How To Become A Master Systems Integrator – Course

How To Become A Master Systems Integrator – Course

What You Will Learn

Introduction

Learn all about airport systems from the carpark until you are in the air, and Back.

Airports are fun, especially when you walk through and airport and know how everything works. Every airport I go to, when my bag dissapears from the check-in desk, I know where and how it is going to be handled, right up until it is placed on the Aircraft.

I view the Televisions and other displays that shows me where my check-in desk is, where my gate is and what happens when I give my boarding pass to the airline agent at the gate. I know this system, how it works, and where it gets its information from. What a great feeling.

As I travel through the airport I hear automated announcements telling me my flight is ready for boarding, I know this system and how it gets its information and how it is built. The same system can be used in case of an emergency, and I know how this works too.

Mostly going un-noticed is the Closed Circuit Television System. This is where airport security and management can see what is happening both in the Public Areas and Non-public areas. Did you know that if you carry a bag in an airport, set it down and walk away, that automatic sensors within the Closed Circuit Television System can spot this?

If you are travelling internationally you will go through Customs and Immigration. Ever wonder how these systems work? This course will describe these systems.

Did you drive to the Airport and park your car? Did you ever wonder how the Car Park knows how many spaces are available? Did you ever wonder how the entry and exit systems work? This course will tell you how they work.

Airports have elaborate Power and Mechanical Systems that control the temperature, carry you around the terminal using moving walkways, escalators and elevators. Aside from the obvious, do you know why there are moving walkways? They have interesting interfaces and design details which are described in this course.

So, you have travelled through the airport and given your boarding pass to the airline agent, and now you enter the Passenger Loading Bridge. Ever wonder how these devices work? Did you know that in or around the Passenger Loading Bridge there is electrical power provided to the Aircraft? And Air Conditioning?

Looking out the window at the Boarding Gate, you see a variety of trucks moving around, some carrying baggage, some catering and some delivering fuel. Sometimes the airport has a fueling system that connects from the ground to the Airplane, ever wonder how the airport charges for the fuel? Take the course and find out.

Finally you are on the aircraft. The pilot tells you they are 3rd in line for take-off, ever wonder who and how this decision is made? Ever wonder what all the lights and paintings are on the taxi-way and runway are used for? Ever wonder what systems are used to help in the management of the taxi-way and runway? The course provides this information too.

You are in the air, ever wonder how the path to the next airport is made? Ever wonder how the aircraft communicates with people on the ground. Every wonder how the aircraft comes in for a landing or takeoff? Yes, this is included in the course.

Well there you have it, from the time you get to the airport until you are in the air, and back again, all of these systems are provided in the course.

Yes, airports can be fun. Even if you are not an Engineer, even passengers can learn about airports.

See you in the course. Enjoy and have fun learning.

 

Master Systems Integration – EBOOK

Master Systems Integration – EBOOK

Master Systems Integration - E-Book

A simple (yet complex) tender response for a Master Systems Integration requirement. This E-Book also contains a simple response for MATV and SCADA. This is book 1, and I plan on making more like this for all Airport Systems. You will have to be signed up to this site to get these copies, sorry. You can get a PDF version by clicking this LINK to download the file or you can view a Flip Book HERE.

I hope you Enjoy – Register Now.

Role of the Master Systems Integrator (MSI) – Guideline

Role of the Master Systems Integrator (MSI) – Guideline

The role of Master Systems Integrator (MSI) on airport projects is one of the most misunderstood terms.

From the owners point of view the MSI is the one who makes everything work holistically;

From the designer’s point of view, they MSI clean up all the interfaces or at least makes the interfaces work (even though the specifications are unclear).

From the main contractors point of view, the MSI is a necessary function (but they really don’t know what he/she/they do… ‘Hogwarts’?); and

From the MSI point of view, it is nice to have on the reference list, ‘we won the MSI role on job XXXXX’, and then the MSI spends a significant amount of time clarifying scope, defining roles and responsibilities, and continuing to be asked to reduce their price or expected to spend money that the Specifications had Gaps in.

Airport Systems

An airport is an interesting place, airports have shopping malls, hotels, car parks, restaurants, police station, fire station, customs offices, immigration offices, and various other entities you would have in a small city. Supporting all these airport ‘inhabitants’ they have fire alarm systems, public address systems, building services systems, security systems, power management systems, lighting control systems, lifts, escalators, moving walkways and others . Other city services include mobile telephone services and ‘hot spots’ as a service to travellers and staff.

AND – of course they have all the airport related elements, airline offices, airline lounges, baggage handling systems, loading bridges, fuel systems, airport taxiway lighting, runway lighting, a weather stations, public displays, check in equipment, and many others.

SO – to build an airport requires over 50 systems that have some form of information technology component. The owner now has to decide how all of these will plug together, after all they are all computer Information Technology Systems. Right!

Even information technology companies have several methods to accomplish their integration requirements.

Why – most companies forget to consider why they want integration, they just know they should have it because everybody else has it. Companies should consider the benefits of integration; cost, performance, security, time, future proofing, etc.

Airports need to take advantage of all the benefits but that does not mean ‘throwing all the eggs in one basket’.

