Month: July 2022

The airport is a unique setting with unique needs for electrical installation. At the same time, modern airports are making increasing use of technology, placing greater demands on their electrical systems. The average airport now uses 19.7 kilowatt-hours ( kWh ) of electricity every year. With airports like Changi in Singapore and San Francisco International Airport in the USA paving the way for more advanced airports, powerful electrical installations that don’t interfere with airport operations are becoming more important. This is where extra low voltage and low current systems come in. So why are they necessary and how do airports use them?

Why are extra low voltage and low current systems necessary?

Extra low voltage and low current systems are electrical systems that perform with an extra-low voltage. They’re typically found where electricity could be hazardous, with airports being a prime example. These systems are necessary for airports because they allow for sophisticated and powerful electrical installations that don’t interfere with aircraft or air traffic control operations. There are a wide variety of ways that airports use these systems, and we’ll now consider some of these in greater detail.

Improving the passenger experience

Much of airport operations relate to improving the passenger experience – extra low voltage and low current systems contribute to this. These systems are pivotal to airport communications. They power low-voltage signage that communicates information about flights, facilities, and routes through the airport. Low voltage digital signage is an environmentally friendly option, saving the airport both electricity and expenditure.

Low current systems are also used to communicate with passengers through public address systems. A vast range of low voltage public address systems are available, from simple handheld microphone systems to sophisticated and wide-reaching systems suitable for emergencies and evacuations. These systems are in near-constant use in airports as they help to communicate vital information and help passengers reach their flights. A low voltage system is essential for devices that are in such frequent use.

Improving airport safety

Safety and security are a top priority at any airport and low voltage systems are part of this. In addition to low voltage public address systems that can communicate vital safety information, many airports use low voltage fire alarm systems to protect passengers. Again, these systems are in continual use so a low current is vital to minimize interference. Many sophisticated low-current fire alarm systems are available, and a further advantage is that they can be integrated with new or existing low-current safety systems. As well as minimizing electrical usage, this helps to ensure a fast and safe response in an emergency.

Extra low voltage and low current systems at the airport

These are just some of the ways that airports deploy extra low voltage and low current systems. They also have a range of other valuable uses but, regardless of the application, these systems help to make the airport experience safer, more informative, and more pleasant for passengers. Increased use means that airports can continue to advance technologically, offering even more for passengers. By using low current systems, airports can keep developing whilst maintaining exceptional standards of safety and reliable operations.

Foreign object debris (FOD) is one of the most significant hazards to aviation. Any object from a screw to a branch dropped innocently by a bird can pose a threat to aircraft arriving and departing a runway. In the fast-paced world of aviation, detecting and removing FOD is a difficult challenge but one that must be overcome.

The Threats and Cost

FOD and its associated disruption cost the aviation industry $13 billion USD per year. This heavy cost is largely through damage and delay disruption losses.

At airfields without a detection system, runways must be closed for inspections to be carried out. In many instances, airfield operations teams cannot always identify and remove the FOD, or even be confident it was there in the first place if reported by a third party.

FOD is harmful and has caused accidents in the past. FOD can cause minor damage to aircraft tires if run over. A burst or flat tire can be easily replaced. However, if FOD is ingested into an aircraft’s engine, it can cause more severe damage which is costly and can lead to significant disruption to airline operations.

Debris Detection

In the present day, runway debris monitoring systems (RDMS) are able to accurately detect runway debris to prevent disruption and accidents from occurring.

RDMS are sensitive dual CCTV and radar instruments mounted on small tower installations close to the runway. They are highly accurate at ranges of upwards of three thousand feet. On a large runway, at a length of nine thousand feet, three RDMS installations can give complete surface coverage.

The RDMS scans the runway at a rate of once every seven seconds. This rate is far more consistent than the time-costly dispatch of an airfield operations team. This continuous monitoring and detection allow for fewer delays and better runway capacity utilization. Unlike manual inspections, which are not as frequent, RDMS can guarantee safety on all flights.

Such systems can give an accurate position fix for the airfield operations team to find and remove the FOD.

Low Visibility Operations

While RDMS is able to detect FOD visually through CCTV surveillance, it is also able to detect FOD as small as three centimeters through microwave wavelength radar detection.

The benefit of this sophisticated level of detection is that it means the runway can be scanned for debris even in low visibility and inclement weather such as blizzards and sandstorms.

Hamad International Airport

Bayanat Engineering has recently worked alongside Xsight to introduce their FODetect® product, a signature feature of their RunWize™ runway threat detection solution. This solution has been selected as the RDMS of choice for Hamad International Airport. One of the most intelligent RDMS systems globally, it is also present in Seattle (SEA), Boston (BOS), and Bangkok (BKK).

Key features of this dual sensor-based system include detection and identification sub-systems as well as alerting, logging, and archiving software.

Industry Experts

Bayanat Engineering is a leading expert in the field of airfield surveillance, particularly runway debris monitoring systems. Contact our team today to learn how Bayanat Engineering can assist in making your airfield operations safer.

Oil and gas industry operations are some of the most important in the world. This means that cars can keep running on the roads, planes can reach airports such as Qatar’s Hamad International and ships can deliver cargo all around the world. A range of different technology plays a role in supporting the operations of the oil and gas industry around the world. In this article we discuss some of the systems the oil and gas industry use, and why these are so important.

Navigation systems

Navigation systems are a fundamental part of getting the right equipment to the right place when completing gas and oil work. Many gas and oil fields stand in the middle of the sea, which means that there are not many landmarks in place to find an exact point to start drilling. Using navigation systems such as a GPS means that you get all of the right equipment to the right place, starting drilling operations in the optimal position for gas and oil output. Visual Guidance Docking Systems are also important when at an oil rig, preventing crashes and keeping everyone safe.

