A major international airport needed a reliable and efficient Building Management System (BMS) to monitor key environmental parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 levels.

The project was required to meet strict requirements, including zero operational downtime, minimal cabling, and a quick, hassle-free installation process. The client sought to ensure that travellers experience no inconvenience or discomfort during the installation, and that additional installation costs were avoided.

The airport’s bag check in zones and area surrounding the duty free required a smart solution, with future plans to expand, to cover the remaining check in zones and rest of the airport section by section.


The solution chosen by the airport’s facilities management team was Sontay’s SORA wireless LoRaWAN range. This decision was influenced by the facility manager’s prior experience attending a Sontay BMS course, in collaboration with the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA).

During the course, the manager learned about the SORA system’s capabilities, particularly its ease of installation and minimal disruption whilst infrastructure is being installed.

The SORA system combines the tried, tested and trusted reliability of Sontay sensing devices with the unrivalled wireless power of LoRaWAN technology. Its long-range capabilities have been demonstrated to reach an excess of 10KM in plain sight.


SORA’s specification for the airport included four SORA LoRaWAN hubs for managing the sensor network, 45 temperature, relative humidity & CO2 sensors, six wireless temperature clamp-on sensors and two aerial extensions.


The LoRaWAN system’s wireless capability was crucial, allowing for a streamlined installation process with minimal cabling, significantly reducing the potential for operational downtime. The system’s rapid implementation meant that airport operations were unaffected, and no additional costs were incurred due to traveller inconvenience.

Post-installation, the SORA system has provided the airport with reliable, energy-efficient monitoring of environmental parameters. The client has noted that the ease of installation and the system’s quick deployment have greatly enhanced the airport’s management capabilities. The facility management team can now monitor and control the airport’s environment by communicating with the air handling units (AHUs) leading to increased efficiency, ensuring a comfortable experience for travellers and staff.


Six months after the implementation, a scheduled evaluation visit was conducted to access the ongoing effectiveness of the SORA system. The assessment revealed that the system’s battery levels were still at 100%, underscoring the long-lasting and reliable performance of the wireless sensors. Due to the success of the wireless sensing solution, Gatwick are currently setting up SORA clamp on sensors to monitor the chilled water to their AHUs. Gatwick then plan on covering the remaining check in zones by installing hubs in 7 plantrooms in the South Terminal and 5 in North Terminal.

The successful installation of Sontay’s SORA system at the airport has demonstrated the solution’s capability to meet stringent requirements for non-disruptive installation and reliable performance. The client now benefits from an advanced BMS that supports the airport’s operations with minimal maintenance and maximum efficiency. This case highlights how Sontay’s wireless innovative solution can effectively address complex challenges in high-traffic environments like airports.