Innovative Access Control Tech for Airport Resurfacing Works

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

A security company used advanced technologies for the access control of a UK airport during runway resurfacing works. G4S has played a key role in the project at East Midlands Airport near Derby, by developing innovative new technology for controlling access to the works site.

In a UK first, the runway was closed each weekend during the project, rather than in short bursts each night. This allowed the contractor to relay 13,000 tonnes of tarmac during each closure, along the entire 1.8-mile runway and replace over 1,200 lights in extended working periods. This reduced what would usually have been a six month project to seven weeks, however it also presented a significant challenge in achieving security clearance for over 700 contractors and approximately 7,000 vehicle movements each weekend.

According to G4S website, the company developed a technical security solution which enabled the identification of contractors up to nine metres away, allowing the fast throughput of construction workers who could remain in their vehicles.  

Using ultra-high frequency monitoring technology linked to a long range radio frequency identification system, software recorded detailed information on workers with site access, allowing quick head-count checks.

G4S also installed a wireless IP network across the site, linking handheld readers and an integrated number plate recognition system that logged all vehicle movements.

At 8pm each Saturday the airport handed the runway over to the project team and the team would oversee the movement of hundreds of contractors and vehicles to carry out the work. Then, at 8pm on Monday, the runway would revert back to the airport’s security team.