Lucky Lindy Flying High on BAS

Charles Lindbergh would surely be amazed by aviation technology at Lindbergh Field, San Diego International Airport. And he would be just as intrigued by the building automation. The airport currently serves more than 14 million passengers with hundreds of daily flights year-round. Recently, the airport deployed new open-protocol networks to help simplify HVAC integration and assure smooth expa...

By Staff September 1, 2003

Charles Lindbergh would surely be amazed by aviation technology at Lindbergh Field, San Diego International Airport. And he would be just as intrigued by the building automation.

The airport currently serves more than 14 million passengers with hundreds of daily flights year-round. Recently, the airport deployed new open-protocol networks to help simplify HVAC integration and assure smooth expansion in the future. This meant installing an interoperable system that interfaces with the existing legacy BAS.

However, adapting to a legacy BAS infrastructure wasn’t the only challenge for the systems integrator. The new system faced a potentially formidable foe: It had to link with the rest of the airport facilities—900 ft. away across the parking lot.

But there was no way to put in new wiring due to the cost, distance and the amount of traffic in the area.

By a stroke of luck, they found that there was an existing computer network fiber line that connected with the remote central plant. Since the airport had chosen an open system, they could simply use the existing ethernet connection at the plant without jackhammers, construction signs, traffic problems, new conduit and all the other hassles.

Maintenance personnel can still use their existing workstation at the physical plant to monitor and control all HVAC equipment in both old and new sections. And the Internet server for the new system delivers control and monitoring not only for the legacy nodes, but also for all new HVAC equipment. Personnel will be able to access the system with a web browser from any workstation on the airport ethernet or anywhere on the WAN.

Several modules were installed on HVAC equipment to monitor some of the points on an older air-handling unit in a mechanical room. Installers also fitted new AHUs and VAV boxes in the new addition with interfaces to create one BAS universe at the airport.

As the airport moves forward, new possibilities emerge such as integrating various building systems for HVAC, fire, and security into one front end. Already, the new system has made it possible to provide total BAS control from the physical plant without the need for more wiring or the installation of software packages on client workstations.

In the long term, the new system will reduce costs and training time for personnel. Now, the airport is free to put bids out to several BAS vendors.