HEALTHYTERMINALS RESTORING PASSENGERSCONFIDENCE

Technology is available to help reduce the spread of pathogens in airports and temperature screen passengers consistent with the guidelines of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) while effectively managing passenger throughput. Governments across the globe should support airport adjustment programs and set aside funds for these technologies.

Maintaining optimal air quality that reduces the spread of pathogens along with efficient identification and isolation of potentially infected passengers is a clear imperative for airport terminal operations. This requirement has become even more obvious following the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. In fact, ASHRAE and CDC have issued specific guidelines on the optimal performance of systems to help achieve desired outcomes and The Airport Council International (ACI) and the European Union Agency for Safety in Aviation (EASA) have highlighted the importance of air quality and temperature screening in their operational guidelines.

ISSUE

Airports are often one of the first points of entry for diseases such as respiratory viruses that spread primarily through droplets generated when an infected passenger or airport employee coughs or sneezes, or through infected surfaces. In worst case scenarios, viruses and bacteria can also spread airborne. Adequate sensing and control across airport facilities can minimize the spread of pathogens and help terminal operators to identify and resolve issues in a timely manner.

Passenger Screening: Following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, many airports across the globe started to equip their arrival areas with thermal cameras to quickly detect potentially sick passengers. Some of the latest technological developments make the implementation of those techniques more feasible and a key element to detect potential infections before they spread across the terminal, the city or the nation. Beyond detection, there is also a need for a systematic and methodical approach to safely and effectively identify compliance to regulations in place, manage passenger flows and to gather data to identity improvement opportunities with trend analysis.

Optimal Air Quality: Managing indoor environments is critical for the health and well-being of passengers and staff. Research1 has shown that the indoor environment quality can have a direct impact on health, safety, productivity and comfort as well as business critical asset-protection and energy consumption. Poor fresh air intake, filtration and humidity control can lead to a higher spread rate of pathogens leading to potential illness and productivity losses.

In recent months, ASHRAE, REHVA and many other industry bodies have published2 some of the following safety protocol guidelines to address indoor air quality:

• Higher Ventilations rates ACH

• Use of More Outside Air (Less recirculation)

• Better Directional Flow (Neg Pressure)

• Increased attention to Sensitive spaces (i.e. - Restrooms, High occupancy in small spaces where “back=ups” can occur like Gate terminals or Hotel lobby’s etc.) – They will need “Healthcare Minded” attention 12+ ACH at Negative pressure etc.

Sustainable practices of the past will be challenged given the above documented protocol in order to address airborne Infectious aerosols and best practices from the healthcare industry should be considered.

Reliable options such as the Honeywell Venturi Valves to sustainably address those challenges without compromising indoor air quality due to large turndowns are required to enable precision control at low static pressures, directional accuracy at low flows and low pressure without constant maintenance.

Displacement ventilation, a room air distribution strategy where conditioned outdoor air is supplied at a low velocity from air supply diffusers located near floor level and extracted above the occupied zone, usually at ceiling height, might well become a technique of the past as studies3 in Wuhan have demonstrated they could stagnate contamination. In addition, for UVG technology to work efficiently on surfaces within the ductwork, effective Air Change per Hour (ACH) needs to be achieved.

BACKGROUND

1. See source #1

2. ASHRA source # 6 – REHVA

3. COVID-19 Workshop at Tsinghua University – Wuhan Study

On Demand, efficient actionable HVAC can happen quickly and reliably, all that Healthy Building data can be shown through visual dashboards for improved assurance of travelers, hotel guests, tenants and patients.

With current developments in sensing, building management and communication technologies, Internet of things-based devices have significantly improved air quality sensing, control and analytics for facility managers. Such devices have helped facility managers to realize optimized environmental ranges and identify inadequate air quality levels and maintain the overall wellbeing of their terminal environments.

