Airport Security Upgrade: Genetec Unifies 64 Cameras & Access

When Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport embarked on a $43 million terminal modernization, airport management saw an opportunity to replace aging, siloed security systems with a unified platform. The result: 64 cameras, 22 access-controlled doors, and more than 130 sensors all managed through Genetec Security Center, installed by integrator Incline Technology.

For low voltage contractors, this project illustrates the scope and technical considerations of a mid-sized airport security modernization—and the growing demand for open, scalable platforms that unify video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection on a single pane of glass.

The Challenge: Legacy Systems and Operational Silos

Like many regional airports, Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport operated with separate legacy systems for video surveillance and access control. These disconnected platforms created operational inefficiencies: security personnel had to toggle between multiple interfaces, correlating events manually and managing permissions across separate databases.

The terminal modernization project provided the perfect opportunity to consolidate these systems. Airport leadership wanted a solution that would not only replace aging hardware but also provide a foundation for future expansion—whether that meant adding more cameras, integrating additional building systems, or scaling operations as passenger traffic grows.

The Solution: Genetec Security Center as a Unified Platform

Incline Technology deployed Genetec Security Center to unify three critical security functions on a single platform:

• Video Surveillance: 64 IP cameras covering terminal interiors, perimeter areas, baggage handling, and parking facilities
• Access Control: 22 doors with role-based permissions and mobile credential support
• Intrusion Detection: More than 130 sensors integrated into the unified alarm management system

The open-platform architecture of Security Center allowed the integrator to select best-of-breed hardware while maintaining centralized management. This flexibility is critical in airport environments, where TSA compliance, future technology changes, and budget constraints all influence equipment selection.

Technical Scope: What Contractors Need to Know

From a low voltage installation perspective, this project required careful coordination across multiple trades and systems:

Power over Ethernet Infrastructure

All 64 cameras were deployed using PoE connectivity, simplifying installation and reducing the need for separate power drops. For contractors, this underscores the importance of proper network switch sizing and PoE budget calculations. With 64 cameras potentially drawing 15-30 watts each depending on model and features, the network infrastructure needed to support sustained power delivery while maintaining data throughput for high-resolution video streams.

Structured Cabling Considerations

Connecting 64 cameras, 22 door controllers, and 130+ sensors required extensive Category 6 or 6A cabling throughout the terminal. In a modernization project like this, contractors often face challenges routing new cable through existing structures, coordinating with other trades, and maintaining clean, labeled installations that support future troubleshooting and expansion.

Role-Based Access Control

The Security Center platform supports granular, role-based permissions—allowing airport staff, TSA personnel, maintenance crews, and management to access only the doors, areas, and system functions relevant to their roles. Implementing this requires careful planning during the programming phase, with input from multiple stakeholders to map organizational workflows to system permissions.

Mobile Access Integration

The system includes mobile credential support, allowing authorized personnel to use smartphones for door access. This required integration with mobile enrollment workflows, credential provisioning systems, and potentially Bluetooth or NFC readers at key entry points—adding another layer of coordination between IT, security, and low voltage teams.

Operational Benefits: Why Unified Platforms Matter

For airport security personnel, the unified platform delivers several operational advantages:

• Quick Search functionality: Operators can search across video, access events, and alarms simultaneously—critical when investigating incidents or responding to security alerts
• Correlated events: When a door alarm triggers, operators immediately see associated video footage without switching applications
• Centralized user management: Adding or removing personnel, adjusting permissions, and managing credentials happens in one system rather than multiple databases
• Mobile monitoring: Security supervisors can monitor cameras and receive alerts from mobile devices, improving response times

The Integrator Advantage: Open Platforms and Future Expansion

One of the most significant advantages of the Genetec Security Center platform is its open architecture. Unlike proprietary systems that lock customers into specific hardware vendors, Security Center supports hundreds of camera models, access control panels, and third-party integrations.

For integrators like Incline Technology, this flexibility means they can recommend the right hardware for each application—whether that's high-resolution cameras for facial recognition zones, thermal cameras for perimeter detection, or ruggedized readers for outdoor access points—without being constrained by a single manufacturer's product line.

This openness also supports future expansion. As the airport grows, adding new cameras, doors, or integrated systems doesn't require replacing the core platform. Contractors can scale the system incrementally, adding licenses and hardware as budget and operational needs dictate.

Lessons for Low Voltage Contractors

This Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport project offers several takeaways for contractors working on similar security modernization projects:

1. Plan for convergence: Customers increasingly want unified platforms that consolidate video, access, and alarms. Understanding these integrated systems gives contractors a competitive advantage.
2. Size infrastructure properly: PoE camera deployments require careful network planning, including switch capacity, cable distances, and power budgets.
3. Document everything: With 22 doors, 64 cameras, and 130+ sensors, clear documentation—including as-builts, labeling schemes, and system diagrams—is essential for long-term support.
4. Think long-term: Open platforms support future expansion and technology changes, making them easier to sell and maintain over multi-year contracts.
5. Coordinate early: Projects like this require coordination with IT teams, security consultants, general contractors, and end users. Early involvement in design helps avoid costly change orders.

Conclusion

The Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport security modernization demonstrates how mid-sized facilities are moving beyond legacy, siloed systems toward unified platforms that improve operations while supporting future growth. For low voltage professionals, projects like this represent the evolving scope of security work—requiring not just installation skills but also expertise in network infrastructure, system integration, and long-term platform strategy.

As more airports, commercial facilities, and institutional customers pursue similar modernizations, contractors who understand unified security platforms will be well-positioned to compete for and deliver these increasingly complex projects.