Bristol Airport

Protecting critical infrastructure at Bristol Airport.

Bristol Airport has grown in both the size of its infrastructure and number of passengers since 2010, with passenger numbers increasing from 5.5 million in 2009 to 6.1 million in 2013. The airport has likewise expanded on a similar level. With the new expansion, it has been hard for Bristol to balance high security levels that restrict movement with an open, friendly and welcoming customer experience.

The redesign of the security infrastructure led to a critical point boundary being identified in close proximity to an area of open ground. During the summer months, this area was used as an overflow car park, and it is also adjacent to a local aeroplane club. It meant that the critical point was a potential security hazard as anyone could easily cross the open area, either in a vehicle or on foot, and gain access to the airport. This part of the airfield was previously monitored by manned guards, but the Department for Transport indicated that this form of security was outdated and the system needed to be upgraded to provide more comprehensive surveillance of the whole area.

A fully automated wide area surveillance system was chosen, which resulted in significant operational benefits and reduced ongoing costs.