Marconi Corporation has won the second phase of a contract awarded by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) to continue upgrading security and surveillance networks at Miami International Airport. The contract is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's airport security initiative and the airport's Capital Improvement Program.
Delivered by Marconi's Electronic Security and Surveillance solutions group, Phase II is a three-year, $9.6 million program to strengthen the airport's current security network, including adding new access control technologies for security doors at secure portions of the airport. Phase II also prepares MDAD to continue to expand its security network to other areas of the airport as well as add new security devices. Marconi also installed Phase I of the airport's New Security System, which included integrated access control, video transport, full-duplex voice, and a digital recording system on a high-speed Marconi network.
Marconi's solution expands the capabilities of airport security without necessarily having to add more personnel. Security officers easily monitor alarms with real-time video and audio, retrieve stored video, audio and data captured by the networked security cameras and sensors to identify a sequence of activities, and escalate the event as it's happening to local, regional or national officials, depending on its severity.
"Marconi's vision for networked-based security and surveillance and its proven solution, along with the company's expertise in delivering complex projects, smoothed the way for the Miami Dade Aviation Department to expand the airport's security system," said Mark Forare, assistant director, security, Miami Dade Aviation Department. "The capacity and reliability of Marconi's networking equipment easily supports new security technologies that improve control and monitoring of critical airport access points."
With Marconi, the MDAD department is successfully completing a comprehensive security upgrade to one of the most heavily used airports in the world*. Marconi's solution helped MDAD converge its security systems onto a single, secure, high-speed network, adding advanced digital applications while simplifying management, reducing operating costs, and improving performance for the department's Expanded New Security System.
In addition, Marconi is supplying integration services to ensure that applications such as video cameras and access control technologies are seamlessly added to the existing security network. Marconi also is providing operations and maintenance services.
"Marconi extends its mission-critical networking expertise to the security and surveillance market, with a converged system that delivers voice, video and data services to protect an enterprise's most vulnerable and vital assets," said Joe Ferrara, vice president of marketing for Marconi's Broadband Routing & Switching group. "With our Electronic Security and Surveillance group, Marconi helps organizations arm their security personnel with the information and tools they need to take effective action in the event of an emergency."
