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4 Information Technology Systems at AirportsA Primer
Chapter 5 also provides a simple scorecard that can be used to determine the value of a pro-
posed IT system. It takes into account both financial and nonfinancial benefits when valuing the
system. This scorecard helps in evaluating a single system or comparing multiple systems when
budgets are limited and choices must be made.
1.6 IT Systems Architecture
Airport IT systems can be very complex. They are often grouped into four conceptual cate-
gories and depicted in a layered fashion, as shown in Figure 1-2. The layered architecture ex-
emplifies how the systems of one layer act as building blocks for the systems in the next layer.
A more detailed explanation of these categories and of other aspects of IT systems architecture
appears in Chapter 6. In addition, a list of airport IT systems and brief descriptions are included
in Appendix B.
1.7 Checklists--A Common Management Tool
Checklists are useful management tools for ensuring consistency and completeness--an
example from a related field is the checklist of safety precautions that pilots go through before
every flight. When used consistently, checklists are very effective at ensuring that activities
are completed in accordance with standard practices. Table 1-1 is an IT system lifecycle check-
list useful for ensuring that the IT system lifecycle process described in Chapter 4 has been
implemented completely.
1.8 IT Vocabulary
The airport industry is full of acronyms and abbreviations that are not readily understood by
others outside the specialized world of airports. Information technology also has its own unique
vocabulary. To help airport executives sort out the terminology, Appendix C provides a list of
airport and IT acronyms and abbreviations along with expansions and brief descriptions.
Figure 1-2. Systems architecture.
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Introduction 5
Table 1-1. IT system lifecycle checklist.
