Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena), which handles more passengers than any other airport operator in the world, is using software from the British developer Cadcorp to manage geographic information about its extensive infrastructure of airports and radio masts. Any authorised user can now visualise, add and modify cartographic and infrastructural data, from Aena premises that include both airports and radio mast installations.
The application called “SIGNA” by Aena, is the start of a wider GIS project for intranet GIS, first specified by the Aeronautic Information Service (AIS) in Aena in 2009. The project aim was to bring together the range of geographic data built up over the years by Aena into a single web server,in order to serve any user requesting this information.
The application has been developed by Cadcorp partner Recursos Técnicos Madrid, S.L. under Aena’s specifications, and in collaboration with the contractor Topografía y Obras, S.A. (TYOSA). TYOSA was responsible for surveying and field data collection over a three year period. In parallel, RTM working with the staff of Aena, assumed the responsibility for application development. This included designing the software user interface, and maintaining connectivity with a central spatial database “Ingena”. All maps and surveying data held in Ingena can now be accessed through Internet Explorer® over Aena’s intranet.
RTM was tasked with migrating the Ingena database from Oracle® to Microsoft SQL Server®, while at the same time developing the graphic client application that would access the database. The task was complicated by the requirement for the application to accommodate new records as the TYOSA survey team created them, as Mr. Hacar in charge of the project from RTM’s side, explains:
“The integration with database records is done in real time and updated and coordinated by means of a Maintenance application we have developed for the Ingena database. It takes advantage of one of the strengths of Cadcorp technology by being able to upload all available maps – in both vector and raster formats – in their native format. We are able to add 2D and 3D vector maps in formats such as DGN, DWG and SHP, without any modifications. We are also managing orthophotos as very large raster files, again without problems.“
“We congratulate RTM on the success of this prestigious project” commented Mike O’Neil, CEO of Cadcorp. “They have shown the value of treating spatial information is a generic and shared resource that organisations can put to work in support of different business activities.”
About Cadcorp
Cadcorp is a British software development company focused on geographic information system (GIS) and web mapping software. It offers a complete suite of products – the Cadcorp Spatial Information System ® (Cadcorp SIS®) – addressing all phases of spatial information management. Cadcorp SIS is available worldwide through a network of Cadcorp partners and through a direct sales team in the UK and Ireland. www.cadcorp.com
About Recursos Técnicos Madrid, S.L (RTM)
Founded in 1999, RTM is a Spanish software house specialising in GIS and CAD applications for the environment and land surveying markets. www.rtm.es