Sensors to Improve Airport Efficiency and Experience

Policy approach(es) used to catalyse investment: A change in regulation  

Technology approach(es) used to catalyse investment: A change in data standards / architecture

SUMMARY

Smart Airports are airports that rely on the use of connected technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, GPS and sensors to perform planning and operations tasks digitally and support operational staff, optimising passenger flows and the activities of the airport staff across the airport. Smart Airport applications include:

• Automated gates
• Facial recognition to identify passengers at automated gates and various checkpoints
• Automation of immigration processes
• Digital wayfinding
• Health monitoring systems (see also the AI for Disease Outbreak and Pandemics use case)
• Automated luggage scanning and weighing
• Cleaning (see also Smart AI-based Waste Management in Stations use case)
• Automated vehicle locations in airport areas (such as tarmac transfer buses)
• Automated robots for maintenance and remote maintenance activity task organiser systems using mobile devices
• Remote tools and equipment monitoring
• Rostering for airlines.

Air travel demand has grown significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to grow in the medium term. Billions of travellers pass through airports each year. In order to address requirements to limit crowds in airports in a post Covid-19 world, airports can use connected technologies to more effectively implement effective passenger, luggage and airplane processing systems to avoid congestion, spread the demand over time, and better manage health risks, while optimising processing times.

When addressing the optimisation of passenger flows and operations, Smart Airports and “Smart” urban stations (such as train stations) (see also the Smart Stations use case) utilize similar connected technologies and have some other similarities in their operations. However, their overall objectives are quite different. Airport passengers are usually travelling to other cities (domestic travel) or to other countries (international travel) and their key objective is to travel safely from one point to another. Whereas commuters in urban stations (e.g. train stations) are largely driven by time efficiency. Airport passengers are more willing to forego time efficiency to undertake key safety checks (such as identity and security checks). They even factor in contingency time should these checks cause delays. As a result, the objective for airport passengers is not simply time efficiency, but also undertaking the required safety checks in a calm and comfortable way.

When integrated together, the connected technologies used at airports enable seamless, faster and accurate processing. This can improve the airport experience for passengers and airport and airline staff. In addition, the data collected concerning the current condition of airport facilities, such as cleanliness and amenity availability, can be used to notify staff of issues so that they can respond in a timely manner. This enhances the overall quality of service at the airport. These technologies also help airport operators to better manage air traffic control and aircraft movements on the ground through GPS data: this data enables the efficient operation of newly integrated technologies such as autonomous robots sent to perform maintenance activities on aircrafts.

Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensor technology can collect data on the current condition of the planes. This can enable better accuracy in maintenance work as well as better managed maintenance and thus the planes safety is improved.

The long-term development of Smart Airports may include the use of more autonomous solutions, thus increasing and optimising airport hours of operations and enhancing safety. Activities such as delivering baggage, fuelling planes, traffic control, immigration and security processes and clearing debris will continue to be performed with increasing autonomy.

VALUE CREATED

Improving efficiency and reducing costs:

• Improve operational efficiency by using data on the current condition of airport facilities. For example, sensors will transmit data such as amenity shortages and breakdowns to alert facilities management to respond to those issues.
• Reduce operational costs by improving productivity with better operations planning.
• Optimize demand at the airport by improving crowd control and automatizing passenger controls at checkpoints.

Enhancing economic, social and environmental value:

• Enhance passenger experience at the airports. For example, the availability of wayfinding and information in different languages (through digital displays, robots, etc.) which will help international passengers to have a better journey and easily communicate.
• Accelerate check-in times and improve services for passenger processing.
• Improve monitoring of security and safety in terms of criminality, but also reliability of operations and maintenance.
• Improve health monitoring and ground services (cleaning frequencies, amenities availability. etc.).

POLICY TOOLS AND LEVERS

Legislation and regulation: Governments must develop standards for Smart Airport technologies, operations and performances. Certifications can be delivered using relevant testing equipment. Implementation trials and (cyber)security Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) must also be established to ensure the value of such technologies in the overall operations which will ensure continuous safety and efficiency of passengers and air traffic operations.

Procurement and contract management: Airports operate differently as they are both public and private assets but must comply with national and international standards for air connectivity. Technology and operational methods can thus be tailored to each airport, to meet those specific requirements. Airport operators and authorities must choose suppliers meeting both the legal and local requirements, as well as private operations KPIs. Safety is a key element that needs to be internationally assessed in airport construction and management contracts. Connected technologies must be assessed according to the same requirements and to meet the same if not better KPIs. The development of the appropriate regulatory framework should take place in parallel with an assessment of potential ownership and operating models of Smart Airports, in line with existing operating models.

