An Overview of Lightning Air Terminal: Past, Present, and Future

In a direct strike lightning protection system, three components are considered to be of great significance; that is lightning air terminal (LAT), down-conductor (DC), and earth terminal (ET). Since the time of Benjamin Franklin, the founder of lightning rod, until today there are many types of LAT that have been installed on building structures around the world to provide protection to the human being and equipment from the effect of lightning strokes. In general LAT could be classified as in compliance with standard and non-standard method. However, generally people at large are unable to differentiate between standard and non-standard method of protection involving the use of LAT. The former performance and its scientific explanation provided by vendor has created controversies among lightning scientists and practicing engineers. The development and research on technologies to control or even to prevent lightning strokes continues till today. This paper aims to describe the various types of LATs that being installed on building structures, both concrete and steel type applied to electrical power system, telecommunication and communication system, and others from the time of Benjamin Franklin until now and also describing the current research going on related to the subject concern and possible technologies which can be used for future generation of LAT.