Ian MacKinnon, Technical Director, was part of the founding team of AiQ Consulting, using his unique skills of project management, computer aided design and data analysis, as well as his game design background, to create TransvisionAiR™ our bespoke modeling tool. In this Meet the Team blog we find out more about what projects he’s found challenging, his background and what the future holds for the company.
What was your background before joining AiQ? Read More »
We have been working with airports for many years increasing capacity using the airport’s existing infrastructure and resources. Making small changes to layout or queue management or working patterns can have a large impact on the overall system. So often ‘working the asset’ more efficiently can delay the need to upgrade it or replace it. This is a more cost effective and lower risk approach to increasing airport capacity.
Airport Demand Forecasting and Management
The rise of self-service check in and baggage handling technologies has changed the rhythms of an airport. Demand forecasting and management is therefore crucial to efficient use of capacity. Working closely with airports to better understand their existing and potential capacity, spreading demand peaks and supporting their decision-making.
Airport demand forecasting is a key AiQ service. We have developed software tools to generate and forecast future annual and peak hour traffic for airports, using regression analysis, a more accurate and realistic method than trend forecasts. It predicts traffic using additional variables that could influence statistics, such as GDP, exchange rate, fuel price, unemployment figures, and much more. It tells us which variables affect the traffic and how, in a much more robust, holistic approach. We can then efficiently use and apply this scientific methodology, creating scenario forecasting models that make future airports aware of change and able to adapt to it.
Airport Capacity Planning
Our approach to airport capacity planning is based on IATA standards, to provide optimum passenger experience. Our updated IATA Tool is a development of our existing IATA software using the new LoS requirements with sections covering processes from check-in desks and security lanes to emigration. Using IATA standards, we believe our clients can not only understand how their future airport will comply with the guidance, but it also allows us to highlight capacity and operational efficiency improvements.
We can tell airports the optimum space required per passenger at all processes and optimum waiting time per passenger at each process, a valuable device in order to understand how their airport is working and what can be done to improve it, whilst retaining existing infrastructure and resources.
Modelling Simulations
Mathematical modelling and simulations can be a massive advantage to airports wishing to increase capacity whilst using existing infrastructure and resources. Through our bespoke modelling tool, TransvisionAiR™, our AiQ team uses modelling and simulations to find out, for example, how large airport check in areas should be, whether passengers are travelling through departures in an acceptable amount of time, and if arrivals procedures are up to scratch.
The flow of passengers is critical to the success of an airport. This flow interconnects with airport operational efficiency and management, and therefore realising capacity. We use typical human behaviour in all passengers for our simulations to focus on how passengers are moving realistically through the airport. This allows us to understand how they move and therefore how to improve both their experience and the use of airport capacity.
Crucially we have a range of methods to report the results. Every project has a different treatment. The simulation output may be a simple pivot graph in a spreadsheet, a minimal 2D model or a fully realised Virtual Reality 3D simulation. The scale of the model is dependent on the scale of the decision to be made.
Understanding the options allows better management decisions, better cost benefit analysis and it reduces risk, keeping the stakeholders engaged.
Innovation
Using operational and technological innovations also has its part to play in improving airport capacity. Airports are investing more and more into new technologies that enhance and improve the passenger journey, and for good reason. Not only can these new technologies increase efficiency, but passengers also have now come to expect these types of technology in their daily lives. For example, the introduction of bio metric security can reduce congestion and improve passenger flow whilst self service bag drop and early bag stores allow passengers more flexibility about when and where they check in.
We invest in both our knowledge and application of these new technologies, including Autonomous Electric Vehicles, Self Service check-in, Robotic Baggage Build, Self Service Bag Drop & Early Bag Stores and more, in order to understand the implications for airport capacity for the installation and use of such new innovations throughout airports.
If you wish to increase airport capacity through efficient use of existing airport infrastructure and resources, take a look at our case studies to find out more about our approach, or contact us today to talk about our services.
Time is running out for airports to comply with Hold Baggage Screening Standard 3, which comes into force September this year in the United Kingdom. In Europe the deadline for compliance is September 2020.
