N.B.MATHUR

GENERALMANAGER (IT)

AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

An Airport or for that matter Aviation as a whole has always been viewed by all – educated or illiterate, rich or poor, as a high technology precinct. Why not? – Human being always wished to fly like a bird and Aviation fulfilled the wish deploying the awesome technologies. An aircraft flying in the sky is looked upon with admiration; thereby an Airport where from the aircraft takes off and then returns to land shares the awe.

 

Aviation sits on a mix of technologies with each of its players contributing with the best of technology. Starting with Engineers to Traffic Managers, Fire Services, Security, Airlines, and to Pilots each has a high technology behind ones back. An airport has to have a perfect bouquet of high technologies blending into a seamless service to fliers, and all those who visit the airport.

 

 Airport of my dream is no different. I see each of its elements bathed in the state-of-the-art technology. The picture starts with a hi-tech access to airport and continues with real technology encounter while passing through the Terminals and ends with memorable flying experience at the airport.

 

Airport of my dream will be well connected to the downtown with each access to be monitored with state-of-the art digital scanners to make it an intelligent that helps in forecasting of likely congestion. All resources should be dynamically deployed for fast traffic clearance and perfect parking management. Automatic status display with direction guidance on the LED based variable message signage shall facilitate passengers and the visitors.

 

Intelligent access should be coupled with a modern Car Parking which means a multipoint access self-service guided parking equipped with self-service ticket vending machines and automatic entry and exit control, and payment of parking charges. Real time parking availability status can be linked to airport information system for display in the terminal building as well as on city-side for guidance to the visitors and passengers. Digital surveillance will generate alerts for security staff in pre-defined situations besides generating information to drivers to know at the entry point itself where the empty parking slots are and where all traffic congestion conditions are prevailing and which all entry gates for parking are active. Inside operational area it helps in ground movement control.

 

Parking spaces can have entry ticket / airport tax coupon vending machines so that after parking vehicle one has the option of making payment for tickets/taxes there itself.  Direct access to terminals from parking saves time for passengers and visitors to reach terminals in shortest time.

 

It is essential for an Airport to have a central IT based control room, which will have Airport Operational Data Base and Airport Operations Management System, and in addition it will have controls to remotely manage systems like AC, Conveyor Belts, Lifts, Escalators, etc. It becomes a backbone for all operations and controls, and it will be a centre point for collecting all information related to the airport activities and functions. Presently this common point of information is not available at Indian airports.

 

Use of State-of-the-art integration technology coupled with Data warehouse enables major airport systems in use by Airlines, Travel Agents, Advertisers, Customs & Immigration, ATM and also systems like CUTE, Baggage Handling System, APP and APIS (Advance Passenger Profile and Advance Passenger Information System), Parking Revenue, Terminal management system, etc. to the central control room. IT will also allow automatic linkage of airport information to airport Website. In case the airport has deployed Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) then its integration leads to paper less working at the airport. Data warehousing technology makes it very convenient to store data for ease of its access and analysis. It is most useful in the multi-user environment like at an airport. Linkage of information through SMS, Website, and with Call Centers is facilitated. Simulation Data can be accessed for future planning activity besides helping airlines, security agencies and Immigration & Customs to schedule their resources.

 

Central control room will need interface with customers and other airport users. This is possible through a dedicated airport data network. All Displays and CUSS units will be connected on it. It will enable display of Flight Information, Gate Information, Announcements, Traffic congestion information for display, guidance to vehicles for vacant slots in parking, providing information for traffic and non-traffic billing to airport operator, reservation information through Common User self-service Kiosks (CUSS). Further this network in conjunction with APIS and digital surveillance system can become a medium to transfer and get information from congestion simulators.

 

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) – a form based work flow facility for Cargo functions can be extended to airlines and customers through this data network. Complete network will have an optical fiber backbone for higher speed and high reliability.

 

Operations/passenger Management System on servers of the control room uses powerful automation tools to collect data from all major airport systems e.g. operational, retail, environmental and administrative. The system processes and organizes this data into a consistent enterprise-wide view to aid in planning, decision support, forecasting, billing, scheduling and other functions.

