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| Carcassonne airport installed Axis network cameras to ensure passenger safety |
Mission
With a growing influx of passengers every year, the airport of Carcassonne in the south of France had to comply with the regulations imposed by the French Civil Aviation authorities (DGAC, Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile). The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Carcassonne-Limoux-Castelnaudary, which manages the airport infrastructure, contacted Sigma Mediterranée, a local integrator and Axis partner, to implement its video surveillance system.
Solution
To meet the Chamber of Commerce's requirements, Sigma Mediterranée designed a system based on Axis network cameras. The solution deployed at the airport fully complies with the standards imposed by the DGAC and provides the security officers with mobile and remote access to all the cameras installed at the airport.
Result
The Carcassonne Chamber of Commerce and Industry is satisfied with the installation that combines security and reliability. Beyond its validation by the DGAC, the system has also won the vote of the security officers for its ease of use.
The Carcassonne airport located in Cathar country in the south of France welcomes both civil and commercial flights. It is open to international traffic and hosts 8 regular low cost" airlines. The airport welcomed 466,000 passengers in 2007, against 426,700 the previous year, representing an increase of 9%.
Compliance to airport safety regulations
To monitor activities and ensure the safety of passengers, the airport was required to set up a video surveillance system in 2008. Indeed, when traffic exceeds 250,000 passengers a year, the DGAC requires monitoring of areas considered "critical."
"This legislation aims at strengthening security at passenger security checks, boarding gates and parking areas for aircraft, literally making them impermeable. The infrastructure thus had to incorporate a powerful video surveillance system allowing security officers to detect and monitor any unauthorized or suspicious presence," said Mr. Ménard, Chairman of the Airport Commission of the Carcassonne Chamber of Commerce.
A customised system
Sigma Mediterranée, a regional service provider involved in consultancy and commissioning of hardware and software solutions, was mandated by the Carcassonne Chamber of Commerce to establish a system capable of monitoring the entire aerodrome spreading over a 15,000 m2 area.
Among the customer specifications, the system should be able to send alarm notifications to assist security officers in their monitoring task. This intelligent video function had to take into account the comings and goings of the 65 airport employees so that alerts do not trigger inappropriately. The system also had to respond to the mobility of security officers, who often have to move around the airfield.
Rapid integration 
Carcassonne airport deploys surveillance system with Axis network cameras
Two months were enough for Sigma Mediterranée's technical team to equip the airport. Seven AXIS 223M Network Cameras were installed at the aerodrome, as part of the system. They were chosen for their high image quality and day/night function. The installation was complemented with two AXIS 233D Dome Network Cameras, which can pan, tilt and zoom, and feature a 35x optical zoom ensuring precise viewing of important details in the scenes.
Additionally, the airport supplied the security officers with PDAs that are connected simultaneously to the surveillance monitors. Thanks to the mobility and flexibility of the overall video surveillance system, they can check alarms in real time and monitor the sites even when on the move.
A system approved by the DGAC and local authorities
The IP-based video surveillance system in place fully complies with the expectations of the DGAC and the needs of the security agents. The staff in charge of surveillance was quickly trained and appreciates the ease of use of this cutting-edge video surveillance system. It is seen as a new effective tool to increase work efficiency.
This new system, estimated at 49,000 Euros, will quickly pay for itself seeing the increased influx of passengers and airport activity. The Airport Commission of the ICC is now planning to incorporate a preventive system for public areas of the airport.