Funding and financing: The demand for air connectivity is outpacing the capacity of current airport infrastructure in most parts of the world but is also subject to many safety-related events which can have a significant impact on varying this demand (as evidenced during pandemics or wars). Many governments are challenged to find the effective financing means and delivery models to enable the relevant infrastructure supply and expansion, using connected technologies as a mean to optimise flows. Many governments have turned to public-private partnership and privatization models to address these challenges. However, there are a broad range of ownership and operating models that can and have been used in the airport industry. The private sector is also heavily investing in Smart Airport technologies.

RISKS AND MITIGATIONS

Implementation risk

Risk: Installation and testing of new technologies might disrupt and affect airport operations and passenger experience and could also affect safety at the airport.

Mitigation: Airport operators and authorities should develop management strategies to upgrade existing airports with technologies and address all risks to ensure smooth operations and maintain passenger satisfaction at the airport. For new airports all requirements should be met prior to starting operations.

Social risk

Risk: User acceptance might be a challenge as some technologies, such as facial recognition or advanced screening, can be considered intrusive. Passengers might also be reluctant to interact with machines and robots. Additionally, staff might find it challenging to use these new tools for operations related to the implementation of technologies, therefore trainings will be required.

Mitigation: Communication with all staff who will be impacted by the new technologies at the airport, is essential and should involve them in the co-design of the solutions. Staff training must be performed to enable staff to assist passengers as required.

Safety and (Cyber)security risk

Risk: Smart Airports use passengers’ personal data linked to facial recognition and sensitive traffic operations data linked to airplane movements. Therefore, there is a privacy and safety risk if the data collected and transmitted is hacked or not reliable.

Mitigation: Airports should ensure their systems are robust to eliminate cybersecurity risks, while improving collaboration with law enforcement entities to detect safety and criminality risks. Furthermore, governments should set legislative frameworks to protect sensitive data.

Environmental risk

Risk: Smart Airports optimise air travel but might result in increased demand for air services. This could increase carbon emissions and have a negative impact on the environment.

Mitigation: Governments should set the carbon targets so that airport operators, authorities and air traffic control collaborate to develop a strategy that sets the technology requirements.

EXAMPLES

Example: London Heathrow Airport

Implementation: British Airways is trialling autonomous robots to guide passengers around Terminal 5. They have also trailed self-driving luggage vehicles and installed automated bag drop machines and self-boarding technology across the airport. They have undertaken extensive staff training programs to enable staff to utilize a suite of specialised apps to solve customer issues.

Cost: Part of British Airways’ GBP 6.5 billion investment for customers.

Timeframe: British Airways has been experimenting with automation for several years. The autonomous robots are being trialled in 2020.

Example: Hamad International Airport

Implementation: The airport launched next-generation self-service check-in kiosks and self-service bag drops with biometric technology capability. Additionally, a mobile Automated Visa Document Check has been introduced which enables ground service operators to check passenger visa documentation before they board.

Cost: The self-service kiosks are faster than the traditional methods, allowing passengers to process one bag in less than 50 seconds. As per the reports, the new launch is estimated to speed up the processing by 40%.

Timeframe: The self-service kiosks and bag drop facilities have been available to passengers since 15th October 2018. The service will be extended to foreign airline passengers in the near future.

Example: Singapore Changi Airport

Implementation: The airport is integrated with technologies including sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enhance the customer experience while improving productivity. They developed a blockchain based digital wallet that enables passengers to use frequent flyer rewards at airport retailers.

Cost: The airport extension, a project named ‘Jewel Changi’, cost SGD 1.7 billion.

Timeframe: The blockchain digital wallet was launched in 2018. The ‘Jewel Changi’ airport extension opened in 2019.

Example: New Delhi International Airport

Implementation: The integrated terminal includes several advanced technologies: Self Baggage Drop (SBD) kiosks, Facial Recognition, Automated Tray Retrieval System (ATRS), and Common Usage Self Service (CUSS) to reduce queues and ease the flow of passengers.

Cost: The whole renovation and expansion programme is expected to cost USD 2 billion.

Timeframe: The contract was awarded in January 2006 with a master plan having been developed for the development of the airport over the next 30 years.

Example: Dubai International Airport

Implementation: Dubai Airport’s Smart Tunnel uses facial recognition and artificial intelligence to allow passengers to go through passport control procedures in just 15 seconds without human intervention.

Cost: High investment cost but significant operations cost savings through passenger efficiency clearing customs and reduction in human involvement in the process.

Timeframe: It took four years to develop the Smart Tunnel which was launched in October 2018.