Airport Business - 38

TECHNOLOGY
software's automatic and continuous
updating of data which is displayed on
mobile devices and the automatic task
assignment. Employees can enter the
status of their work online and report any
required changes, while the technology
enables time stamps of the corresponding
activities to be recorded and sent to
airport hub management systems thereby
supporting A-CDM and performance
monitoring. Ramp services are enhanced
through improved communications,

verbal communication. In addition to
scheduling staff, the software monitors
deicing vehicles and deicing areas and
factors in rule-based specifications,
weather-related requirements, aircraft
size, deicing locations and service
orders. The automatic management of
these factors, the heightened operational
awareness, the automatic determination
of tasks and optimized resources support
the airport's capacity goals despite
inclement weather.

Airports are, of course, concerned
with the passenger experience for all
passengers and advanced technologies
such as AI can be used to predict
passenger f lows in terminal areas and
bottlenecks in areas such as security
checks. Optimization software applied
for the planning of ground staff and
airport resources helps airports minimize
bad passenger experiences including
long waiting times, and missing seating
capacities in waiting areas and restaurants.

Airport Expansions
Create Additional
Opportunities for
Optimization

INFORM

planning, service quality, resource
utilization and regulatory compliance.
Applying optimization software,
collaborative pre-departure sequencing
can be achieved, supported by the
generation and distribution of Target
Start-up Times (TSATs). Similarly,
A-CDM processes are supported in
adverse weather conditions wherein
deicing processes can be included in
the f light trajectory. The software
supports the management of all related
aircraft deicing work processes with
requests automatically managed via a
connected interface and/or through

The value of optimization software
and A-CDM is also evident in an airport's
special services such as those provided for
passengers with reduced mobility. Again,
the software helps optimize the planning,
allocation and coordination of resources
to help address the needs of these
passengers. Mobile communications,
real-time scheduling for staff and ground
service equipment, and the integration
of key data (i.e., special handling codes
and travel time) all help advance a wellcontrolled process that provides optimal
care and consideration to passengers with
reduced mobility.

38 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / MAY 2020

While optimization software is being
applied to help address airports' capacity
challenges, so too are expansions
underway across the globe. China, which
is expected to overtake the United States
as the world's largest air travel market
by 2022, already has approximately 235
airports, but many have low capacity.
For that reason, the nation has several
expansion projects underway or planned.
Airports in other Asian nations, as well as
Europe, Africa, America and the Middle
East are also making major investments
in their infrastructure.
W h i le h a r d i n f r a s t r uc t u r e
investments are important to increasing
capacit y, optim ization soft ware
introduced at the earliest stage of an
expansion or new construction project
can be very beneficial. It can bring
huge benefits in the planning phase
for both new airports and expansion
plans. AI also can be used to predict
future traffic figures, which then can
be used in planning scenarios along
with optimization software. Modern
simulation tools can take this planning to
the next level by helping to visualize the
results. The A-CDM approach, bolstered
with robust, high reliability optimization
software, can effectively and holistically
support the management of critical
airport processes within the dynamic
airport environment as airport operators
continue to grapple with escalating air
traffic and the challenges it places on
their capacity. 
Airport Business

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