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Security on the move

Aerodrom Ljubljana which operates Jože Punik Ljubljana Airport, is gradually realising its long-term expansion plans for developing it into a regional aviation hub for surrounding countries. With Slovenia’s entry into the EU and admission to Schengen 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 6000-square-metres of additional 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 completely new T2 terminal adjoining T1, which will eventually accommodate Schengen as well non Schengen traffic and provide additional capacity for an another 2,5 million passengers per year.

In fact, over the last two decades the airport has been completely rebuilt. With each new construction project the security systems used in the airport have had to be expanded and developed. Geutebrück 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 airport’s latest video system improvements in an interview in 2004, “Our 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.”

Technical migration

The earlier MultiScope-based systems did their job in providing long reliable service and ensuring openness for future 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 GeViScopes were introduced. Besides offering increased performance these also brought with them some exceptional video motion detection capabilities and enormous flexibility for future 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 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 centre 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 airport’s 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 on the ground to parking violations, loitering and other suspicious behaviour as well as unattended baggage. Their monitoring activity also ensures that pickpockets or other criminals are not tempted to take advantage of unsuspecting travellers amid the hustle and bustle of a busy airport.

System 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 Dušan Sofri, Ljubljana airport’s security manager reports the Geutebrück equipment was chosen because of its performance and proven 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. “It is very reliable and easy to use,” explains, Sofri. “It is operated by staff in security operations centre, who have received basic training on GscView, 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.”

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