Changi Airport’s new Terminal 4 is scheduled to commence operations on 31 October. With the final set of checks and reviews now being undertaken, FTE explores how self-service and biometric technology is being used to create a seamless passenger experience.
Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST)Technology is at the heart of the new Terminal 4, which will be the first terminal at Changi Airport to offer end-to-end Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) for departing passengers.
The implementation of FAST across the terminal means that at all passenger touch-points – from check-in and bag drop to immigration and boarding – self-service and biometric technology will help to provide passengers with a seamless and intuitive experience.
At the point of check-in passengers will be able to use self-service kiosks to print their own boarding passes and bag tags. They can then drop their bags at an automated bag drop machine after their identity has been verified. At immigration, passengers will be able to scan their own passport, boarding pass and fingerprint to facilitate the necessary identity checks. The automated immigration gates also use facial recognition technology to authenticate the passengers’ identity.
This self-service immigration function is available to passengers who are at least six years old and who are Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Long Term Pass holders or visitors whose fingerprints are registered with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.eMeanwhile, at the boarding gate, technology has also been implemented. Passengers who have used the automated immigration gate can simply scan their boarding pass at the boarding gate and authenticate their identity with the facial recognition system.
Centralised security screening, featuring CT technologyPassengers will be able to keep their laptops and tablets in their bags thanks to the use of computed tomography technology at the Terminal 4 centralised security screening checkpoint.
New technology is also being used at the security checkpoint. The centralised security screening in T4 uses computed tomography (CT) technology so passengers can keep their laptops and tablets in their bags. An automated tray return system and multiple divestment points will also help to optimise efficiency and keep waiting times down.
Although Terminal 4 is just half the size of Terminal 3, thanks in a large part to the effective use of technology the new facility will have a capacity of 16 million passengers a year, which is two-thirds that of T3.
Rudolf Mulderij writes in FRESH PlAZA that demand for Kiwifruit is on the rise worldwide, but the supply has been affected by the weather. "New Zealand harvested less this campaign after a difficult growing season, with a hot winter and a lot of rain," explained a trader. Moreover, the Chilean production is also reported to have dropped, and now Italian kiwis are hitting the market and they also expect a smaller volume due to the impact of frost in certain regions and the dry summer. "As a result, the supply will be much scarcer, while the demand continues to rise," assures a trader.
New Zealand: Zespri is looking for new marketsZespri, the export organization of New Zealand kiwis, is seeing strong growth this season. The SunGold continues to grow in markets like Japan and China. Moreover, their sights are set on other markets in South East Asia, India and North America. The European market is also developing well, with strong demand all year round. Japan is the biggest market this season, accounting for the export of 23 million trays. The second most important market is China, accounting for 22 million trays.
The start of the season in the northern hemisphere is around the corner. The Italian volume is expected to amount to around 5 million trays, which is a notable growth. The company aims for the demand to grow faster than the supply, and that seems to be successful. As a result, priorities have to be set as far as the markets are concerned. For the coming years, significant expansions are expected in the acreage, with another 1,800 hectares in Europe and 400 hectares in New Zealand. The company is working on growth for the SunGold. Eventually, the share of green and yellow kiwis must be split 50/50.
Continue here to read the full article published on FRESHPLAZA Friday 22 September 2017 |||
The Spectrim platform, a state-of-the-art technology developed by Compac sorts and grades fresh produce by analysing up to 500 images of each individual fruit. This reduces fruit contamination and ensures that the very best produce reaches consumers. Compac and Spectrim make up 90 percent of New Zealand’s fruit grading technology, over 60 percent of North America’s and it’s continuing to expand in other areas including Europe and China.
Regal blended with power
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade stands out as the obvious and logical destination for Winston Peters MP in the country’s pending new Parliament.
It combines for Mr Peters the correct blend of high office and of practical power that he requires in the current Parliamentary re-shuffling.
Under New Zealand’s proportional representation system the mix of seats and percentage vote share that his New Zealand First Party achieved leave him as the make-weight in the practical outcome of the general election..
There are two key factors that make MFAT (pronounced M-Fat) as the ministry is rather clumsily described the obvious choice.
The current minister Gerry Brownlee MP holds is essentially as a caretaker whose trouble shooter role has now been amply discharged.
Mr Brownlee will not complain if he is reassigned.
Then there is there is the sharp end of this ministry – the trade one.
Mr Peters believes that it is over focussed on the East, and notably the Middle East, and to the exclusion of markets in the NATO zone.
It is this trade aspect that dovetails neatly into his recent championing of the New Zealand farmer.
His Farmer First positioning was characteristically aimed at his own base.
New Zealand First votes come from traditional National Party supporters who become exasperated with National’s constant tempering of its policies to accommodate the ideological wing of the Labour Party, and only to a slightly lesser extent, the Greens.
The wisdom of Mr Peter’s pro-farmer stance was based on the confusion National has sown with its stance over water.
The National government allowed the whole vexed picture to become hopelessly muddied between the proven danger of agribusiness effluent intruding into potable water at one end; and on the other the vogueish clamour against the export of water in any form.
Mr Peters will not be an entirely welcome figure at the helm of MFAT.
