Heathrow enhances efficiency & security with Genetec solutions

London Heathrow Airport has made significant strides in enhancing its operational efficiency and security through a multi-year investment in Genetec solutions. The deployment, which began in 2016 with the installation of 2,000 cameras, has since quadrupled, integrating a vast array of technologies, including video surveillance, access control, LIDAR, analytics, and number plate recognition systems.

The Genetec Security Center, which forms the backbone of the implementation, unifies all of Heathrow's IP security systems onto a single platform. This has not only improved security but also enabled the airport to monitor over 150 kilometres of baggage belts and manage the daily entry and exit of over 150,000 vehicles. The deployment supports 90 different stakeholder groups operating across 110 distinct control rooms.

“We’re essentially running a small city operation that happens to be called Heathrow,” said Danny Long, IT Product Owner for physical security products at Heathrow. “Alongside the traditional airport security functions, we’re responsible for the monitoring of roads, retail space, three train stations, a bus terminal, offices, a church, fuel stores, a high voltage electrical network, and all the other associated infrastructure that maintains passenger flow.”

Heathrow Airport, which is Europe's busiest airport, handles around 80 million passengers and 1.4 million tonnes of goods annually. The site is managed by over 76,000 employees who work around the clock to ensure smooth operations, which includes managing over 1,300 daily take-offs and landings for 89 different airlines.

Genetec Security Center supports a wide range of customised requirements for various teams and third parties, such as police, government agencies, airlines, and retailers. Customised dashboards provide user-specific functionalities, tailored to the needs of the respective stakeholders. For instance, operational staff can monitor passenger flow and receive automated notifications if security queues grow too long, while IT staff can access system health dashboards to identify devices that are offline or need updates without viewing camera feeds.

Simon Barnes, Director of Business Development at Genetec, stated, “The joy of working with London Heathrow is that the team is constantly striving to put our system through its paces and identify new areas where it can add value. While our software is configured to their requirements at the time, once in the field, new requirements emerge, and we have to adjust to their reality."

Long also expressed optimism about the partnership with Genetec, noting how it has positively influenced Heathrow's operations. “My job is to translate business requirements into workable solutions, and Genetec provides me with the valuable tools to achieve that. Our experience with Genetec has been very positive. We’re only looking to expand in terms of the size and usage of the system,” Long concluded.

London Heathrow's ongoing investment in a unified physical security platform underscores the airport's commitment to continual innovation and operational efficiency. The partnership with Genetec continues to evolve, aiming to address emerging needs and challenges in the dynamic environment of airport operations.