 

Just because systems can be integrated does not mean they have to be. Integration should be focused on achieving benefits which are measurable. If the benefits are measurable, then they can be cost justified.

Systems Integration Architecture (SIA) – There are various methods of integrating systems;

  1. Vertical integration / Discipline integration puts systems serving a common function in a group.
  2. Horizontal integration / Multi-Discipline integration puts all systems in one basket.
  3. Star / Spaghetti integration connects all systems to each of the remaining systems.
  4. A Network Integration that connects everybody on the same network fabric (Cable and Routers), sub networks (VLANS) are implemented.
  5. Low Level Integration is a field unit integration approach (typically a Building Management System, Fire Alarm and Security System).
  6. Dedicated Network puts only the system or group in the network (typically for Police, Customs and Immigration).
  7. Database Integration makes each systems database compatible with the other systems databases.
  8. Information Broker integration makes provides the Application Program Interface (API) that provides the common messaging format, protocol, database translations, etc.

How – Actually, systems integration within an airport is relatively straightforward.

I would suggest the following.

1.Step 1 – Identify all systems being implements at your given airport.

2.Step 2- Group the systems into common and \ or complementary functions

3.Step 3 – Identify which systems have confidential or highly sensitive information.

4.Step 4 – Identify which systems have no useful integration benefits.

5.Step 5 – Put all the findings in a cost / benefit matrix

6.Step 6 – Prepare your systems integration strategic plan

7.Step 7 – Use the systems integration strategic plan to guide your design consultants prepared in the Specifications.

Findings

I would suggest for an airport, the following results for step 1-4 above, and the type of integration from the Systems Integration Architecture (SIA) items 1-7).

  1. Airport Systems will generally be Group Integrated
  2. Airport Systems will have all forms of SIA

Determine what kind of MSI to use.

Assuming you have completed step 8 (How -What groups) –

General Example – My Thoughts

  • Building Services Group – SIA 1, 4, 7 and 8 (Vertical Integration, Network Integration, Database Integration and Information Broker)
  • Security Services Group – SIA 1, 4, 7 and 8
  • Fire Services Group – SIA 1, 5, 6, 7
  • Check in Services – SIA 1, 4, 7, and 8
  • Customs Services – SIA 1, 6
  • Immigration Services – SIA 1, 6
  • Police Services – SIA 1, 6
  • Network Services – SIA 1, 2, and 4
  • Airport Operational Database / Information Broker – SIA 2, 4, 7 and 8
  • Public Telephone (GSM) – SIA 6

Master Systems Integrator – Will NOT be a subsystem provider. This will be a role of integration of the Sub-systems. The main role of the MSI is to represent the Client.

Until all subcontractors have been selected it is not possible to fully define the system integration requirements (detail level). The MSI will help to resolve these issues.

The MSI will generally provide:

1.Prepare and Update the System Integration Master Plan

2.Prepare and Update the Information Technology Master Plan

3.Prepare and Update the Network Services Master Plan

4.Review and Approve submissions of the various Sub-System Integrators

5.Review and Resolve integration technical disputes

6.Review and Approve System and Site Integration QA Documentation

7.Prepare and Update the Site System Integration Master Plan

Sub-System Integrator – the Contractor providing the systems will be responsible for their own integration.

This is a quick overview of the Master Systems Integration function. Obviously there is a lot more that could be written on this subject and perhaps differing opinions. If you would like more on the subject, contact me.

Executive Information System

Executive Information System

EXECUTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM

These are essential systems and very often they are overlooked on an airport.

An Executive Information System (EIS) is a decision support system (DSS) used in organizations to help executives in their decision making process. It does so by providing easy access to important data needed in an organization to achieve strategic goals or react in case of an emergency. An EIS has a graphical presentation on a user-friendly windows interface on a PC, Tablet or Smart Phone.

Executive information systems can be used for monitoring company performance in many different areas of the business, as well as for identifying opportunities and problems.

Current EIS data is available on local area networks (LANs) throughout the company or enterprise, facilitated by personal computers and workstations. Directors and Senior Management can access company data to help make decisions in their workplaces, departments, divisions, etc.

Executive support systems are intended to be used directly by senior managers to support unscheduled strategic management decisions. Often such information is external, unstructured and even uncertain. Often, the exact scope and context of such information are not known in advance.

This information contained on the EIS should be readily available and is based on data gathered via systems integration and the Airport Operational Database.

Executive Information System-Key Characteristics

  • Detailed data – EIS provides absolute data from its existing database.
  • Integrate external and internal data – EIS integrates integrate external and internal data. The external data collected from various sources.
  • Presenting information – EIS represents available data in graphical form which helps to analyze it easily.
  • Trend analysis – EIS helps executives of the organizations to data prediction based on trend data.
  • Easy to use – It is a very simplest system to use.

Advantages of EIS

  • Trend Analysis
  • Improvement of corporate performance in the marketplace
  • Development of managerial leadership skills
  • Improves decision-making
  • Simple to use by senior executives
  • Better reporting method
  • Improved office efficiency

Disadvantage of EIS

  • Due to technical functions, not to easy to use by everyone
  • Executives may encounter overload of information
  • Difficult to manage database due to the large size of data
  • Excessive costs for small business organizations