2024 will be the year when airport technology will be completely overhauled.

William Muller, vice president of Seoul Robotics, spoke about how airports will see a surge in the use of emerging technologies in 2024.

2024 is shaping up to be a big year for travel. With global passenger numbers estimated at an all-time high of 4.7 billion, airports are under pressure to meet passenger expectations. A study published by IATA reveals that convenience is the top priority for passengers when traveling post-pandemic. This comes after the 2023 summer travel season was marred by long security checkpoint lines, flight delays and cancellations, and poor baggage management. But with the surge in “revenge travel” post-pandemic, airports are grappling with a surge in consumer demand against a backdrop of labor shortages and rising costs, making it more difficult than ever to meet traveler expectations. It's becoming difficult.

Airports have complex operations

Airports are hampered by outdated core systems and fragmented operations, with disparate technologies operating independently and communication chains destabilized by a lack of real-time data collection and sharing. This poses significant operational, logistical and staffing challenges, threatening the airport's ability to meet growing travel demand.

With growth in niche sectors such as sports tourism expected to grow by 17.5% between 2023 and 2030, and global events such as the Paris Olympics on the horizon, airports will reach their limits. As a result, there is an urgent need to invest in innovative new technologies that will enable airports to handle large numbers of travelers and function more efficiently.

Data sharing and IoT

While much of the airport technology research has focused on developing biometrics such as digital passports, perhaps the most important technology focus for airports going forward is using advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technology to This will streamline the collection and sharing of information across departments. The information collected can form a central system that connects, streamlines, and refines operations, thereby addressing issues caused by rising costs and labor shortages.

In a large environment like an airport, the scale of the operation, the sheer volume of data, and the myriad of moving elements make disconnects between departments inevitable. Airports are incredibly decentralized, with individual systems siled and managed by countless organizations and departments. This lack of cohesion creates communication breakdowns, leading to logistics inefficiencies and delays that accumulate and cause ripple effects throughout the airport ecosystem.

For travelers, airports are synonymous with queues. Despite advances that speed up processes such as online check-in and automated kiosks, the promised efficiency of these solutions is especially limited when travelers encounter problems that require human intervention, such as overweight baggage. decreases. This will lead to further delays in passenger travel as a result of chronic staffing shortages and the fragmented nature of the travel process. Current solutions are limited in scope and focus on individual features rather than the big picture, preventing them from having a significant impact on improving the traveler experience and operational efficiency.

Resource optimization

The continued growth and success of airports depends on efficient and reliable analysis and optimization of resources. Accurate data that is regularly updated and shared across departments in a timely manner is essential to this process. Finding data that is collectable and valuable to multiple departments can be difficult, but emerging technologies such as 3D recognition are proving that it is possible. When combined with an IoT network, airports can be integrated to increase connectivity and increase automation across all operations.

Digital replica and digital twin

3D data is collected at each stage of the journey and can be communicated across departments as separate operations are coordinated. When leveraging other emerging technologies, such as AI, they can also be used to power digital twins that gather cutting-edge environmental insights into a whole new dimension of spatial information. 3D data from devices can be used to record and analyze passenger traffic flow to better track, understand, and predict behavior. This valuable resource can be shared and leveraged across departments to enhance planning, staffing, and ultimately the traveler's journey.

For example, if real-time data shows a holdup of vehicles approaching a terminal, operations teams can redirect staff to appropriate posts to manage incoming passenger traffic. The same process can also be applied to improve column efficiency in all other areas. Data can inform the deployment of additional personnel or the opening and closing of check-in desks, immigration counters, and security lines based on crowding data.

Digital replicas provide advanced spatial understanding through pattern recognition and predictive analytics. Use insights into high-traffic commercial and service areas to inform different cleaning and maintenance schedules, optimize staffing levels for fluctuating traveler numbers, and identify employee surpluses or critical shortages. can be avoided. This data can also be used to improve product and employee placement in duty-free stores to streamline shopping and improve the customer experience, from redesigning spaces to guide efficient pedestrian flow and minimize crowding. Enables you to make informed decisions about airport design and layout, from the relocation of airports to airport relocations.

As internal communications networks expand, data sharing facilitates cross-departmental collaboration. This will allow airports to not only improve day-to-day management, but also address seasonal and event-based surges that have become a persistent struggle, especially as seen in the annual disruptions and delays during the summer season in Europe. You will be able to cope better. Labor shortages are exacerbating business challenges.

this year

From 2024 onwards, the success of airports will depend on making them even more connected in all aspects of their operations. The main way to do this is likely to be through the use of an extensive integrated network of IoT technologies that connect all the different airport functions. By consolidating data across airports into a unified, central network, proactive management is greatly enhanced, and data can be used to streamline previously time- and labor-intensive processes to help travelers and employees. The employee experience will be similarly improved. By implementing integrated insights across various operations and workflows, we gain a deeper understanding of systems within an airport and facilitate seamless collaboration across the board.

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Credit: Soul Robotics

About the author

william muller He is Vice President of Seoul Robotics, where he works with external clients to effectively leverage the company's proprietary 3D recognition software for numerous business functions. Since joining the company in 2020, William has expanded strategic partnerships across a wide range of industries including aviation, transportation, security and smart cities.

Prior to joining Soul Robotics, he supported business development for Cepton and Quanergy and led Quanergy's expansion into the security industry. Prior to that, William worked in the security field for over 15 years, including wirelessly deploying his infrastructure and security systems around the world and bringing new technology and his solutions to market. Includes experience.