Siemens and SITA team up to create smart terminal for new KC
Siemens and SITA have announced a joint partnership that will see the companies provide the Kansas City Aviation Department with future proof, scalable technologies for the Kansas City International (KCI) Airport’s New Terminal project, which has been dubbed Build KCI.
According to a joint statement, the new one million square foot, 39-gate terminal will include a variety of building automation, fire and life safety systems, and security systems from Siemens, as well as IT networks and next-generation airport systems from SITA.
These solutions will help to create a smart airport terminal that can grow with the aviation department’s long-term needs, while also decreasing operation and maintenance costs and enhancing the passenger experience through automation, the statement added.
“Together, Siemens and SITA are providing the virtual and physical infrastructure that will ensure Kansas City International Airport’s New Terminal is equipped to deliver an exceptional journey for our passengers; one built on innovation, industry expertise and a true understanding of what travellers want today and into the future,” said Pat Klein, Director of Aviation for Kansas City.
Another important facet of the project is the need for a seamless transition from the construction to the operational phase, which will be delivered through integrated life safety and emergency communication systems, a virtualised IT network, and agile passenger touchpoints, Klein says.
In addition, the client wishes to implement interactive technology that can be easily understood by airport staff, while also deploying next-generation passenger touchpoints, such as touchless kiosks, flight information display systems, and video walls that provide travellers with an intuitive journey through the new terminal.
“Integrating the disparate airport systems has enabled data sharing across the airport ecosystem,” explained Henning Sandfort, CEO of Building Products at Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
“Siemens and SITA, through a joint project management approach, are combining their expertise in airport facilities systems, operations systems, and IT systems to provide the aviation department with a strong technology infrastructure and intuitive, easy-to-use systems that allow terminal staff and operators to transition from their two current airport terminals to a new, technology-advanced single airport terminal.”
Siemens will use its Desigo CC building management platform to integrate airport and facility systems with a converged network. Access control, video surveillance, distributed antenna, airport common-use systems, multi-user flight information displays, IpTV, VoIP, and various other building automation, fire, life safety, and security systems will be incorporated, the statement added.
In addition, the fire alarm, public address, and digital displays will be integrated with the Desigo CC mass notification system. In turn, the platform will be integrated with the airport’s asset management platform.
SITA’s mission-critical network connectivity will be fundamental to the exchange of data around baggage, passengers and aircraft across the terminal, the statement explained. The network will be cloud-based and virtualised, providing greater cost efficiencies while supporting the airline industry’s drive to migrate applications to the cloud.
This will be fundamental to supporting a smoother passenger journey and the airport operations that underpin them. In the terminal, SITA Flex – a cloud-based common use platform – will allow passengers to check-in through a simple biometric scan at one of the self-service kiosks or, if preferred, a traditional agent-assisted counter. Then they simply use their face as their boarding pass to board international flights.
The multi-user informational display screens for flights, baggage and gates will also provide travellers with the information they need to navigate their way through the airport.
“Emerging from the pandemic has taught us the importance of implementing scalable and flexible systems that can accommodate unexpected changes in real-time,” says Diana Einterz, President, SITA Americas. “SITA is providing the airport operations backbone that will give KCI the agility it needs to operate in this new environment.”
