Situated on a 9,000-acre site located 16 miles west of the city, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) accommodates more than eight million travelers each year. PIT offers about 155 non-stop fl ights per day to 37 destinations, and has been recognized by organizations including JD Power and Associates for its high quality in meeting travelers' needs. With new routes being added each year and development surrounding the airfi eld growing, the airport is a major economic engine for southwestern Pennsylvania.

MAJOR EXPANSION

In the late 1980s, the Allegheny County Airport Authority, operator for PIT, recognized the need to expand and update its facilities to accommodate the growing number of domestic and international fl ights at PIT. The airport's original terminal, built in 1952, was considered to be one of the most modern and spacious in the country when it fi rst came online, second only in size to JFK in New York. However, despite the addition of an International Wing in 1972, along with several new docks and rotundas through the 1980s to increase the number of gates, the capacity of the original terminal still proved inadequate.

Construction on the new Pittsburgh International Airport began in 1990, designed to offer 7.7 million sq ft of air-side space, more than 100 gates, and a mall of more than 100 restaurants and specialty shops. Based on the company's four-decade relationship with the airport, PIT and its architectural consultants tapped Honeywell to supply HVAC and fi re alarm systems throughout the new space.

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

With heightened security concerns following September 11, PIT offi cials wanted the ability to monitor and control all building systems from its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The vision was that EOC operators would not only control HVAC and lighting systems through a centralized management platform, but also life safety, security, and other building systems to provide the safest and most comfortable environment for travelers and airport personnel.

The airport implemented Honeywell's enterprise management system, Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI), to help increase effi - ciency and reduce operating costs by integrating core building technology. The platform tied nearly all building systems into a fl exible, open architecture while keeping existing control equipment in place.

The integrated platform has proven benefi cial for PIT throughout its tenure. Most notably, EBI demonstrated its power during a smoke test conducted by PIT and its fi re department not long after its installation. Airport offi cials wanted to verify how smoke would travel throughout a particular area of the terminal in the event of a fi re. To test smoke control capabilities - involving the combined use of fi re alarm and HVAC systems - the fi re department set up artifi cial smoke machines to simulate a blaze in one of the retail stores located along the concourse. During the test, when the alarm system detected smoke, the HVAC system immediately kicked in, ventilating the area exactly as planned.

In addition to HVAC and fi re, PIT has integrated other systems into its platform, including a defi brillator system. If someone in the airport has a heart attack or other medical emergency that necessitates the use of a defi brillator unit, the removal of the unit automatically notifi es EOC operators through an alarm, indicating the exact location of the incident and helping emergency responders take action as quickly and effectively as possible.

PIT also has linked its fi re system into all off-site buildings, including hangars, fuel farms, maintenance garages, parking garages and rental car buildings, and is exploring ways to tie in data from its closed circuit television (CCTV) system, as well as the airport's Flight Information Display System (FIDS) - the network of screens across the airport detailing fl ight arrival and departure times.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

With the reduced number of fl ights and travelers after September 11, as well as the continual rise in fuel costs, the airport also recognized the need to gain better control of its energy use across its facilities to help offset these pressures. In response, PIT established an energy management team made up of airport management, facilities personnel, and Honeywell consultants that meet on a monthly basis to assess energy conservation opportunities throughout the airport.

For example, the rooftop units that heat and cool the airport have been optimized to minimize electrical consumption, escalators and moving walkways are shut down at night when traffi c is relatively low, and occupancy sensors have been placed throughout areas of the terminal to minimize lighting use, particularly at night. With Honeywell's guidance, PIT also is exploring submetering across the terminal to better understand and regulate energy use with tenant organizations, such as retail outlets.

By integrating its BAS, PIT has seen both an increase in effi ciency and a decrease in operating costs while giving itself the ability to assess and respond to energy conservation opportunities throughout the airport.

The BAS at the Pittsburgh International Airport helps offset rising fuel costs by controlling energy use throughout the facility.