On its diplomatic side, the department listened to the wrong people in the matter of the outcome of the United States presidential race.
It failed to give guidance correctly over the outcome with some embarrassing results.
Among these in practical terms was the New Zealand temporary contingent on the UN Security Council backing the censuring of Israel, a step that alienated National’s staunch support among urban fundamentalists.
Mr Peters is at home with protocol and is familiar with the Foreign Ministry.
Such a role would allocate him the prestige he seeks along with the exposure to ensure that everyone sees that he has it.
He will not wish to get himself tied down in one of the nuts and bolts ministerial departments of the type that will be required to implement several of his high profile announced policies.
These include the referendum on the existence or otherwise of the Maori seats.
Also the broader-based one on trimming the volume of members of parliament which are often viewed as proliferating.
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk || Sunday 24 September 2017 |||
Alien
[eyl-yuh n, ey-lee-uh n]
Ever walked into a lecture room and have sets of eyes follow you as if you’ve just landed from a distant galaxy? Or maybe on your first day at work you were tiptoed around as if you were going to kidnap someone and fly away in your flying saucer? Now let’s not get too carried away (pun intended) but as a woman in STEM, at some point in time, you’ve likely been treated like you’re a little out of this world (pun definitely intended).
This month, we would like to honour a successful woman in STEM. We had a chat with Jenna (Tut) Baldock, an Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Rocket Lab (seemingly fitting for us aliens). She shares her experiences of being a woman in a male-dominated field.
Tut studied Design Engineering at Massey, first in Wellington, and then moved up to Albany to finish her degree. She went on to study a Master’s in Applied Physics at RMIT, Melbourne. At RMIT, she worked a project with 3D printing and lasers. She then returned to New Zealand and has been working at Rocket Lab for 2 years now. Tut is part of the Propulsion team that is responsible for designing and manufacturing rocket engines. Specifically, she uses 3D printers to manufacture components for the rocket engines, as well as aiding in the design process and post machining.
Tut is an Additive Manufacturing Engineer. This new, sustainable type of manufacturing technique involves adding layer after layer of material (powder in this case) to parts rather than traditional machining (subtractive machining) which involves cutting away from bigger pieces of material.
1.What inspired you to get involved in engineering and STEM?My dad is an engineer, so it was the logical choice! I grew up in his workshop, helping out with woodwork, welding, and assembling things. At school, I was good at maths and enjoyed science. So engineering it was.
2. What do you like about being a woman in STEM?I like that it always seems to surprise people. You’re usually always the underdog, but if you work hard you can always prove your worth.
3. Have you ever felt that as a woman in STEM, you have been put at a disadvantage?Yes of course! I mean do I even have to elaborate? *laughs*. But I’ve learnt, it’s nice when some people expect a lot from you because of your skills, not because of your gender.
4. Do you regret your chosen field of study?Nope! Not at all! I love what I do, and I love what I studied!
5. Did you ever fail? Be it at uni, a project, at work? How did you overcome that failure?Well, I was a bit of a nerd, I worked hard, and so I never failed as such. At work, I sort of introduced 3D printing for components, and although we did have minor fails along the way, but I guess you have to learn how to use failure to your advantage. Learn from your mistakes and become better at what you do.
6. Do you think people have certain misconceptions about STEM? How do you shut down the haters?I think the older generation, not to stereotype, have an outdated perspective about engineering. An engineer, to them, is an engine mechanic with greasy hands. Today, we have come so far from that idea – engineering is such a broad and diverse field. As for shutting down the haters, the most important thing is to explain. Sometimes, the best way to help others expand their perspective is to logically explain the maths and science behind it.
7. Why do you think women are still so underrepresented in the industry?I would say they might be put off by the idea of being a minority, and that can be really overwhelming.! Many girls just aren’t given the resources to change the notions of it being a man’s job. It is also considered a hard industry to get into, and that can put a lot of women off.
8. How would you encourage girls to get involved in STEM?It’s definitely important to prove your self-worth. Be confident about your skills, but don’t boast about it. Show the world that there is a strong female presence, be it in science, manufacturing, IT, engineering, or anything. Strive hard to be a role model for other girls, and show the future generations that diversity in the workplace is essential for success.
9. What is your recipe for success in a still very male-dominated industry?As the underdog, which no doubt, you will be, you will often find that people don’t really appreciate your skills. You have to work hard to prove yourself. Show that you’re not only good at what you do, you are the best. Work hard, and you will earn the respect you deserve.
10.What are your personal goals for the future?I’m happy where I am at, right now, with my career. I do want to focus on improving personally though/ I am good at what I do, but I don’t let it get to me. I always work to improve and try to succeed in other areas.
We would like to thank Tut for sharing her incredible insights with us. We hope that Tut’s experiences have inspired you to jump on a rocket and embrace the alien you are. As women in STEM, we are definitely treated as invaders in foreign territory. So to all the haters, we say: yes we are aliens, and yes we are ready to take over!
P.S. sorry for all the puns, I did not planet!
By: Zainab Manasawala
Interviewed by: Zainab Manasawala and Sreenidhi Roshin.
| An AUT STEM Woman release || September 21, 2017 |||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242