Citation

Am. City Cty. 1999; 114(8): 19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Penton Media)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The security system for Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas, includes closed-circuit television and access control components, one permanent guard station, and a badging station. Airport security can use the system to restrict access by area, day, and time, as well as to automatically lock and unlock doors at specified times. All access control system activities--access request, monitor point activation, alarm, communication failure, and manual door lock and unlock--are recorded and permanently archived in the airport safety building. During regular operations, all transactions are routed to a backup. Within seconds of a computer failure, total system functionality switches to the backup computer, assuring virtually no system interruption. All alarms noted by the system require an acknowledgment by the officer on duty. The system also has alarm switches throughout the airport, including one at the security screening checkpoint. If a problem arises, an officer can hit the alarm switch, which alerts public safety officers. Cameras automatically turn to the site where the alarm was triggered.