Eurocontrol monitors air traffic capacity with Barco's video wall display technology

Barco presents large-screen projection system for Air Traffic Control applications at ATC 2008

ATC Global, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 11 March 2008 – Barco, a leader in display and visualization solutions for professional markets, has successfully implemented a rear-projection visualization platform for the Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) of Eurocontrol, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation in Brussels. Barco was selected for the video wall installation at Eurocontrol’s CFMU to support Eurocontrol in monitoring Europe’s steadily growing air traffic.

As an operational unit of EUROCONTROL, the CFMU optimizes air traffic capacity and reduces delays. In close coordination with airlines, airports and air navigation service providers, the CFMU handles over 30,000 flights every day. Managing one single flow management system over Europe, the CFMU primarily provides three operational functions: Airspace Data Management, Flight Plan Processing and Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management (ATFCM). In order to carry out these tasks, a CFMU operations room has been built in Brussels, Belgium. The new CFMU building was inaugurated in July 2007.

“This is a unique project for Barco”, Frank Timmermans, Vice President of Barco’s Traffic, Surveillance & Monitoring business unit, said. “For the first time a large-screen projection system is used at EUROCONTROL for this kind of Air Traffic Control application. We are convinced that our video wall technology will bring EUROCONTROL’s controllers the same benefits as in other more typical traffic management applications, namely faster and improved decision making, and more effective collaboration between multiple users.”

Monitoring traffic flow and capacity
In 2007 Barco installed a video wall display for the CFMU Operations Division (OPSD). This video wall consists of 67-inch display cubes with XGA resolution in a set-up of six by two. The OPSD is responsible for providing a full range of ATFCM services, including the collection and maintenance of data on flight operations and air navigation infrastructure, the planning and coordination of strategic, pre-tactical and tactical ATFCM, and the identification and promotion of short-term operational improvements of ATFCM services. On Barco's video wall display, the OPSD operators are presented with a wide variety of information, such as flight plan data, maps, surveillance video, weather information and slot allocation data. In practice, Barco’s technology significantly enhances EUROCONTROL’s situational awareness, as it allows multi-platform content from various legacy operating systems with different resolutions to be brought together for the Common-Operational-Picture.

Monitoring system operations
In October 2007, Barco was selected to supply a video wall display for the CFMU Systems Operations section (CSO). This video wall consists of 67-inch display cubes with SXGA+ resolution in a set-up of four by two. The CSO monitors CFMU systems and data which are provided to 3,500 connected end-users worldwide. Additionally, the CSO provides technical first-level support to internal and external customers. On Barco's video wall displays, the CSO operators are presented with radar and flight plan data from the Enhanced Tactical Flow Management System, server and network overviews, and various planning information. The video wall system is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2007.

Networked visualization
Barco's offering for the CFMU operations room offers all benefits of the company’s networked visualization approach. Networked visualization enables the distribution and visualization of all information using standard IT infrastructure as well as central management and control of the networked display systems. What’s more, the two networked video wall displays at EUROCONTROL’s CFMU will offer a redundant system that provides the reliability which is needed in mission-critical visualization systems.

Barco at ATC 2008, 11-13 March 2008, RAI, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
At ATC 2008 Barco will demonstrate its video wall technology for Air Traffic Control applications in Hall 11, stand number H208.


About Barco
Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of selected professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco (Euronext Brussels: BAR) is active in more than 90 countries with about 3600 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of euro 747 million in 2007.

© Copyright 2008 by Barco

 

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