Airport Integration of Operational Systems, Passenger Processing & Baggage Systems

Company Airport Systems – ADB Safegate
Date 07.09.2012

AODB and Integration Broker (FCSU project)

Project Start date:  Award 2010, system delivery August 2011

Project Content:  Upgrade of existing UltraFIDS to provide UltraDB, and provision and implementation of UltraIB as the integration core of the airport. 9 years of third line support is included in the project deliverable.

Project Scope & Performance: Ultra is under contract with NCS, delivering an upgrade to the Flight Central System (FCS) based on UltraDB which has been in continuous operation for over 10 years. 

Complexity and System Integration: The integration requirements for Singapore Changi Airport cover a large range of legacy and new systems in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) across all three terminals, with an eventual integration to 53 systems in Phase 2.  Phase 1 integration across the Integration Broker comprises:

  • AODB – Airport Operational Database
  • Gate Management system
  • LORADS radar system
  • Three FIDS systems, one in each terminal
  • External Link System gateway to the downstream systems

FCSU Project:  Scope summary

Requirements for the new system included the following:

  • Latest technologies from world class suppliers
  • Scalable Design
  • No Single Point of Failure
  • IT Security Design considerations
  • System that meets the current functionalities of existing system
  • Migration in Phases with minimal Risks
  • Ease in migrating Users and Interfacing Systems
  • Ease in adding new Users and Interfacing Systems

Ultra’s Solution

The key points of the proposed solution were as follows:

  • Most cost effective solution, utilising latest technologies
  • Incorporate all functions of existing system
  • Address constraints of existing system as requirements grow
  • Ensure no interruption in the daily airport operations
  • Future-proofed integration technology
  • Scalability to 2 x capacity designed in from the start
  • Growth of at least 10 interfaces each year
  • Project completion in under 2 years

UltraDB

The FCSU AODB holds airport-wide operational data in a single location and in a secure, integrated and co-ordinated manner. The main benefits achieved by this are as follows:

  • A single location for a stable, consistent set of up-to-date operational information.
  • A master source of information for distribution to other airport application systems.
  • Rationalisation of the integration and flow of data throughout the airport to eliminate duplicated data entry and multiple point-to-point connections.
  • Improvement in efficiency of data integration through the use of an airport business focused database design
  • Control through the ability to manage and configure airport and flight business logic in one location.

UltraIB

The UltraIB Airport Integration Broker offers a number of standardised airport services as the platform to implement a standards-based Service Oriented Architecture within the airport. The key advantages of the SOA approach to systems integration using the UltraIB include the following:

  • Simplify integration task
    • Lower risk
    • Lower cost
    • Shorter timescales
  • Suitable for the long term (10/15 years)
    • Flexible – able to change and extend
  • Product based
    • Minimise special development
    • Installed at other airports
  • Avoid lock-in to any specific supplier
    • Loose coupling between systems
    • Standards-based
  • Control of all aspects
    • Monitoring and statistics
    • Configuration with minimum special expertise

User Interface

The user interface to the FCSU includes a feature rich GUI client suite for flight operations and administration and a Staff Information System for display of flight information to all critical staff operations throughout the airport. The current installed user base is 80 GUI client users and 400 SIS users.

A detailed training and migration plan, together with Ultra’s experience of systems installation and upgrade, ensures that transition of operations from the old system to the new system will cause no disruption to ongoing live operations at this major international airport.

Future RoadMap

After initial installation it is important that the airport customer has the ability to respond to business changes in a flexible manner. This is one of the key benefits of the SOA approach, which simplifies the replacement of lifetime-expired systems, as well as the migration of some existing legacy systems to interface directly to IB technology, without the high risk and cost that has been a feature of past implementations.

CAG have referred to the UltraDB as the “heart” of their IT operation and the UltraIB as the “circulation”. With this future-thinking integration architecture they have established a strong platform with the flexibility to respond to changing requirements and expansibility to support continuing growth of their IT systems and infrastructure.

Ultra and CAG continue to cooperate on product roadmap initiatives and plans for future. Ultra is proud to be a key strategic supplier to Changi Airport Group and looks forward to continuing a successful long term relationship.

Project Site Details: 

Changi Airport Group was formed on July 1, 2009, as the operator of Singapore Changi Airport in a role that was previously undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Singapore Changi Airport handles over 41 million passengers per year, and is one of the world’s most prestigious airports, winning the titles of World’s Top Airport, and Best Airport Asia in the recent Skytrax World Airport Awards.

Contact

Airport Systems - ADB Safegate
The Oaks
Crewe Road
Wythenshawe
Manchester
United Kingdom
M23 9SS
  • +44 161 946 3600