SOLUTION

Air quality: Improving terminal air quality is not just about completely replacing legacy systems with new technologies, it also involves balancing the old and the new to maintain good sustainable practices without compromising terminal indoor air quality. Specifically, sensing and control technologies can help reduce the spread of pathogens in accordance with established standards and guidelines.

- Thermal Comfort – controlling the temperatures in desired ranges

- Humidity – maintaining humidity at desired levels to help reduce the time pathogens remain in the air

- Fresh Air – promoting the quality and circulation of outdoor air at desired levels without compromizing sustainability

- Filtration – reducing and removing certain particulate matter from the air which is more effective with more efficient performance based ventilation practices

An effective HVAC system is key to furthering these capabilities – especially when combined with a preliminary assessment to identify potential enhancements provided by sensing and control technologies.

AIRPORTSTHE NEW NORMAL

Negative Pressurization

(restrooms)

People CountingFlow Monitoring

Temperature Screening

TouchlessAccess Control

Healthy Airport KPIs

People CountingFlow Monitoring

Temperature Screening

Alerts, SOP & IMSafety & SecurityLockdown Monitoring Mask/PPE DetectionSocial Distancing

UV Light Cleaning

Air Purifier

Trends, Analytics & reportsCEO/ C-suite

EnhancedAir Quality

1. All facility designs should follow the latest practice standards, including but not limited to ASHRAE Standard 55 for thermal conditions (ASHRAE 2013a); ventilation Standards 62.1 (ASHRAE 2013b), 62.2 (ASHRAE 2013c), and 170 (ASHRAE 2008; and FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities (FGI 2010).

Passenger Screening: Technology solutions deployed at select points across the airport (e.g., entrance, security checkpoints, arrival gates, baggage claims) offers initial body temperature measurement for triage use and then provide response capabilities via secondary screening for confirmation and tracking systems. For example, broader view cameras with analytics can detect whether passengers are wearing personal protection equipment like face masks and potential temperature elevation while a secondary screening can enable safe engagement with the passenger for confirmation and action. Further, a technology system that integrates these screening points can collect and analyze information to help identify trends and potential policy / workflow improvements.

Frictionless Access: Providing access solutions that does not need people to touch surfaces offers a strong method for minimising transmission of infection. Frictionless technologies, such as facial recognition, have advanced rapidly in recent years and are now truly viable means to control access.

These technology solutions can sometimes be developed and retrofitted within the existing infrastructure to result in minimal impact on current operations. The following phased approach supports testing and improving new processes essentially from end to end.

AIR QUALITY PACKAGE SAFETY & SECURITY PACKAGE

3 HEALTHY BUILDING & GOVERNANCE DASHBOARD

Developing operational baselines by performing air quality audits aligned with standards and recent guidelines will help airports to more efficiently identify and mitigate infectious disease and other threats. These baselines include the installation of sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide as well as the installation of filters to help trap undesired particles. Identifying locations across the airport for the deployment of passenger screening activities a is also an important baselining measure.

Upgrade terminals for more effective air quality and infection screening – deploy an upgraded HVAC system to monitor and control air quality attributes. This may include use of additional sensors and systems for zone and air handling and humidity control, the installation of differential pressure and damper systems to prevent reverse air flow or return to other zones, and the integration of advanced outdoor air filtration systems to help further limit the spread of pathogens. The Deployment of passenger screening and tracking systems at key points across the airport to identify potential issues, provide confirmation, inform relevant stakeholders, manage the data and workflow to help achieve greater operational effectiveness

Install advanced analytics – machine-learning based capabilities for improved predictive maintenance and parameter optimization. Enabling the systems with such analytic capabilities permits the continuous monitoring of system performance and helps to maintain all parameters within prescribed range. For passenger screening, trend analysis can also provide additional insights; for example, compare historic passenger flow data patterns with real time zoned passenger data such as the country of origin.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE RISKS POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Dangerous particulate matter recirculating indoors

Filtration and air cleaning systems

Airborne particles linger HVAC control and sensors to monitor and help maintain optimized temperature, air exchange and humidity levels

