport uses information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance its livability, workability and sustainability. In simplest terms, there are three parts to that job: collecting, communicating and “crunching” of the data and information
First a smart Airport collects information about itself through sensors, other devices and existing systems. Next, it communicates that data using wired or wireless networks. Third, it “crunches” (analyzes) that data to understand what’s happening now and what’s likely to happen next.
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Collecting data: Smart devices should be logically located throughout the Airport to measure and monitor conditions. For instance sensors should be deployed to detect bird / wild life movement in the movement area or FOD on the runway. Increasing Air traffic would render the human inspections ineffective and costly. The timely detection of unwanted wildlife would save millions of Rupees. This information received about birds can be integrated to launch Mean Robotic Falcon. |
Bird strikes happen regularly, and the problems are increasing due to growing bird populations, faster and quieter airplanes, and a growing number of flights worldwide. The surroundings of airports are another factor: these are often close to water or surrounded by agricultural fields. |
The Robirds offer unique possibilities at airports. The most important one: the ability to exert influence beyond the fences of the airport. Since the Robirds influence the eco-system in a wide area, they become the first line of defense in diminishing the presence of birds. When Robirds are operated inside and outside the fences of the airport, this can increase the effects. Birds will eventually learn to avoid the area as much as possible, giving the Robirds a unique preventive effect. |
Of course, a combination of bird control tactics remains necessary, and acute measures from the Bird Control Unit remain the last line of defense when there are birds very close to or on an active runway. However, acute measures will not be needed quite as often, since the Robirds create a naturally unattractive environment to birds which is far more effective than what can be attained by other types of habitat management. |
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Mean Robotic Falcon is a meanie to other birdies because it aims to scare the hell out of them. Flocks of birds pose a serious problem at airports, and Falcon is the answer. The ecological design requires power for only about a minute after takeoff, then "flies like a goshawk, exploiting thermal updrafts." |
The system is the result of ten years of experimentation and ornithological studies by Bird Raptor. It is a flying aircraft, radio controlled by an operator, that perfectly imitates in the aerial movements (circling, attack, overflight etc.) a big raptor, arousing immediately in the gregarious birds a reaction of hasty escape. Falcon is a life-size mechanical replica of a female goshawk with a 5.25-foot wingspan. In a test at the Genoa airport, a remote-controlled Falcon reportedly dispersed 1,000 seagulls. |
Taking up the rightful implementation of technologies consider this. Landing and takeoff of an Aircraft is an event at Airport. Human reporting of this event should be done away with and instead sensors linked with information output should be used with great accuracy. The technology exists with www.flightstats.com integration with the Airport information display needs to be carried out for passenger satisfaction. Automated weather stations can report weather conditions. And the mobile devices carried by almost all passengers are also sensors that can when specifically authorized by their users to do so – collect their position. |
Mass notification system (MNS) should be designed to log in and log out all mobile phones in the vicinity of the airport. In case of urgencies it should deliver targeted messages to advise occupants. Messages should be disseminated through multiple redundant channels, including voice systems, LED signage and local area networks. The system can contact people en masse inside and outside of the building directly via personal devices. Systems inform occupants about what action they should take, therefore coordinating movement to facilitate safe and efficient response. Typical risk scenarios should be prerecorded to allow easy activation and effective messaging during a crisis. If airports track passengers connected via Wi-Fi we can address heavy passenger flow, determine popular shops or eateries and generally gain a better Picture of the traveler’s relationship with the airport. |
Occupancy sensors that determine whether a space is occupied to control the lighting can and should be used to control other systems as well, such as adjusting the HVAC set points when a space is unoccupied. It should send alarms to the security intrusion detection system if unauthorized movement throughout the space is detected. |
A smart resilient Airport then is one that knows about itself and makes itself more known to its populace. No longer do we have to wonder if a plane has landed or delayed. A real time position can always be accessed. |
Communicating data. Once you’ve collected the data, you need to send it along. Smart Airports typically mix and match a variety of wired and wireless communications pathways, from fiber-optic to cellular to cable. The ultimate goal is to have connectivity everywhere, to every person and every device. Interoperability is a key requirement. Infrastructure Availability of Wi- fi and fiber Optic should therefore be a must at all Airports. |
Crunching data. After collecting and communicating the data, you analyze it for one of three purposes:
- 1) Presenting
- 2) Perfecting
- or 3)Predicting.
Analyzing data turns information into intelligence
that helps people and machines to act and make better decisions. This begins a virtual cycle wherein data is made useful, people make use of that data to improve decisions and behavior which in turn means more and better data is collected, thereby further improving decisions and behavior.
Just imagine what wonders can be achieved if mass diversions of aircraft from Delhi Airport could be analytically predicted. The Airport to which Aircraft should ideally divert could be determined not just every aircraft diverting to same Airport and creating another chaos there.
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Software monitors the huge flow of incoming data, then summarizes and visualizes it in a way that makes it easy for human operators to understand. For instance a smart operations center can monitor all aspects of an emergency situation including the actions and locations of security personnel, fire personnel, Ambulances and much more. |
Perfecting operations uses the power of computers to optimize complex systems. For instance synchronizing Air traffic to minimize congestion; or selecting the ideal Airport in case of diversions or real time |
Predicting what’s next is perhaps the most exciting
part of analytics. Air traffic mass diversions due weather, Flooding of an Airport, City traffic congestions on the artery road leading to Airport or passenger Scrambles in front of security booths can always be predicted, and resultantly managed in a better and efficient manner.
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A smart Airport is a system of systems -transportation, emergency response, environment, Crowd Control etc.– with each one affecting all the others. |
In the last few years, we’ve refined our ability to merge multiple data streams and use them for amazing insights. It is those insights – presenting, perfecting and predicting – that enhance the livability, workability and sustainability of a smart Resilient Airport. |
collected and contributed by Sh.Manoj Jain,AGM ATM,Jaipur |
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