BAA has started installing the £250m IT systems for Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 (T5) project, as construction work on the building nears completion.

The £4.2bn T5 project is now 73 per cent complete, according to BAA, putting it on track for the planned opening at 4am on 30 March 2008.

The IT project team aims to finish all systems installation by September 2007, providing a six-month testing window.

BAA T5 managing director Tony Douglas says the project is on schedule, on track and on budget at this stage.

‘We are now moving to the systems phase, to convert these buildings into the best international airport in the world,’ he said.

Some £70m will be spent on telecoms and security infrastructure, about £100m on building and automation systems, and £30m on airport systems and technologies.

And £50m is being spent on a vast online virtual model of the terminal used by all project partners to ensure construction proceeds smoothly, as well as on the IT infrastructure to support the 2,500 people on site.

Nick Gaines, head of systems for T5, says one of the challenges with such a large-scale project is selecting technologies today for use in the future.

‘There is a big issue of trying to guess what technology will be most useful in several years’ time, following constant technological changes,’ he said.

‘It is a difficult balance of how we manage innovation and the risks associated with innovation.’

To help avoid failure, the T5 team will use a bespoke testing centre to check every piece of technology, from CCTV cameras to servers, prior to installation.
BAA’s intention is that most of the systems being deployed will be invisible to passengers.

‘Much of the technology is to make the process of your journey smoother and more predictable,’ said Gaines. ‘Ideally you will not notice the technology, but you will be less stressed.’

BAA is working with IT partners including NTL Business, Arup, Ultra Electronics and Honeywell Building Solutions.