Elevating the Airport Experience with IoT

Remember the days when airports had split-flap boards where you had to search for your flight? Nowadays, airports have transformed from being simple transportation hubs to miniaturized smart cities. This evolution is fascinating and this article will explore how airports transformed into technological innovation hubs, and what IoT has to do with it.

Elevating the Passenger Experience

Traveling with technology has become much more stress-free. From personalized AI travel assistants who can book flights and recommend dining options at the airport to IoT technologies that enhance the overall airport experience, the journey is now smoother than ever.

Imagine how perfect the start to your business trip or family vacation could be with smart technologies. You drive to the airport and find an unoccupied parking spot effortlessly. IoT sensors connected to parking spots indicate availability with red lights for occupied and green lights for free spaces. This information directs to an app, showing the number of free parking spots on each floor or in each sector. Smart airport parking can even locate and reserve parking spots in advance.

The same smart technology applies to gates. You can avoid arriving late by seeing the estimated time it takes to get there, and IoT can further estimate waiting times at gates and security checkpoints and send it to your mobile phone.

Seamless Wayfinding

Remember the horror of relying solely on airport navigation systems? This could be trying to find the right signs, following them while hurriedly pushing your baggage, and constantly doubting if you were heading in the right direction without knowing how long it would take to reach your destination.

With GPS and indoor positioning technologies combined with interactive indoor maps, these problems dissipate.

Some indoor wayfinding solutions, like Mappedin, offer integration with airport systems, allowing passengers to locate their destinations easily. Combining efforts with IoT technologies like beacons and sensors, the entire airport navigation experience becomes seamless and straightforward. These indoor maps can provide real-time updates on departure and arrival times, gate assignments, and any changes or delays.

Let’s explore the entire airport navigation path further. Once you’ve checked in and cleared security, you might want to find a restaurant, cafe, specific store, or simply amenities. Interactive maps can help with that too, and guide you toward a desired location.

Some airports have already started elevating their visitors’ experience by implementing these technologies. For instance, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has smartened up its baggage handling system through RFID baggage tags. It was one of the first airports in the world to do so in 2008. Helsinki Airport uses IoT sensors to monitor passenger flow in real-time. Analysis of this data predicts congestion and optimizes resource allocation.

Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) most recent mapping integration includes transportation information for shuttles, taxis, and ride app services as well as support for multilingual navigation and accessible routing (prioritizing elevators instead of stairs).

Real-Time Information on Wait Times

Solutions that provide real-time updates on wait times at security checkpoints and boarding gates come in various forms. Some leverage standard IoT technologies, such as sensors and cameras, others utilize WiFi, Bluetooth, Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), and beacon technologies.

Here are some examples of such technologies that keep passengers informed and up-to-date with real-time flight information and gate changes:

Xovis uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals from passengers' mobile devices to track their movement through the airport. Deployed at airports like Frankfurt Airport, Xovis employs a network of sensors to monitor passenger flow and calculate wait times. This system counts passengers, monitors queues in real-time, and uses accurate data to visualize passenger flow, communicate waiting times at security checkpoints, and support terminal operations.

Veovo deploys people movement sensors, cameras, and infrastructure to provide better check-in experiences, understand passenger movement from curb to flight, and optimize security lane resourcing. 

Airports often use mobile apps and digital signage to display real-time wait times and other relevant information to passengers. This allows passengers to check wait times before leaving for the airport, which helps to plan better and reduces anxiety.

Another tech innovation making headlines now is artificial intelligence (AI), which is gaining traction when implemented at airports. For instance, Veovo uses AI-driven analytics in its cloud software to predict wait times and passenger flow. AI is also being used for security purposes; its facial recognition technology is already implemented for secure boarding in airports.

By integrating these technologies, airports can provide passengers with accurate and timely updates, significantly improving the travel experience and operational efficiency.

Enhanced Baggage Handling

There are various ways to implement IoT technologies in airports to improve baggage handling and minimize lost baggage incidents. The first and most obvious improvement is the use of automated baggage drop systems, which can be organized with self-service kiosks and electronic tags.

