Piece by piece over the last two decades Ljubljana airport has been completely rebuilt.
With each new construction project the security systems used in the airport have had to be expanded and developed. Geutebruck Adria was the chosen supplier for the video security system for the original T1 building, the new garage and outdoor parking areas as well as for the recent T1 renovation and additional storey. As the then airport security manager Bojan Lucovnik said about the airportโs latest video system improvements in an interview in 2004: โOur system is not finished yet. That is to say, it is an open system and it will never be finished. – Like every other airport in the world we are always expanding and we need to be able to upgrade by adding new cameras, access control and recording capacity.โ
Migration
The earlier MultiScope-based systems did their job in providing service and ensuring openness for expansion. When the time came to switch to pure IP the airport was well-prepared. Since 2006 all new additions have been pure IP systems. Around 100 new IQeye IP cameras and Axis IP SpeedDome cameras now work alongside the original 160 analogue ones. Late in 2008 some new powerful GeViScopes were introduced. Besides offering increased performance these also brought with them video motion detection capabilities and flexibility for adaptation. In 2009/10 the need to relocate the control room to a new building provided the ideal opportunity to upgrade these facilities. The old analogue matrix and analog monitor wall were replaced at that time with a virtual digital matrix and an array of wide plasma monitors.
Staff in the new security operations center monitor the whole site. With the help of the video system they control the entrances to the airport, the car parking facilities, areas in and around the general aviation and passenger terminals, the VIP areas, the apron and runways. Air-side cameras allow them to monitor activities on the apron and runways to ensure that these remain unobstructed, safe and secure, and of course enable them to alert and manage emergency services or other services if this is required. The integration of the video system with the airportโs access control system is key to the strict control of movements through the doors and gates which form the crucial air-side/land-side interface. Video images enable security staff to spot and alert colleagues โon the groundโ to parking violations, loitering and other suspicious behaviour as well as unattended baggage. Their monitoring activity also ensures that pick-pockets or other small time criminals are not tempted to take advantage of un-suspecting travellers amid the hustle and bustle of a busy airport.
Selection
When it came to selecting video security equipment for the most recent T1 terminal expansion project the airport authority evaluated and compared three European suppliers. As Duลกan Sofri?, Ljubljana airportโs security manager reports the Geutebruck equipment was chosen because of its performance and reliability. The new GeViScope-based system which uses GscView display software and MBeg control units was designed by Koda and Siemens and installed by PAN electronic and G7. โIt is very reliable and easy to useโ explains, Duลกan Sofri?. โIt is operated by staff in security operations center, who have received basic training on GscView โ learning how to review footage of security cameras; how to make or export backup files or pictures and also how to use the motion detection function. The system has performed very well, exactly as it was initially demonstrated to us.โ
Background
Aerodrom Ljubljana which operates Joลพe Pu?nik Ljubljana Airport, is gradually realising its long term plans for developing it into a regional aviation hub for surrounding countries. With Sloveniaโs entry into the EU and admission to the Schengen agreement in 2007 came the prospect of increased air traffic and the need to increase capacity of the airport. Since then, in the first stage of a two-stage project, the existing passenger terminal (T1) has been partially renovated and enlarged with a complete extra storey. The 6,000m2 of extra space plus four new jetways now facilitate the separation of Schengen and non-Schengen traffic and easier boarding for all passengers. Part 2 of the project due to start this year, involves the construction of a new T2 terminal adjoining T1 which will eventually take Schengen and non-Schengen traffic and provide miore capacity for an another 2.5 million passengers per year.
