St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), Missouri’s largest aviation hub, has enhanced its surveillance systems to cater to its high passenger throughput of over 15 million annually. In 2025, the airport undertook a major upgrade, introducing a digital 360-degree surveillance solution that covers more than 70 million square feet of infrastructure while reducing complexity and cutting costs.
STL aims to integrate AI-driven applications to further optimise airport operations. Leveraging Dallmeier’s Panomera® multifocal sensor technology, the airport achieved extensive high-resolution coverage with roughly 90% fewer cameras and 75% less infrastructure than initially designed.
Faced with an increase in passenger traffic, STL’s Operations and Security Teams initiated a revamp of their video security systems in June 2018. The modernisation targeted two main areas: surface parking facilities to bolster customer safety and airport runways, taxiways, and terminals to monitor aircraft, ground vehicles, and personnel movement. Originally, over 130 PTZ and single sensor IP cameras, requiring 42 new camera poles, were part of the design. However, STL and its security integrator, Tech Electronics, sought a more economical alternative.
During their technology evaluation, STL identified Dallmeier’s Panomera® technology, specifically created for large spatial area surveillance, to reduce the number of cameras needed. David Kulinsky, Deputy Director of Operations & Maintenance at STL, remarked, “When we discovered Panomera® and saw that one Panomera® camera can capture large areas at high resolution and replace several single-sensor cameras, including the costly infrastructure, it became clear that Panomera® provided STL a more economical solution with higher quality images at a lower overall cost.”
The trial of the new technology demonstrated the superior image quality offered by the Panomera®. Kevin Hubble, Services Manager for STL with Tech Electronics, stated, “I was surprised at how few Panomera® cameras were needed to replace several PTZs and single sensor cameras and display the images in a much more user-friendly format.” The SeMSy® Compact VMS software supports easy digital PTZ control within a single high-resolution display, enhancing operational efficiency with fewer cameras deployed.
The deployment resulted in a digital 360-degree surveillance framework that provides situational awareness across critical airside zones such as runways, taxiways, and aprons with just ten Panomera® cameras. This approach offers a seamless high-resolution overview and is a significant departure from traditional methods requiring numerous cameras, simplifying infrastructure needs while optimizing monitoring across expansive areas.
Apart from security, STL foresees employing Panomera® technology for operational improvements within terminals. Planned deployments in ticketing areas involve a Panomera® V8 system integrated with AI features for passenger flow and queue management. These measures are anticipated to improve operational efficiencies and enhance traveller experiences by building on the existing high-resolution surveillance infrastructure.
David Kulinsky at STL summarised the initiative, “Any technology project at an airport must deliver a solution that is operationally efficient, resilient, and built for long-term performance. Our decision to deploy Panomera® cameras significantly enhanced overall surveillance coverage across the airport while reducing the technology and infrastructure footprint required to support it.” The implementation also features the ability to achieve detailed zoom without compromising overall scene visibility, offering advantages over traditional PTZ cameras.
Dallmeier electronic, founded by Dieter Dallmeier in 1984 in Regensburg, Germany, continues to be a technology innovator in video information systems. Serving various industries globally, their product range—including the Panomera® multifocal sensor system—offers optimal security solutions. Pioneering developments, such as the introduction of digital image storage with motion analysis and a comprehensive suite of integrated security and analytic systems, affirm Dallmeier’s commitment to technology leadership in the market.