To prevent luggage loss, asset tracking technologies like disposable RFID tags can be applied. IoT beacon technology, with its advanced connectivity, makes finding lost baggage incredibly easy. Beacons connect to the airport's cellular network and track the location of bags in real-time across all touchpoints. This enables travelers to trace their belongings from check-in to the cargo hold.

New Revenue Opportunities

Modern airport infrastructure has already adopted advanced technology to improve passenger experience, unlock new revenue streams, and strengthen core operations. As to the revenue, the focus has been significantly shifted to non-aeronautical, such as parking, retail, food and beverage restaurants.  

Airport non-aeronautical revenue market size is expected to increase by USD 35045.11 million by 2027 which is a solid ground for airports to build their new revenue streams strategy around. 

IoT- and mapping-enabled parking solutions such as smart parking using sensors that monitor space occupancy can be used to adjust parking fees based on demand, time of day, and length of stay to maximize revenue. 

Airports can also boost retail sales by offering personalized shopping experiences as well as location-based search and discovery. This can be achieved with beacons that send targeted advertisements and promotions to passengers' smartphones based on their location and preferences with turn-by-turn directions and walking times to selected amenities.

Smart ordering systems can enhance the airport dining experience and increase revenue by implementing kiosks and apps that allow passengers to pre-order food, reducing wait times and increasing turnover.

Data-Driven Decision-Making

As an essential part of IoT, data is being used to enhance operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, and data-driven initiatives. In the aviation industry, these technologies can improve the travel experience and ensure smooth operations. Here’s a closer look at how.

Operational Efficiency

Travelers’ mobile phones connected to the airport WiFi serve as beacons that help determine their exact location in the airport. This location intelligence can help guide a traveler to their gate or some other place. For another example of how location intelligence improves operational efficiency, let’s look at the following situation.

Imagine a sudden, unexpected surge in passengers at a security checkpoint. Airports equipped with location intelligence have a dynamic map of passenger flow provided by sensors and data analytics. AI algorithms suggest immediate reallocation of staff to the congested area, which is sent as alerts to the responsible staff. This is how real-time data and predictions play their part in optimizing staffing and resource allocation.

Predictive Maintenance with IoT and AI

One of the best use cases the combination of IoT and AI can do for the air travel industry lies in the realm of safety and efficiency. Predictive maintenance, which was just a popular concept in science fiction, now finds its way into our everyday lives.

Here’s how: a sensor in the airport’s air conditioning unit detects a weird sound in its usual working mode. This information is passed on to the AI, which predicts the conditioner’s imminent failure. The alerts are sent to the maintenance crews in advance, and detailed maps and wayfinding directs them to the exact location of the equipment, saving time and costs on costly repairs.

Here’s another example of the baggage handling system. IoT sensors monitor anomalies in motor temperatures, vibration levels, and even the speed of conveyor belts. AI algorithms recognize these patterns and send signals about looming breakdowns. Thus the issue can be addressed beforehand, during off-peak hours, avoiding disruptions and chaotic delays.

Data-Driven Initiatives

Airports and airlines are using big data and analytics to optimize flight schedules. Airlines gather and examine data from a variety of sources, including weather forecasts, air traffic control, and passenger reservations. These systems take into account the information regarding the peak travel seasons, including holidays, when a surge in the number of passengers is anticipated.

Advanced algorithms go through this data, identifying patterns and predicting disruptions before they occur. For example, analytics can anticipate how a major storm may affect flight schedules at various hubs, enabling airlines to make proactive schedule adjustments, rebook passengers, and reduce delays.

Conclusion

IoT and AI and the latest location-based technologies have proven to be game changers for passenger experience and airport operations, keeping passengers informed for peace of mind and enjoyment while streamlining processes and opening new revenue streams. For airports to continue to maintain their status as modern and efficient travel and retail hubs, they must continue to embrace and accelerate the adoption of smart technology.