 

Passenger Management System helps to expedite passenger movement through the entry / exit gate and seat duplications. System also helps baggage reconciliation process by suitable integration with Baggage Reconciliation system. The system can streamline passenger processing so that airlines can provide faster, more personalized services while adhering to strict security processes. Operations management system also helps in load planning of the aircraft. It verifies a safe load plan, simplifies data entry.

 

LEDs consume very little power and provide a high life cycle source of high luminous light. These are fail free and maintenance free, and add to the beauty and modernization of the terminal buildings. LED based displays offer all sizes including Large-format video screens with high pixels for optimal viewing distances and with feature of a wide angle viewing for large groups of viewers. All existing electrical signage need to be replaced by these modern LED based displays for following use

 

• Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) 

• Baggage Information Display Systems (BIDS)

• Roadway signage

• Corner displays

• Digital advertising networks

• Arrival / departure boards

• Parking displays

• Traveler information displays

 

Once inside the terminal, travelers will remain informed and will be able to find their way through terminals easily with the help of modern LED displays – from the ticket counter to their gate. Displays will also provide entertainment, news, weather and other pertinent information to travelers. Electrical lighting for passage and counters can be replaced by LED based lighting. These consume less power and do not load AC.

 

CUTE is a system, which provides common check-in counters. It can be customized for personalized service by airlines using the counter. It is available all around the world and it has become an essential part of the airport. All counters have similar design equipped with facilities required for Check-in. Front end of the system provides multi counter check-in facility with complete printing of Boarding Passes, Baggage Tags and Computer Screen as per the Airlines using the counters. This is achieved by seamless integration of the system at back end to Departure Control and Reservation systems of the airlines. As soon as the airline staff logs-in from the counter it gets connected to its own servers at back end. Airline starts getting all intended services are supported on its servers.

 

CUTE application is capable of providing Back Office support as well as remote check-in facility from Hotel or at a remote station where airlines may not be having any infrastructure of its own. System can be integrated with the control room to provide information on flight operation, passengers who have checked-in, etc. Similarly it can be integrated with APPS and APIS for Immigration & Customs purposes.

 

CUTE system counters enhance utilization of check-in area space and better gate control. Uniform bar coded boarding cards can be generated to track boarding with card readers installed at gates. The system will also provide automatic gate control. CUTE integration with the Control Room helps in provision of accurate and reliable flight information to the customers through FIDS, SMS and Internet.

 

E-Ticketing is a system which extends service to agencies that need to sell tickets electronically to customers through Airport Website or through CUSS kiosks installed at the airport. It comprises of software, which can be loaded on the servers of the AINC.

 

Commerce forms a major activity at the airport and major portion of income for an airport comes through commercial activity, which can get benefit of IT. Customers before coming to airport may like to see the availability of items at an airport and may like to learn about its price details. They may also like to purchase items of their choice on-line making payment through Credit Cards.

 

E-Commerce makes it possible. Item list with price detail can be made available on-line to customers through Airport Website, and also using CUSS. Concessionaires can sell their items, take order for service to be provided at the airport, and also receive secured On-line payments for the transactions. Link to payment Gateways provides for on-line payments for purchases made by passengers

 

Client Server based and Touch screen based kiosks with printing and card reading facility can be configured to serve as CUSS, for installation at various locations in the airport with wireless access to Airport Data Network, and the Control Room.

 

Each CUSS gets connected to airlines systems in the backend, to facilitate Check-in, e-Ticketing, Travel information, Tourist information, Flight Information, Hotel Bookings, Taxi hiring and Taxi Call, etc. CUSS can also provide multi-lingual information with language selection features.

 

Rate lists for items stored by concessionaires can also be accessed through the Kiosks.

 

Complaints and Grievances can be entered directly by the customers through CUSS. Even Hotel reservations can be carried out. Airlines can enter messages for announcements, and also to update flight data.

 

World Tracer Management System (WTMS) – a service provided by SITA in liaison with IATA, can be linked through CUSS and airport Website to help passengers get their luggage traced once it gets misplaced. Even the items lost in the aircraft or at an airport can be traced out from Lost and Found information database. Airlines have to be the member of this service for its passengers to avail it. Passenger can track his misplaced baggage himself by uploading information about the baggage and other needed details.

