1INTRODUCTION
The introductory section describes the purpose, scope, and background for information technology and systems guidelines. It also lists the professionals and their respective firms who have generously contributed their time and resources to this effort. Finally, this section provides instructions on how to propose enhancements and changes for subsequent revisions of this document.
When considering airports, most people think of the airfield, terminals, people movers, roadways, and rail used to flow passengers to baggage, cargo, large and small aircraft, buses, shuttle vans, automobiles, rental cars, trucks, trains, etc.
Often overlooked, however, is the hidden infrastructure of Information Technology and Systems (IT&S), which enables the airport and all of its intricate facets to efficiently and safely function minute-by-minute and day-to-day.
Airport managers and operators have become increasingly dependent on IT&S to increase their airport’s capacity and security. IT&S has become a critical component of airports, supporting all phases of their lifecycle—from development to operations, maintenance, and renewal and replacement.
1.1Purpose
These guidelines apply to all airports and the key personnel responsible for their proper development, operation, and maintenance. This technical document is intended to serve as best-practice guidelines for the airport industry.
The ACC IT&S Committee seeks to further the proper planning, design, construction, and commissioning of IT&S for airports. These guidelines provide a holistic framework of information technology systems that should be taken into consideration to accommodate the needs of the airport industry and each airport’s stakeholders. They emphasize IT&S involvement during the early planning and budgeting phases of airport capital improvement projects (CIP) and describe the appropriate processes used to accomplish successful IT&S implementations alongside an airport’s CIP.
Whether it is a refurbishment project or a new terminal project, these guidelines can promote better planning, engineering, construction, and commissioning. They consider requirements not only from an initial deployment standpoint, but also in terms of ongoing operational issues.
1.2Scope
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a comprehensive list of systems that should be planned for in an airport and to describe why each has particular relevance. This list includes an overview and description of each system, how these systems fit into airport operations, and how to integrate them into an overall project. These guidelines may be used during:
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Planning
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Budgeting
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Design
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Procurement
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Construction
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Deployment
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Commissioning
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Acceptance
These concepts are intended to assist with the general incorporation of IT&S and are not intended to be perceived as hard-and-fast specification requirements.
Each system may or may not be necessary for a particular project, depending on business goals and objectives. When designing an airport, experienced professionals must evaluate each system, and determine its relevance for a specific airport. In addition, for each IT&S system deemed necessary, the designer should ensure proper application and integration of the hardware, software, and user interface components.
Due to unfunded federal mandates, fluctuating economic environments, and evolving technologies, airports require flexibility to accommodate new security requirements, airline business models, and passenger service expectations, often within short timeframes.
As a result, more airport owners are considering common-use or shared-tenant facilities at their airports to better control and manage their assets. Common-use facilities should strive to provide value and benefit to the tenants at the airport. Common-use facilities can include shared counters, gates, baggage-handling systems, communications, telephone systems, and information-display systems. For airport operators, the more “common use” facilities become, the better.
Value associated with the proper use of technology is becoming more and more evident in all aspects of the modern airport terminal. A good example is the increasing adoption of Internet check-in and self-service kiosks. This technology affects passenger flow models, terminal designs, dwell times, and many other critical aspects that were previously non-existent, including creating new types of jobs and replacing old business practices.
As the business relationship between airports and airlines changes over time, the most appropriate provisioning (dedicated use, preferential use, or shared use) model for a particular resource may also change. The flexibility to change the use of fixed resources (gates and counters) should be a functional outcome of properly designed IT&S. With this growing use of information technology systems, it has become essential to plan for IT&S at the genesis of the project.
Industry standards are becoming increasingly important as IT&S continues its “convergence,” allowing interactivity and compatibility between traditionally divergent systems. There are several established industry standards available and necessary for the proper design and implementation of technologies. These standards should be used to develop designs that are relevant for efficient operations, industry compatibility, and future IT&S deployments. Industry standards also assist the stakeholders in procuring spares, replacements, ongoing support, and systems integration.
These guidelines serve as a tool to ensure the consideration of all IT&S requirements for an airport project. They provide the rationale and methodology for early planning and sound deployment. They should assist the airport community in making airports the most efficient facilities possible while providing the highest levels of customer service, safety, and security to the traveling public.
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