| 23 January 2004 - Steria, a leading European IT services
provider, has been selected by BAA, the world's leading
airport company, to provide a new taxi management system
for London’s Heathrow Airport. The solution is designed
to improve BAA's ability to monitor and manage taxis to
meet passenger demand and is based on wireless technology
with mobile devices. It will replace a PC-based system.
Tailored to meet BAA's specific needs, the solution
draws on a core system already installed by Steria at
Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Using the latest
radio automatic vehicle identification technology from
NEDAP, that can identify both vehicle and driver, BAA
will be able to manage taxis and drivers more efficiently.
It will also be able to predict customer demand and
facilitate the timely despatch of taxis via handheld
devices used by taxi management agents at both the feeder
park and terminal ranks. The solution uses wireless
communication links. This means that implementation
will be less-intrusive than a cable-based approach and
therefore, more cost-effective.
The flexibility of the system means that BAA will be
able to respond to any unplanned factors affecting the
speedy despatch of taxis, such as roadworks between
the feeder park and terminals. This is crucial to ensure
the optimum numbers of taxis on the ranks at each airport
terminal. Taxi drivers themselves will also benefit
from a more efficient system with improved management
and user information.
BAA chose Steria after an evaluation of solutions from
a number of companies. The decision was made based on
Steria's specialist expertise and business understanding.
Steve Cumber, Onward Travel Manager, BAA plc said:
"Our existing system has reached the end of its
useful life in both hardware and software terms. We
needed software with the flexibility to manage the changing
needs of our customers and the business. Steria impressed
us with their expertise and knowledge of our business
issues, and with their comprehensive, proven solution
that could be tailored to our needs."
The automatic vehicle and driver identification technology
is to be provided by Steria's partner, NEDAP, an RFID
(radio frequency identification) technology manufacturer
and systems developer. Another of Steria’s partners,
WPS will supply the barriers and payment equipment.
Guy Lambert, director of Steria's system integration
business in the UK, said: "We are delighted to
have been selected by BAA to roll out the new taxi line
management system at Heathrow airport. As one of the
main providers of vehicle management solutions with
proven credentials at major airports worldwide, and
with transport solutions being a key focus for us, we
are confident that BAA will quickly see the benefits
that our tailored solution will bring. The wireless
nature of the system also opens up numerous exciting
possibilities for enhanced airport vehicle management
without the need for laying power or data cables, and
its flexibility means that BAA can expand and enhance
the system as future growth dictates."
This new development reinforces Steria's expertise
in the field of transport and multimodal systems, and
its ability to manage complex projects. Steria has previously
developed car park management systems for airports in
Frankfurt, Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports),
Lyon St Exupéry and Geneva. Moreover, Steria
has implemented major road traffic management projects
for motorway management companies in France (ESCOTA,
SAPRR, SANEF, AREA), Luxembourg, Malaysia, Singapore
and Switzerland, as well as by-pass systems for large
agglomerations including Lille, Toulouse and Geneva.
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