 

Another important automation at an airport is achieved by providing RFID based Baggage Handling meeting IATA standards. It facilitates airlines to deal with registered baggage handling for all flights from airport of origin to the destination. This system can be augmented with international bar coding. Combination of RFID and bar code forms a fail free technique to identify baggage and handle it. The system will also provide facility for reconciliation of baggage. It can be integrated with AOMS through AINC for baggage reconciliation getting passenger data from there.

 

The system needs extensive conveyor belt system installation with terminal-to-terminal baggage transfer channels. Automatic Baggage Reconciliation System can be integrated to take care of transit baggage transfers from one flight to the other. The system needs integration with CUTE.

 

Both the systems facilitate faster clearance by Immigration as well as facilitate airlines in scheduling their resources according to the number of passengers arriving at an airport. The systems process the passengers for different types of report generation for Immigration and airlines.

 

Airlines having linkage to Immigration carry out the passenger departure trend analysis prior to departure and check for VISA, and only then clear the passenger for issue of boarding pass. This information afterwards is passed to Customs and Immigration of the destination as Advance Passenger Information (API). Complete detail of the aircrew is also passed with API.

 

APIS expedites the immigration clearance by keeping the analysis ready before the flight arrives.

 

It is essential that Passports and VISA are machine-readable and Biometrics based smart cards, having personal details and earlier travels details.

 

Simulation software is available which can simulate passenger data and forecast congestion conditions in the building at given instant or at any location under reference.

 

Analyzed information is passed to various agencies like airlines, Customs & Immigration, security, concessionaires, and terminal managers to schedule themselves in advance and to plan their resources accordingly. Simulation software to assess advance congestion information in dynamic condition which will assist in gate control, decision on number of operating Immigration counters, etc.

 

Flight slot allocation can be facilitated based on the archived analysis data. For this simulation data needs to be forwarded to flight slot allocation system through AINC.

 

Parking sensors can also use simulator to simulate likely traffic congestion on road by analyzing trends. It needs to be integrated to CUTE, APIS and Parking Sensors.

 

Photo identity cards should replace by Smart Cards, which will carry Biometrics information in addition to personal detail. Cards issued for operational area entry will be RFID based where without swiping of the card, the presence of the person will be checked with automatically captured card detail for access authorizations. Security system can alert security personnel the moment violation of authorization is noted. Even temporary identity cards can also be smart card based.

 

Biometrics readers are suitable for locations where limited access is permissible e.g. in Control Tower, Technical Block, ATS Automation Room Centralized AINS, etc.

 

RFID based Vehicle passes enable monitoring the movement of the vehicle in operational area to check for violation of the authorizations. RFID chip carrying complete vehicle information can be put on vehicle as a part of the permit. Sensors in the airport can detect movement and alert for deviation. Information can be integrated with digital surveillance system. Digital surveillance of operational area provides digital movement control. Identification of the movements can be related to smart card contents and any unauthorized movement can be automatically notified. One major aspect of vehicle entry management system in operational area to check the belly of vehicle while placing the camera at entry / exit point and should be interface with surveillance system.

     

Digital scanning around terminal vicinity, for terminals and operational area surveillance enhances security. Digital scanners installed in the terminal building and around operational area provide full coverage to generate a digital video footage for each zone. Sensitivity of each zone is defined and accordingly movements are watched. When compared with the predefined deviations, suspicious movements can be highlighted, to generate alerts. This ensures instantaneous attention by security personnel to the zone of likely security breach.

 

Digital video footage with the help of suitable software helps in generating such alerts. Pre-defined situations can be a baggage seen unattended for some time and linking it with the person who earlier left it and has gone to a different area. From video recording this person can be tracked and security agency can be given exact location of the left over baggage or item so that clear tracking of the person who left it behind can be caught. Suspicious targets can be marked and movement monitored even if the person mixes in the crowd. Pre-notified person also gets automatically detected if he happens to come to the airport. The system provides unified screen view and security person on duty to watch video is alerted whenever any security breach is seen or suspected.

