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CHAPTER 6
IT System Architecture--
A Common Understanding
6.1 A Layered Architecture
Airport IT systems can be very complex. They are often organized into four conceptual cate-
gories and depicted in a layered fashion, as shown in Figure 6-1.
The layered architecture exemplifies how the systems of one layer act as a building block for the
systems in the next layer. All IT systems can be categorized into one of these four layers. The lay-
ers of the architecture and the groups of systems common to them are described in the following.
6.1.1 Physical Layer
The cabling and fiber infrastructure, the foundation layer all IT offerings at an airport, is made
up of the non-electronic physical components, including fiber optic and copper cabling and con-
duit and cross-connection structures. These form and protect the direct physical pathways over
which IT systems communicate.
6.1.2 Networking Layer
Communications systems encompass the electronic components that send signals over the
cabling infrastructure or wireless system. These systems of the networking layer communi-
cate voice, video, and data and can use the wired physical layer as well as wireless infrastructure.
The physical components include switches, routers, gateways, and wireless access points that
guide voice and data signals from their source to their intended destinations. These devices also
enforce a substantial amount of the security policies.
Systems at this layer form the networks that control the communications between all IT systems
in the application layer. They include:
· LAN.
· Wireless LAN.
· Wide area network (WAN)--wired and wireless.
· Licensed wireless.
As of the writing of this primer, telephony is in a state of transition from the network layer to
the application layer. At the majority of airports today, telephone systems typically have their
own dedicated physical cabling infrastructure and devices [e.g., private branch exchange (PBX)],
which perform both network and application functions. However, many airports have already
converted to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) systems, which cleanly separate the application
from the network function that is now handled by the local area network. The local network can
now move voice as well as video and data, and the telephone system is becoming one of many
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56 Information Technology Systems at AirportsA Primer
Figure 6-1. IT systems architecture.
applications on that network. Therefore, telephony has been included as an application layer sys-
tem in this primer.
6.1.3 Application Layer
The application layer contains all the systems that support the operations of an airport. They
are often called end-user programs because the staff uses them to accomplish their missions.
There are numerous applications systems. For convenience, they have been categorized here
based on their commonality of purpose.
· Airside systems. Airside systems, used to support an airport's aviation needs directly, are con-
cerned with the physical movement and placement of aircraft on the ground and in the air.
These systems are usually located on the airfield itself in nonpublic spaces. Airside systems can
include:
Resource management system.
Noise monitoring.
Airfield lighting.
Surface movement guidance and control system (SMGCS).
Automatic weather observation system (AWOS).
Surface movement radar.
Fuel monitoring system.
· Landside systems. Landside IT systems are located in publicly accessible spaces, usually outside
the terminal, and are not directly related to aviation operations but instead assist in passenger
drop-off and pick-up at the airport. Many systems, such as automatic vehicle identification
(AVI) and parking access and revenue control (PARC), generate revenue for the airport. Phys-
ically, they usually provide the first airport IT interactions with passengers starting or ending
their trips. Landside systems can include:
Audio paging system.
AVI.
PARC.
Roadway dynamic signage.
· Passenger processing systems. With more airports adopting a common use approach to their
facilities each year, passenger processing, which was once the exclusive domain of the airlines,
has evolved into a new category of airport systems for processing and guiding passengers. These
systems provide the means for airports to operate a flexible environment in which multiple
airlines can share resources for airport ticketing, gates, or baggage. Passenger processing systems
can include:
Common use passenger processing system (CUPPS).
CUSS.
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IT System Architecture--A Common Understanding 57
Local departure control system (LDCS).
Multi-user flight information display system (MUFIDS).
Baggage sortation/radio frequency identification (RFID).
· Business/finance systems. Airport IT business/finance systems are used to meet the airport
organization's administrative needs and are tailored to fit the airport's unique business environ-
ment, although the tools are similar to those in any business, such as email, word processing,
and file storage. These systems benefit the airport's administrative staff by saving costs and
time and helping with decision-making procedures. Business systems can include:
Financial management system.
Human resource management system.
Property management system.
Asset management system.
Website.
Email.
Telephony.
· Safety/security systems. Safety/security systems are critical in today's environment so that air-
ports operate effectively and keep the traveling public safe. These systems provide video sur-
veillance, controlled and monitored access to secure areas, and the ability to detect, announce,
and control disaster situations at an airport. Safety and security systems can include:
CCTV.
Access control system (ACS).
Fire alarm.
Badging system.
Ring-down circuit.
Computer aided dispatch (CAD).
Police systems.
Fire department systems.
· Facility/maintenance systems. Facility/maintenance systems ensure that mechanical systems
work properly so that building environments are pleasant and functional in all conditions,
and they help the airport's staff keep the airport operating at peak performance. Facility and
maintenance systems can include:
Building management system.
Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
6.1.4 Integration Layer
The systems of the integration layer allow the systems of the application layer to coordinate and
share information among them. The systems can be directly linked together through the integra-
tion layer or they can share a common data pool. Integration ensures that shared data is timely
and accurate for all systems using the same data. The more an airport invests in its IT systems, the
more that integrating these systems benefits its operations. Benefits include:
· Improving staff efficiency by sharing information across both operations and administrative
systems.
· Simplifying information distribution to employees, management, tenants, and customers.
· Providing for a higher level of redundancy, which improves system and data availability.
· Using a centralized data repository and dissemination, which cuts down on human handling
of data and associated errors--thus improving data accuracy and response time.
· Making larger amounts of data readily available to management, allowing the organization
and revenues to be fine-tuned.
Table 6-1 is a matrix of most systems found at an airport. They are sorted by layer and the
grouping to which they belong. An alphabetical list of these systems with a brief description can
be found alphabetically in Appendix B.
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58 Information Technology Systems at AirportsA Primer
Table 6-1. Airport IT systems matrix.