Communication

Clear lines of communication existing between an oil rig and any visitors are essential for better operations in fossil fuel industries. Using long-range radios and satellite phones, oil rig staff stay in constant communication with visiting ships and tankers. This means that the rig can warn boats of any potential emergencies and inclement weather occurrences at the rig, whilst also planning in advance for a range of different events. Having consistent lines of communication means that oil and gas operations stay in touch with the world around them, stay safer and protect those coming to them by sea.

Meteorology

Meteorology is the process of tracking and understanding weather events that take place in an area. For example, this includes measuring the wind speeds, humidities and chance of rain in a selection of areas. This is an important part of completing oil and gas industry operations. Oil platforms that are out at sea feature tall towers that require manning. Ensuring that your members of staff are working when the wind is at a reasonable pace and visibility is good means that everyone is as safe and secure as possible in the oil and gas industry, with little risk of emergency coming from the climate.

RADAR

RADAR is one of the tools that oil rigs use consistently. This tracks the aerial movement of planes and helicopters around them, in addition to building a better idea of what the traffic at sea is doing. RADAR that supports air traffic means that helicopters have support in making a safe landing at gas and oil operations without running the risk of getting lost, whilst any offshore operations have support from sea RADAR that prevents ships from colliding with rigs. Knowledge is a key part of the petrochemical industry, and RADAR provides a lot of insight into ship movement.

If you’re interested in systems to support the oil and gas industry, get in touch with the Bayanat Engineering team today to find out more about what we have to offer.

Command and control centres are vital to the smooth running of a number of sectors, including the military, emergency services, transportation, and many different types of businesses. In this guide, we will be explaining why it’s so important for their precision to be on point at all times and the role they play in airports.

What are command and control centres?

A command and control centre is a designated room within a building that provides a central point for all monitoring, control and command of a setting or situation. It has to be completely secure and only accessible to authorised members of staff because the operations that take place are often sensitive and require full training. They minimise any risks on-site by streamlining communication between workers and areas. This often includes the use of technology such as cameras, live data feeds, radio communications and maps, depending on their function.

A major benefit, besides the most important one of optimised safety, is that it saves money by providing a way for all communication to be done in one place, that may otherwise be spread across thousands of miles of advanced infrastructure.

What role do they play in airports?

In terms of air traffic control, a command and control centre provides data and images to those responsible for giving information to pilots – this includes which aircraft are flying in particular airspace at any given time for safe approaches and departures. This ensures that aircraft can take off and land safely. It has access to detailed information such as altitude data and flight paths to ensure maximum air traffic management effectiveness.

There are also command and control centres based within airports that are slightly different in that they monitor the goings on within an airport terminal and all other areas. They monitor the movement of passengers and report on any security incidents. Both of these types of control and command centres need to be big to facilitate lots of specialised technology and expert staff, and they can sometimes be integrated into one.

Why is precision important?

It’s vital that command and control centres operate in the most precise way possible at all times. By being able to view real-time movement and see updated information, they are able to pass on effective communication to other members of staff. This means that everyone involved in the running of the airport can do their job effectively without the need to wait for information.

If the information provided about an aircraft landing is not precise, this could result in wrong advice being given to another aircraft that it’s safe to take off when it’s not, resulting in severe consequences.

If a trespasser manages to make it past airport security, the security guards may not have even seen the person, so will be unable to provide the information needed to help find them. This is where the control and command centre comes in, as their scope of vision is not limited and they can communicate with a vast amount of people to search the airport.

When we think about traffic management, the first things that probably spring to mind are road and air travel. However, a large part of traffic management also takes place at sea, helping to manage both cargo and passenger movement.

In this article, we discuss what maritime traffic is, some of the systems used in maritime traffic management and why getting maritime traffic management right is important.

What is maritime traffic management?

Maritime traffic management refers to the process of controlling the paths and arrival times of ships at sea. Controlling maritime traffic is commonly done from land, on docks and harbours. One important example of this is the Ras Laffan dock in Qatar, just 40 miles up the coast from Hamad International Airport.

Why is maritime traffic management important?

Maritime traffic management is important for a number of reasons, including:

Preventing collisions

Keeping passengers safe is at the heart of maritime traffic management. When boats keep a good distance away from one another, there’s no risk of the boats’ wakes affecting each other and causing unsteady rides. Good maritime management also means that there is no chance of boats colliding with one another.

Efficient trade

One of the main purposes of maritime travel is shipping. Maritime management means that ships arrive at their destination when expected, unload their goods and move on in a timely manner. This significantly reduces the risk of boats having to wait for others. Companies move their goods around the world more efficiently and without delay, allowing them to make the most of their business opportunities.
Lifeguarding

Maritime traffic management involves tracking ships along their journeys. In the event that a ship has issues, such as running aground or slowly sinking, tracking the ship can help to save lives. Maritime traffic management means that ships can communicate whenever they have any issues and receive help immediately, keeping everyone on board safe and preventing disasters at sea.

Maritime traffic management systems

Some of the systems with an important role in maritime traffic management include:

• GPS: Ships use GPS tracking to allow docks and harbours to keep track of their locations and movements.

• Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS): Maritime traffic management uses weather observation, forecasting and tracking systems to limit the risk of abject weather affecting ships.

• UHF/VHF Radio Communication: Maritime traffic management requires consistent communication between docks and ships. UHF and VHF radio provides clear audio communication over long distances.

• Visual Guidance Docking System (VDGS): VDGS is a useful system when docking a ship. This is a series of markings and landmarks that guide a ship into the dock, preventing damage to both the ship and infrastructure.

If you have an interest in improving your maritime traffic management systems, get in touch with Bayanat Engineering today to find out more about the options available.