 

XBIS machines with better resolution and memory are proposed to replace the current machines. These new technology machines can automatically compare the images with reference to dangerous and security risk items in the memory. Alerts can then be generated.

 

These machines are small in size and occupy much less space. These can be easily located for in-line frisking.

 

Proposed X-ray machines will have explosive detection features as well. Automated X-Ray detection systems are now available which detect explosives and other contraband, such as guns and knives, by imaging the complete contents of the parcel in three dimensions. Latest elastic X-ray scatter approach and computer vision methodology to locate dangerous objects profiling their unique diffraction of X-Rays.

 

This technology is available which can be installed with the fence to detect climbing attempts and to pin point the location. Different types of fence need different design for the system.

 

It can be combined and integrated with other sensors, such as vibration sensor. System alerts security personnel giving full detail of location of intrusion. On detection of intrusion it can be programmed to generate non-stoppable audio alarms.

 

This system in conjunction with digital surveillance system can be very effective for the security of airport operational area and important airport installations.

 

Passengers subjected to puffs of air which dislodges the explosive particles and vapors from the body and clothes. Dislodged material is sucked in and analyzed on-line for presence of explosives. If a person has ever handled an explosive he can be detected. Complete process is over in very little time. Together with X-ray based explosive detection screening of the baggage, a near perfect explosive detection is possible.

 

Changer over from conventional lighting system to LED based taxiway edge lighting saves on cost and provides longer life cycle, such lights have high luminous emissions visible from long distance.

 

Digital Trunk Radio System provides features like Group Call Features, Single Call Features, Emergency Call Features, Phone features in the operational area.

 

Digital Trunk Radio provides dispatching of multiple SMS messages as well as voice messages. It can be integrated with the digital surveillance system so that surveillance alerts can automatically be sent. Even video footage generated by the surveillance can be forwarded to mobile TV sets installed in the vehicles or carried by operational staff. The Radio works as a cellular phone service for complete coverage of the airport, and even beyond airport limits.

 

Automation in Cargo Management and its integration to AINC provides information to Airlines, Clearing Agents, Customers, and for display of cargo information wherever needed.

 

Standard IATA bar code and RFID facilitate cargo tracking both by sender as well as by recipient.  Cargo agents and carriers also draw benefit of cargo movement management.

 

Wi-fi for Internet access covering all terminals and lounges is a must for all airports. Technology allows providing Music, Video and Internet on demand to public through Data Network.

                    

An Airport or for that matter the entire gamut of aviation has always fascinated me and my dream is to apply IT solutions and high Technology to all applications of Airport and Aviation to transform our Airports into Customer caring futuristic Airports of tomorrow. Airports that not only overwhelm and fascinate us, but really facilitate our passengers in the truest terms. Airports that are gate way to the country’s Economic Growth and mirror of Future Technology.

 

Shri N. B. Mathur is presently working as GENERAL MANAGER (IT) in AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA.

SH. N. B. MATHUR IS A GRADUATE ENGINEER IN ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUNJAB ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CHANDIGARH, INDIA. HE JOINED CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA THROUGH UPSC IN THE YEAR 1973 AS COMMUNICATION OFFICER. BETWEEN 1998 TO 2000 HE WAS THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR OF JAIPUR AIRPORT & MOBILISED MANY PRAGMATIC CHANGES TO JAIPUR AIRPORT. HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IT DIVISION OF AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA FROM ITS INCEPTION AS ADDITIONAL GENERAL MANAGE, IT & TOOK OVER AS GENERAL MANAGER, IT FROM THE YEAR 2003. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF THE IT DIVISION OF AAI. HE IS THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR AAI, & SECTOR CYBER SECURITY OFFICER APPOINTED BY MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION TO REPRESENT THE COMPLETE CIVIL AVIATION SECTOR IN THE MINISTRY OF IT FOR CYBER SECURITY. HE ALSO REPRESENTS CIVIL AVIATION SECTOR IN THE INDO US CYBER SECURITY FORUM.