El Loa Aerodrome, situated in Calama within Chile's key mining hub of the Antofagasta Region, has bolstered its security infrastructure using cutting-edge solutions from Dahua Technology.
As the airfield accommodates over 1.4 million passengers each year, the facility is pivotal for regional transit, business travel, and meeting the operational demands of Chile’s mining sector. To keep up with the burgeoning passenger numbers, a sophisticated security system was deemed necessary to ensure continuous monitoring and effective passenger traceability in this high-traffic environment.
Addressing security challenges
The challenges faced by El Loa Aerodrome were multifaceted, requiring a security network that comprehensively covers both indoor and outdoor zones.
The client needed a system offering seamless observation of areas like the terminal, runway, boarding zones, restricted areas, corridors, waiting rooms, and gates, minimising any potential blind spots. An important focus was the accurate real-time identification of passengers and their luggage, thereby enhancing traceability and boosting the airport's ability to address incidents swiftly.
Advanced video surveillance solutions
Dahua's bullet and dome cameras positioned at key locations within the airport bolster security coverage
To counter these complexities, Dahua Technology implemented an integrated intelligent video surveillance system tailored for demanding airport settings.
This setup includes high-definition video monitoring, real-time visualisation, continuous recording capabilities, and remote access, all vital for the airport’s dynamic operational needs. Additionally, Dahua's bullet and dome cameras positioned at key locations within the airport bolster security coverage, ensuring critical operational areas remain under vigilant watch.
Comprehensive real-time monitoring
The system covers 100% of the airport’s crucial areas, such as corridors, lounges, and boarding gates, enhancing situational awareness and minimising blind spots. A specialised integrated monitoring centre was also established, enabling the operations team to access live footage in real-time. This setup not only supports daily management but also facilitates incident analysis and coordination of security measures.
Dahua’s intelligent identification technology further aids precise passenger and luggage identification, significantly improving traceability and strengthening the team’s response efficiency during security events. This advancement has resulted in El Loa Aerodrome greatly enhancing its security operations, effectively managing over 1.4 million passengers annually through uninterrupted, real-time facility monitoring.
Located in Calama, in Chile’s Antofagasta Region, El Loa Aerodrome is a strategic airport serving one of the country’s most important mining zones.
With more than 1.4 million passengers handled annually, the airport plays a vital role in supporting regional mobility, business travel, and the operational needs of Chile’s mining industry. As passenger traffic continued to grow, El Loa Aerodrome required a more advanced security infrastructure capable of supporting continuous monitoring, passenger traceability, and reliable operation in a high-demand airport environment.
Critical aviation workflows
Challenges - El Loa Aerodrome needed a security system that could provide complete coverage across both indoor and outdoor areas. The client required continuous monitoring of the terminal, runway, boarding areas, restricted zones, corridors, waiting halls, and boarding gates, without blind spots.
Another key challenge was passenger and luggage identification. In a busy airport environment, DGAC needed to accurately identify passengers and their baggage in real time, helping improve traceability and strengthen response capabilities in the event of incidents.
The airport also had to manage security under high passenger flow. With more than 1.4 million passengers each year and continued growth in demand, the solution had to support daily operations without creating disruption. At the same time, it needed to integrate smoothly with DGAC’s existing systems and critical aviation workflows.
Intelligent video surveillance system
Solutions - To address these needs, Dahua Technology provided an integrated intelligent video surveillance system designed for critical airport environments. The solution combined high-definition monitoring, real-time visualization, continuous recording, remote access, and intelligent identification capabilities to support the airport’s operational requirements.
Dahua bullet and dome cameras were installed in strategic areas across the airport, including the terminal, runway, boarding zones, and restricted areas. These cameras enabled high-definition monitoring of key locations and helped ensure that important operational spaces remained visible at all times.
Real-time monitoring
The system was designed to cover 100% of the airport’s critical zones, including corridors, waiting halls, and boarding gates. This helped DGAC establish a more complete security view of the facility, reducing blind spots and improving situational awareness across the building.
A dedicated integrated monitoring centre was also implemented, allowing the operations team to view live video in real time. With remote access and continuous recording, the control room provided a reliable platform for daily supervision, incident verification, and security coordination.
In addition, Dahua’s intelligent identification technology enabled the client to identify passengers and luggage more precisely. This improved traceability throughout the aerodrome and strengthened the team’s ability to respond quickly and effectively when security incidents occurred.
Results - With Dahua’s intelligent video surveillance solution, El Loa Aerodrome significantly enhanced its security operations. The system now supports the safe management of more than 1.4 million passengers annually, while providing 24/7 real-time monitoring across the facility.
