Public spaces, such as airports, metro systems or railway stations, are commonly full of people and full of life. Whether it is a sense of internationality, the rush of daily commuters or simply the colorful dynamic of a heterogeneous environment, there is always lots to see. In order to uphold this inspiring perception of public areas and to ensure their trouble-free operation, a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes – particularly with regard to safety and security.
Due to the many people and different types of buildings or sites involved, one of the biggest challenges in operating large public spaces is combining all the security systems required in one single platform. The main difficulties are ensuring the safety of the people who work in such a facility or visit it, while still ensuring they can move around as quickly and freely as possible. Furthermore, such large areas require a vast diversity of equipment: fire alarm systems, intrusion systems, evacuation and building-automation systems – to name but a few. Transport hubs typically have various different zones, including the arrival hall, the shopping area, railway platforms, entrances and exits as well as car parks, each with its own specific demands. Arrival halls, for example, must ensure a fast response to emergencies while guaranteeing high overall effectiveness. The commercial areas of railway stations on the other hand, with their shops and restaurants, are often rented out to private companies – with each owner typically applying their own intrusion and video system.
