Pictures of the Future Fall 2005
Intelligent Networking – Airports
Flying High in Dubai
Several Siemens Groups are helping to expand Dubai International Airport. This "Siemens One" strategy ensures that large-scale projects can be handled efficiently.
Ambitious airport. Dubai International Airport is already the Middle East’s largest. It could one day be the world’s No. 1
Dubai is booming. The city’s rulers, the Al Maktoum family, would like to see the desert metropolis become a hub of trade between Europe, Asia and the Arab world. And they’re succeeding. Growing numbers of companies are moving to Dubai. Last year, the gross domestic product here increased by almost 17 %, with significant consequences for Dubai International Airport. With 21.7 million passengers in 2004—an increase of more than 20 % compared with 2003—Dubai International is now the most important airport in the Middle East. Since 2003, construction work has been proceeding on a third terminal and two apron terminals. Terminal 2 is also being expanded. With these improvements, Dubai intends to reach a capacity of 70 million passengers per year in 2006. By way of comparison, Germany’s Frankfurt Airport serves 50 million passengers annually, while John F. Kennedy International Airport serves 32 million.
Siemens is playing a key role in the airport’s expansion. In an initial renovation phase from 1998 to 2002, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA)—the United Arab Emirates’ official aviation agency—awarded contracts for baggage handling systems, runway lighting and building technologies to the Siemens Groups Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) and Building Technologies (SBT).
"In Siemens, we have found a very experienced partner in the field of airport automation," says Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Airline. It wasn’t just experience and a global reputation that counted, though, when it came to awarding the contracts. The DCA was particularly impressed by the Siemens One strategy—the ability to offer a range of services from a single source. "e;While other companies have to purchase services, all of our Groups work together to recognize the customer’s needs and deliver customized, comprehensive solutions," says Günter Menden, Chairman of the Siemens Airport Development Board.
Capacity Plus – Temporary Terminals
When special events come up, airports may need to huge amounts of additional processing capacity. Here, Siemens Airport Logistics can help with its innovative Service CapacityPlus. For the duration of the event, Siemens erects an additional, completely equipped airport terminal, featuring all the standard functions such as arrival areas with baggage claim facilities, departure areas with check-in counters, baggage handling systems, electronic security systems for screening passengers and baggage, and facilities for police and customs personnel. Siemens CapacityPlus was used for the first time at the Euro 2004 soccer championship in Lisbon, Portugal. There, up to 3,000 passengers an hour were processed in a new 7,000 m² tent and a temporarily converted hangar. Only four months were needed to set up CapacityPlus after the contract was awarded, and a total of 700,000 soccer fans arrived and departed without difficulty.
The advantages of Siemens One were already evident during the airport’s first renovation phase. If fewer service providers are taking part in a project, there are fewer interfaces in the process chain—from planning and engineering to integration and implementation. And that makes it possible to implement projects on schedule and within planned budgets. There was no need for touch-up work, which is costly and common with large projects. Another advantage is the "one face to the customer" approach. In Günter Behrend, General Manager of Siemens I&S Airport Logistics in Dubai, the DCA had access to a central contact person who could discuss all the customers’ needs and questions. "In this way, we maintain our overview of a project. Information isn’t lost," explains Behrend. Siemens employees on site can provide their colleagues in other Groups with important information about upcoming projects, contact partners and decision-making. "Information on how decisions are made is invaluable, because this is an aspect that’s difficult to assess in a foreign country," says Behrend.
World’s Largest Baggage System. Thanks to the successful Siemens One strategy, additional large contracts have been awarded to Siemens for the second expansion phase, which will last until 2008. I&S, for example, is building a cargo center that will be able to accommodate 1.2 million tons of freight per year and an automated baggage handling system for Passenger Terminal 3. Measuring 90 km in length, the system is the world’s largest. The contracts for both projects are worth more than 350 million €. To create space for aircraft movements, the passenger terminal will be completely concealed beneath the desert sands. In addition to all the baggage handling technology, I&S is installing the IT system, plus hardware and software. These features will reduce the time passengers require to change flights to 45 minutes.
It was also important for the DCA that Siemens will not only supply the baggage system, but also operate it for at least ten years. That will mean providing 300 to 400 employees—for continuous operation, around the clock and 365 days a year. "Few companies can offer this degree of flexibility and planning security," says Behrend.
Despite the expansion, it’s already clear that Dubai International Airport will one day reach the limits of its capacity. The volume of cargo has been increasing at 20 to 30 percent a year. That’s why there are plans to build the Jebel Ali International Airport, which will be the world’s largest airport. It will feature a logistics city and an enormous free trade zone. Plans call for the airport to feature six parallel runways for takeoff and landing, while handling 120 million passengers and 12 million tons of air freight a year.
Gitta Rohling