The new security standards at International Airports have made the acquisition of corrosion data and the administration of corrosion problem solving on airport facilities, extremely complicated. In todays post 9-11 environment, Corrosion Engineers are confronted with the necessity of obtaining special ID’s, acquiring special security permits and being accompanied by security escorts or authorized personal from the Airport at all times. This daily procedure magnifies cost dramatically. With the emergence of the new powerful microprocessors, a low cost PC based Remote Monitoring and Control system has evolved into a true “Process Control” system, solving the access and field diagnostic issues at International Airports. These systems give the corrosion engineer, a 24/7 visibly, from either an “On-Site” location or from thousands of miles away. The engineer not only receives a clear picture of the Cathodic Protection System’s status but, he also has the ability to control the system, making adjustments to devices and receiving immediate feedback that would normally take days done manually with the new security restrictions. Integral to these systems are interactive graphics, multiple level alarm systems utilizing faxing and paging and personnel management systems, all providing a substantial cost reduction for the Airport Administration.
Key Words: Cathodic protection system, Airports, Elevated Security, diagnostics and problem solving, cost reduction