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CASE STUDY

Multi-Use Flight Information Management System (netFIDS)

Client
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

In response to demands from airlines operating at the airport, the City of Austin commissioned GCR to build a new Multi-Use Flight Information Display System (MUFIDS) for their airport.  The Web-Based Multi-use Flight Information Display System (netFIDS), which was developed by GCR and Associates, Inc. for the Richmond International Airport, uses state-of-the-art Web based HTML technology as the foundation of the system. Each client station displays full-screen web browser sessions on individual or multiple monitors to present detailed flight information. Because of this design, the client workstations operate as "thin" clients, meaning very little system resources are used by the netFIDS system. The stability gained from this type of configuration on a Windows NT Workstation is superior to any other system currently available.

The system is designed to provide rich graphical displays of flight data and status, full motion video (such as MPEG or AVI), messaging, and sound. The HTML-based format provides the same type of flexible screen design capabilities of any other web based program. Data management applications can easily be managed from either central locations on the airport or remotely from virtually any location in the world. Likewise, accessibility to data updates are easily accomplished through a Web browser based application.

The core database containing the flight data is built on a SQL Server Database, Version 2000. The database is fully relational and transactional. The application used to manage and edit the flight data is designed to provide optimal functionality and flexibility. It principally serves to manage the information related to public viewing of flight schedules and flight status. It is also designed with extensive functionality for airline back office operations and management, and is used by some airlines to serve key internal scheduling and communications functions. The design of the system provides a complete suite of applications for airline operations.