The EU regulation No. 1087/2011 calls for compliance to the framework, defined and regulated by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), that sets the minimum required levels of detection. ECAC Standard 3 level of Hold Baggage Screening applies to hold baggage screening systems (HBS) explosive detection systems (EDS), liquid explosive detection systems (LEDS) and security scanners. It requires airports to achieve detection levels only provided by CAT (Computed Axial Tomography) type detectors.
The upgrades to hold baggage screening equipment are seen to be most difficult and costly challenges to be faced by airports in recent years. This equipment is not only expensive, but also large, adding increased stress on existing airport capacity. It may mean a complete re-build of baggage halls and facilities for many airports.
How can you upgrade to ECAC Standard 3 without a negative impact on your airport? Read More »
Baggage Handling Systems (BHS) present a multitude of challenges to airports and their stakeholders. Whether you are a hub airport or not, the impact on baggage flow and passenger experience means that challenges in BHS must be tackled to maximise efficiency and capacity.
Increasing passenger numbers, as well as the passenger’s desire for greater control around baggage and check-in services also means a rise in self-service solutions, such as kiosks and bag-drops, now sitting alongside existing systems. As well as increasing capacity in-line with demand and offering passengers a better experience, they also provide challenges and opportunities for Baggage Handling Systems.
What is a Baggage Handling Process?
This month the AiQ Consulting team has welcomed Anushka Padhye, a Cranfield University MSc Management student who has joined us for three months to carry out an academic research study using real life examples and data. Read More »
With record-breaking passenger numbers moving through airports and high expectations from today’s passengers, their journey experience is a very important development area for AiQ Consulting’s work with airports throughout the world.
As global experts in constrained and saturated airports, we place immense focus on passenger experience in airports. When we approach operational efficiency and capacity planning, we do so with not only a scientific approach to big data and innovation, but also a strong emphasis on the passenger journey.
IATA Standards
AiQ finds the most effective methodology to solve problems in the quick-moving and reactive Aviation industry, particularly around Operations, Resilience, Future Demand and Capacity. We model or simulate at the level of detail that Big Data can support, and aim to provide appropriate analysis and forecasts based on realistic assumptions and processes.
Our method
AiQ has worked closely to implement new technology at airports worldwide. There is a lot for airports, operators and airlines to understand and implement to be able to innovate and introduce future airports that enhance the passenger experience.
The second part of our two-part blog looks at more new technology that can be expected over the next few years in the aviation industry.
The Internet of Things Read More »
Airports are investing more and more into new technologies that enhance and improve the passenger journey, and for good reason. Not only do these new technologies increase efficiency, but passengers also have now come to expect these types of tech, from the Internet of Things (IoT) to biometrics to drones, as part of their daily lives. Read More »
As regional airports continue to face challenges related to their growth and success, what impact have new aircraft had on their operating model?
There is a massive increasing demand for regional airports from passengers. The convenience of having an airport closer to home, as well as the attractive pricing of low budget airlines and the expansion of routes, have allowed regional airports to increase their market share worldwide. But what’s next for regional airports, and how has the new aircraft being introduced affected them?
New, efficient, long range Aircraft Read More »
The AiQ team has been improving the services we offer to airports worldwide.
We have been developing new tools to add to our portfolio, allowing us to help airports understand different approaches to capacity and operational efficiency, as well as increasing their resilience to future demands by accurately forecasting future traffic.
Both of our new tools apply a scientific approach to common airport scenarios, taking into account the advances made in automation and the constant innovation in the aviation industry and ensuring that our clients have all the data they need to make intelligent and effective decisions.
Multi-Step Check-In Capacity Analysis Read More »
World Class Airport Experts, Adrian Todd, director of AiQ Consulting, and Richard Chapman of ADC (Airport Design Consult) recently lectured senior airport managers, consultants and analysts in Singapore regarding the key aspects of Airport Capacity Management. The delegates came from a range of airports and companies such as Airports Authority India and Adelande Airport in South Australia. They offered practical advice, guidance and support to those involved in capacity planning and operational efficiency within the airport industry. Read More »
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