Exhaust air in areas where potential pathogens found

Directional air flow valves, integrated pressure sensors and control

Passengers and staff with high temperatures moving throughout the airport

Integrated Video Surveillance and Security Management Systems with Thermal Cameras and Analytics to help detect and respond to identified safety risks

Accessing areas without having to touch surfaces that may be infected

Integrated Video Surveillance and Security Management Systems with mobile credentials or biometric recognition (e.g. facial recognition)

Track and Trace – objects and people Real-time Location Tracking (RTLS) System combined with Video Analytics to help track and trace suspected pathogens carriers and/or airport compromised assets (i.e. an infected wheelchair)

SOURCES1. ASHRAE – “Position Document on Airborne Infectious Diseases February 2020”

https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/about/position%20documents/airborne-infectious-diseases.pdf

Facility designs should follow the latest practice standards, including but not limited to ASHRAE Standard 55 for thermal conditions (ASHRAE 2013a); ventilation Standards 62.1 (ASHRAE 2013b), 62.2 (ASHRAE 2013c), and 170 (ASHRAE 2008; and FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities (FGI 2010).

2. U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health – “Indoor Air Quality Real-Time Monitoring in Airport Terminal Areas: An Opportunity for Sustainable Management of Micro-Climatic Parameters”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6263866/

Indoor air quality (IAQ) management in public spaces is assuming a remarkable importance. Busy environments, like airport terminals, are currently regarded as possible hotspots and IAQ is a crucial element for passengers and staff protection, as well as a key aspect of airport passenger experience…an integrated air management system, based on real-time monitoring, would lead to optimization and improvement in environmental and economical sustainability.

3. United States Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics - Final Full-Year 2019 Traffic Data for U.S. Airlines and Foreign Airlines U.S. Flights

https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/final-full-year-2019-traffic-data-us-airlines-and-foreign-airlines-us-flights

U.S. airlines and foreign airlines serving the U.S. carried an all-time high of 1.1 billion systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in 2019, 3.9% more than the previous annual record high of 1.0 billion reached in 2018.

RISKS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

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4. ACI Airport Operational Practice Examples for Managing COVID-19

https://store.aci.aero/product/airport-operational-practice-examples-for-managing-covid-19/

As required by local health authorities, passengers are to undergo temperature screening, either by handheld infrared detector or infrared screening system. Passengers failing the temperature check will be referred to a medical post for further examination. (…) Adjust ambient air temperature and increase ventilation. Step up cleaning of indoor ventilation system including air filters.

5. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, December 2018 - Smart Real-Time Indoor Air Quality Sensing System and Analytics

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330110600_Smart_Real-Time_Indoor_Air_Quality_Sensing_System_and_Analytics

With the recent developments in sensing technology, machine learning and communication technology, IoT based Smart Real Time Indoor air quality sensing and analytics have been implemented to promote better awareness for users to alert them about indoor air quality to maintain the wellbeing in their indoor environments.

6. ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force COVID-19 Pandemic Recommendations on SARS-CoV-2 and the operation of HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/resources

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including operation of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.

Ventilation and filtration provide by heating, ventilating, air conditioning systems can reduce the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and thus the risk of transmission through the air.

7. Handbook for CAAs on the management of aviation safety risks related to COVID-19

https://www.icao.int/safety/SafetyManagement/Pages/COVID-19-Safety-Risk-Management.aspx

A new Handbook for Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) on the Management of Aviation Safety Risks related to COVID-19 (Doc 10144) was developed with the support of experts serving on the ICAO Safety Management Panel. The guidance can be applied by States at different levels of State Safety Programme (SSP) implementation.

8. EASA COVID-19 Aviation Safety Health Protocol

https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/general-publications/covid-19-aviation-health-safety-protocol

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a joint document defining measures to assure the health safety of air travellers and aviation personnel once airlines resume regular flight schedules following the severe disruption caused by COVID-19.