Milestone Systems, the open platform company within IP video management software, is being used by Fraport AG to improve both security and operational excellence at Varna and Burgas Airports in Bulgaria. RAD Group has installed Milestone XProtect™ Enterprise software, operating several hundred Axis network cameras in both airports, with IBM servers and Cisco network infrastructure.
At the end of 2006 the German-Bulgarian consortium of the airport operator Fraport AG and the Bulgarian logistics company BM Star won a bid for the operation of both Varna and Burgas Airports - gateways to the popular Bulgarian Black Sea tourist region that includes Sunny Beach. Called the ‘Summer Capital' of Bulgaria, Varna and Burgas Airports are at the heart of the area, which includes developed business communities, close to both resorts and transport facilities. Over a 35-year concession period, Fraport Twin Star Airport Management will be operating and investing in the development of both coastal airports.
Prior to 2008, Varna and Burgas Airports had individual systems for different tasks, and analogue surveillance cameras. The analogue technology had limitations in quality like the inability to monitor remotely between the two airports, to expand the systems, or to integrate with other security solutions. Management could see that IP technology was the way of the future and they did not want to be single-vendor dependent, in order to get best price performance.
RAD Group has installed Milestone XProtect Enterprise software, operating several hundred Axis network cameras in both airports, with IBM servers and Cisco network infrastructure. Retention of the recorded video is set to the required 30-day regulation. Control rooms at each site with twelve 37" inch display screens each show the Milestone Smart Client views of both live and recorded video, which provide overview of the customs area, baggage claim belts, arrival and departure areas, shops, and gates.
Varna and Burgas Airports are using the Milestone surveillance not just for security but also for operational excellence. They monitor aircraft taking off and landing on the runways and on the apron to ensure proper servicing of the planes including baggage and food supply movements, vehicle traffic, and operations around the tanks for refueling. The Milestone surveillance system can be viewed and managed centrally by Fraport personnel for both of the airports or locally at each airport, depending on the user access given.
"With the implementation of Milestone XProtect Enterprise at both airports, Fraport gains the following improvements: unified video surveillance systems at both airports and centralisation of the software, hardware and communications; surveillance and control of technological processes in airport servicing - runway, apron, fuel farm, security checks, passenger and baggage flow. The RAD Group manages the installation perfectly with the highest efficiency," says Mr. Hristo Botev, Head of IT, Fraport Twin Star Airport Management.
Scaling up and out over time
In 2008 the airports set up the Milestone IP video platform, learning the system thoroughly and fine-tuning it. The Milestone licensing structure makes it simple for the customer to pay as they grow. They have a PMA (Product Maintenance Agreement) that has already allowed them to upgrade to include the new XProtect Smart Client 5.0, released in February 2010. This has shown them how they can continue with future upgrades and expand their installation over time. The PMA thereby protects their cost of ownership, giving them return on their investment for years to come.
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| Milestone's XProtect software displays live and recorded video of various areas around the airports |
Fraport Twin Star has plans to build new terminals at both airports. With the Milestone IP video open platform, it will be no problem to expand the system for this coverage, including management of activities during the construction phase. Since the airport staff includes some people with programming skills, they are furthermore interested in using the Milestone SDK (Software Development Kit) to make integrations with back-end applications like logistics, to work in concert with the Milestone open platform video surveillance.
Technical advantages bring savings and return on investment
Milestone's unique archiving technology provides great cost efficiencies for the airports, especially considering their 30-day archive retention rule. XProtect allows them to archive their recorded video on the IBM storage hardware that provides large cost-efficient hard disks, and simultaneously operates with the live video running on faster performance disks.
In addition, initial installations of some H.264 IP cameras have already proven cost savings of 30%, so the airports look forward to incorporating more of these high-compression video cameras in future. XProtect software makes it very easy to add new cameras and innovations as they become available in the market.
The airports want to add other innovations in the future through video analytics. These could be applied when they make entrance and exit lanes for passenger movements in the terminals, especially in the customs areas. Uni-directional flow will make it easier for analytics to alert when someone is going in the wrong direction. They also are looking into left baggage analytics and tripwire solutions to help prevent people from going to unauthorised areas. Tailgating alerts could detect improper access by people who try to enter on someone else's card.
