Changi seeks to improve drone detection amid plan to open third runway

New system should be able to track and classify drone movements in detail

- Esther Loi

An improved video surveillance and analytics system to detect unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, around Changi Airport is being sought by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Parts of the system must be ready when the airport's third runway starts operations. This is estimated to be in the fourth quarter of 2027.

According to tender documents published on government procurement portal GeBiz on March 13, CAAS is planning to roll out a new camera surveillance system to automatically detect, classify and track drones around the airport.

This system should be able to track and classify drone movements in detail, provide wide-angle surveillance of the area for situational awareness, as well as offer a 360-degree perspective of scenes for video analysis.

The authority is looking for a system that uses electro-optic and infrared sensors. Electro-optic sensors convert visible light into electric signals, while infrared sensors convert heat into electric signals for the detection and tracking of data.

This is also the first time that the authorities have set out a specific period for the estimated opening of the airport's third runway. It was earlier announced that the third runway would be operational in the latter half of the decade.