Siemens Deploys Innovative Communication System at Tom Jobim Airport in Brazil

CLACKAMAS, Ore. - Aug. 7, 2019 - PRLog -- A leader in innovation and digital solutions for the market, Siemens is rolling out a new operational communications and data digitization system at RIOgaleao - Tom Jobim International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Called AeroMACS (Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communication System), this mobile broadband communications technology transmits real-time data and images to airport operators, facilitating and optimizing management of the entire site, which receives about 15 million passengers and operates over 50,000 flights a year.

The data are obtained through sensors and cameras installed in both mobile assets (passenger buses, runway operator vehicles, boarding stairs, and so on) and fixed assets (such as radars and runway sensors). The system was developed jointly by the Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure areas at Siemens to meet the specific needs of RIOgaleao.

One example of the application of this innovative solution is checking water on the runway, which is currently performed manually and reported by radio to the control tower. This communications system is susceptible to failures depending on local conditions. With AeroMACS, the vehicle used for analysis is equipped with cameras and sensors that pass detailed, real-time information to runway operators, raising the degree of reliability and safety through the data generated.

"AeroMACS has enabled graphical data and real-time video to increase situational awareness, detect traffic movement and improve operations at the airport with the potential for integration of multiple services," said Ramon Alves Alem, IT at RIOgaleao. "AeroMACS is in compliance with worldwide aviation standards and provides the high speed, bandwidth, capacity, performance, and security needed to address the growing need for data communications at the airport surface."

Due to the operational complexity of an airport, the new system may be applied in several ways to facilitate management by the operators, such as: vehicle monitoring, passenger flow in specific areas, and increased control of aircraft on the runway, among others.

"There are many different applications but the data collected need to be aligned to the business and needs of the site. With this information, it is possible not only to make faster decisions but also to gain insights for future intelligence plans," explains Sergio Sevileanu, a Siemens Digital Grid engineer in Brazil who took part in the development of AeroMACS at Tom Jobim International Airport.

"AeroMACS is the worldwide technology of choice to improve communications on the airport surface, relieve traffic, reduce congestions, prevent delays, and support the safety and regularity of flights" said Alessandra Rocha, WiMAX Forum VP Business Development. "AeroMACS has demonstrated its potential with deployments around the world and the WiMAX Forum (http://wimaxforum.org/) is thrilled to have the first AeroMACS system installed in Latin America."