Terminal Upgrade
by Jorg Stiller
To meet the growing demand for flights to and from central Germany, the Leipzig-Halle airport is expanding and developing into an important transport hub, a regional node for rail, air and road communications. Following the recent construction of a second runway to take non-stop intercontinental flights, the airport now has a new terminal linking the airport station, check-in area, new 2,700-space car park and shopping mall - increasing its capacity to 4.5 million passengers a year. Upgraded security measures include a new CCTV and security management system designed by Ingenieurbüro Prautsch Dresden, supplied by GEUTEBRÜCK GmbH and installed by Fleischhauer GmbH.
Covering the entire airport inside and out, the new CCTV and security management system provides managers with the overview they need to respond quickly to changing situations and to deploy staff and equipment as efficiently as possible on a large site, so its pictures are used by a number of different organisations and agencies for both security and operational purposes. For example, the cameras focusing on baggage handling not only guard against theft or tampering, but also ensure that conveyor jams are spotted and rectified quickly. Video pictures enable fire fighters to maintain safe access routes at all times, as well as to determine the source and size of fires. The pictures from cameras round the airfield which enable the German flight security service to guard the runways and apron effectively with less manpower, are also vital to staff in the 75 metre-tall control tower who rely on them in bad weather for guiding aircraft round the airfield, docking and parking.
Customer requirements
In line with performance requirements laid down by the airport operator, Flughafen Leipzig/Halle GmbH, all intruder and fire alarms, access control systems as well as the CCTV system for protecting the buildings, passengers, staff and flights are integrated into the new security system. It offers both centralized and de-centralized operation with individual access rights and full traceability of all events including the ability to search analogue and digital video data. It uses the latest real time, network-based technology for transmission and management purposes, and a structure, which is open for future expansion.
The new CCTV system is a hybrid, a mixture of analogue and digital technology, all controlled by security management software with standard IT client/server architecture. This software has enabled the airport operator to retain the existing building management system and most existing cameras, while replacing the core security system with new up-to-date technology and expanding it with greater coverage and additional functions. To the user, the new system is transparent, easy to use and flexible. And thanks to the use of standard digital technology it will remain easy to expand and update in the future.
All alarm events from door contacts, turnstiles, detectors, etc. reported to the building management system are forwarded directly to the security systems routine decision-maker - a PC running GeViSoft security management software, which is its programmable logic controller (PLC). This PLC sends its responses, in the form of logical output commands, through the ViCros III video matrix to the 300 or so cameras, the 50 monitors, and/or via the LAN to the PC workstations and 9 MultiScope II units which provide the systems digital recording facility.
Recording, short and long term
Eight MultiScope II units are currently set up for short-term alarm recording. Each records five video signals continuously, over-writing after two minutes, so that it saves a 30 second pre-alarm history and 90 seconds of post-alarm video for every event. Each device holds at least 500 alarm incidents identified by date, time, camera number and alarm event.
One 16-channel MultiScope II unit is configured for long-term recording. This records every camera signal, which is selected and viewed by every operator in the airport complex. This system function ensures that whenever the fire service, security centre, or tower staff notice something on the screen they think is suspicious, there are always recorded pictures available for them to replay and analyse more carefully.
For user convenience there are three different kinds of system workstation employed in the airport: PC workstations, MBeg control panels and MBeg emulations. Each individual workstation has its own access and control conditions with different priority rankings. The traditional MBeg control panels are used for controlling the matrix, camera and monitor activity. And when necessary extra MBegtype workstations can be generated by loading an emulation onto a networked PC anywhere in the complex. The emulation is a useful option for managing temporary situations where it is safer or more convenient to have local control. Three PC workstations on the LAN are configured for alarm verification and analysis. These have MultiView software with MultiMap, a fully customised graphical user interface to give staff easy access to video data recorded on the MultiScopes.
Why GEUTEBRÜCK?
GEUTEBRÜCK domestic sales director, Dr. Anke Hönicke believes that two aspects of their solution were particularly influential in the clients choice of system supplier. Our system was one of very few which could provide complete compatibility with existing infrastructure, both hard- and software; and this openness also meant savings could be made by sourcing elements according to price rather than just compatibility. Our systems flexible recording configuration was important too, because we could provide a perfect match with the clients recording requirements.
Open for business
The new check-in area at the Leipzig-Halle airport was opened for business on 30th March 2003, in time for the start of the summer flight schedule. The official opening of the new main terminal is took place on 30th June 2003 to coincide with incorporation of the airport station into the German rail national network.