Abu Dhabi Airports safer on top-notch technology

Even as airports in the Middle East region are gearing up for massive expansions over the next decade, security systems at these massive facilities are increasingly coming under the scanner with authorities implementing projects, which according to experts involve investments of $100 million to adopt the latest technology and systems to ensure safety of the infrastructure, aircraft and passengers alike. According to projections from the International Air Transport Association, or Iata, 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 seventh for handling over 82 million international passengers by 2014. The capacity of the UAE’s airports will be increased to handle 250 million passengers by 2020. Dubai International alone is expected to spend Dh28 billion in the capacity expansion, and the emirate is expected to handle about 98 million passengers by 2020. A report by Frost & Sullivan said $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 $57.7 million by 2015. Mohamad Bader-Eddin, show director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the organisers 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 and Exhibition Centre, Ingersoll Rand vice-president John R. Diedam pointed out that in today’s world where terrorists and anti-social elements could virtually come up with the most dire threats to cause widespread 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 the Airport Show — have been widely used in the airports across the world. Some 920 of delayed egress machines have already been deployed at Dubai International Airport. The $14 billion turnover company also showcased electronic and biometric access control systems, credential systems, locks and locksets, portable security devices and Trane chillers, and nearly 50 such chillers are installed at Dubai International. Diedam 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 prioritising 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, especially 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 localised security solutions that do not cover the entire periphery of the airport. With more and more Middle Eastern airports launching new expansion programmes, the use of perimeter intrusion detection security systems that are not affected by environmental conditions leading to false alarms, are vitally needed. He pointed out that about four years ago, the Middle East region had an estimated $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, prioritising 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 realised now than ever before, he added.