OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the largest and busiest airport in Africa, handling millions of passengers each year. Given its critical role in the region’s air travel network, security at the airport’s parking facilities is paramount. To enhance control over vehicle access, Turnstar, in collaboration with HUB Parking Technologies, installed an advanced automated barrier system that safeguards the airport’s entrances and exits.
The airport needed a robust solution to address multiple concerns:
- Tailgating: Unauthorized vehicles closely following authorized vehicles through a barrier, bypassing payment systems and compromising security.
- Revenue Loss: Tailgating not only poses a security risk but also results in unpaid parking fees, leading to significant revenue loss for the airport.
- Traffic Management: High traffic volumes necessitate a system that can quickly and efficiently process vehicles, without causing bottlenecks.
Turnstar spearheaded the project in partnership with HUB Parking Technologies, installing a state-of-the-art system at various entrances and exits. The system consists of 164 three-metre spike barriers and Magnetic Autocontrol vehicle barriers, integrated in a sophisticated interlock configuration.
Key Features of the System
- Custom Integration: Turnstar led the seamless integration between the automatic spike barrier system and the Magnetic Autocontrol barriers. This ensured that the system could operate smoothly and provide enhanced security and traffic management.
- Interlock Configuration: Vehicles entering and exiting the parking facility go through a two-stage barrier system:
- The driver inserts a paid parking ticket into the machine.
- The first barrier opens, allowing the vehicle to drive into a secure middle section between the two barriers.
- Once the vehicle is in the “trapped” section, the first barrier closes, ensuring no other vehicle can tailgate.
- The second barrier then opens, allowing the vehicle to exit.
- Only after the second barrier closes is the next vehicle allowed to insert its ticket and proceed.
- Enhanced Security: The interlock configuration effectively eliminates tailgating, as vehicles cannot bypass the system without a valid parking ticket. The double barrier ensures that only one vehicle passes through the system at a time, making it impossible for unauthorized vehicles to sneak through.
- Revenue Protection: By preventing tailgating, the system safeguards the airport’s revenue, as each vehicle must pay the required parking fee before being allowed to exit.
The installation of the 164 spike barriers and Magnetic Autocontrol vehicle barriers has significantly improved security and efficiency at OR Tambo International Airport. Key benefits include:
- Increased Security: The interlock barrier system minimizes the risk of unauthorized vehicle access, improving overall airport security.
- Revenue Protection: By ensuring that every vehicle pays the required fee, the airport avoids revenue loss caused by tailgating.
- Streamlined Traffic Flow: Despite the high security, the system is designed to process vehicles efficiently, minimizing congestion at parking exits.
Turnstar’s collaboration with HUB Parking Technologies at OR Tambo International Airport exemplifies how cutting-edge security solutions can solve complex access control challenges. By integrating advanced spike barriers with Magnetic Autocontrol systems, Turnstar provided OR Tambo with a highly effective solution that balances security, efficiency, and revenue protection. The success of this project underscores Turnstar’s expertise in delivering customized access control systems for high-traffic, high-security environments.