Airport Show Dubai concludes on positive note

Karima Kouidri

The 18th edition of Airport Show

concluded on Wednesday (May 9) with participants reporting signing of substantial deals worth millions and collaborations.

The largest annual event of its kind hosted over 350 exhibitors from 60 countries, with the largest number of dedicated pavilions ever, representing Europe, US and Asia, along with over 7,500 visitors. This year’s event also saw its largest number of buyers ever, with 190 buyers attending from 34 countries, representing 75 airports, ground handling, police, immigration, customs, air traffic control and aviation authorities.

Since the inauguration of the show by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the world’s largest annual B2B airport industry event saw the highest number of exhibitors, hosted buyers and participants.

Mohammed Ahli, director general of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), remarked: “The quality of global participation and the increased number of exhibitors are testimony to Dubai’s growing importance as a global hub for civil aviation industry.”

The global appeal of the show was expanded by adding exclusive add-on forums like Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF), Women in Aviation (WIA), Air Traffic Control (ATC) Forum and Airport Security Middle East – the last two being this year’s new additions.

Farid Al Bastaki, director, ENOC Aviation, said: “Initiatives like the ‘Women in Aviation General Assembly’ are great platforms to highlight the achievement of women in society. Investing in women is one of ENOC’s top priorities which falls in line with supporting the UAE’s vision to empower them in the workplace. Aviation is a key driver of a nation’s socio-economic growth and we encourage all stakeholders in this sector to support women and engage with them. Aviation is a dynamic sector that requires qualified professionals and women need to be encouraged to take up jobs within this industry that underpins economic growth.”

The Aviation Security Center (Avsec) of Dubai Police will host the 16th Directors’ Meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Dubai in 2019 during the 19th edition of the Airport Show in 2019, according to Eng Marwan Mohammad Singel, director, Dubai Civil Aviation Security Center, Dubai Police.

Major deals signed during the show include Dammam Airports Company (DACO) signing strategic agreements with Vanderlande and Serco Middle East.

Honeywell, a global leader in connected airports, launched a new smart software suite Honeywell Navitas that helps enhance the safety and efficiency of airside operations.

Sharjah International Airport has awarded Frequentis and its UAE partner Bayanat Engineering UAE a contract to modernize its voice communication infrastructure and replace the existing Schmid Telecom system.

Sameh Gaafar, director, Airport Security, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Rockwell Collins,  said the company is in discussion with Jazeerah Airways for their new requirement for a dedicated terminal.

“Our participation at the show was very rewarding as we could get good enquiries from key players in the market,” he said.

Todd Donovan, vice president strategy, Air Traffic Management, Land & Air System, Thales Group, said: “The show has been great, it’s a great forum being able to join together as key stakeholders in the region in order to very efficiently have many meetings with our current customers and prospective customers and be able to discuss what is materialising and happening in the industry today.”

For the first time this year, the event saw the launch of the Innovation Awards, with winners selected from a global pool of submissions and industry jury. Dieter Heinz, president, German Airport Technology & Equipment, won the ‘Aviation Personality’ award for his contribution towards the development of the industry globally; the ‘Revolutionary’ award went to Beumer, for a ground-breaking product and service that transformed the industry; Hungaro Control got the Sustainability award, Materna received the award in ‘Smart’ category and Avventura was presented the ‘Customer service’ award.

Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East which organises the trend-setting trade show, said: “This year felt like a true industry showcase. The dedicated events for security and air traffic control complemented Airport Show perfectly and we are looking forward to offering further content aligned with industry trends in 2019.”

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), Dubai Airports, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and dnata were the key supporters for Airport Show, while Dubai Police and Dubai Customs were supporting Airport Security Middle East and ATC Forum was supported by Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) and GAL ANS, in addition to four other supporters. – TradeArabia News Service
source : Trade arabia

 

Las Vegas airport says it’s a technology incubator

Karima Kouidri

While in Stockholm, Samuel Ingalls paused at the sight of passengers swiping passes and phones to board a subway.

The technology looked familiar. Then he realized — a similar device to read passes was at McCarran International Airport.

Ingalls, the assistant director of aviation information systems for McCarran owner Clark County, touted the airport’s reputation as a technology leader during an annual conference for the North American branch of Airports Council International..

The group represents governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada.

McCarran has been a technology leader among airports since it became the first to offer complimentary internet to visitors, said Kevin Burke, CEO of the international group’s North American branch.

Despite the obstacles that metal poses for wireless signals, free internet is now a staple among airports.

“Airports are continually making investments in the latest technologies to improve efficiency and enhance the passenger experience,” Burke said.

Twenty years ago, McCarran started the strategy of common use — providing a technology system for any airline to use any gate, kiosk, ticket counter and baggage carousel.

Since then, McCarran has grown from a hodgepodge of technologies that power the airport in the mid-1990s to an airport known for testing new technology.

One growing process: self-tagging. Ten airline carriers have started allowing customers to put tags on their own bags instead of waiting for an agentocess debuted in June 2012 at the airport. McCarran sees nearly 60,000 bags a day.

Since September 2005, the airport has used tags with electromagnetic waves to track bags. In August, the airport rolled out an automated security screening system to process passengers 20 percent to 30 percent faster.

The airport owns and operates all 20,000 pieces of hardware on site, which includes computers, signs, boarding passes and boarding gate scanners, Burke said.

McCarran’s terminal 3, its newest, was outfitted so employees can relocate screens at ticket counters and other fixtures as the airport grows.

The airport has plans for a second screening checkpoint in that terminal. Ingalls also told his audience to expect facial recognition technology and other biometric scans to grow in use, perhaps one day replacing boarding passes.

Still, the airport employees will help people who are unaccustomed to flying or less tech-savvy than frequent fliers.

“We can’t just naturally assume everyone has a mobile smartphone,” Ingalls said.

Watch video here

source : review journal

Sinocloud Wisdom unveils new AI check-in robot

Karima Kouidri

 

At the 18th Dubai Airport Show, Sinocloud Wisdom (Beijing) Technology has unveiled its market-ready product, a brand new check-in and baggage drop-off robot featuring artificial intelligence technology.

The robot supports fully automated check-in and baggage drop-off. Using AGV technology, the robot will avoid obstacles and transport the bags to the baggage handling area. All the passengers need to do is to scan the passport, put their bags in the robot, and go straight to the passenger security checkpoint. If any bag is spotted suspicious, the security inspection staff will be automatically alarmed and informed of the owner’s information which is collected when the passport is scanned.

Instead of looking for the check-in desk, passengers can check in and drop their bags off from anywhere in the airport with the robot. It will speed up the check-in process and reduce workload of the check-in staff at airports.

The company is also presenting an Intelligent Check-in Counter at the Dubai Airport Show. Compared with traditional check-in counters, the innovative counter integrates many practical functions including facial recognition, automatic acquisition of baggage weighing information, height-adjustable desk, advertisement display and intelligent notification. The counter is designed for the purpose of reducing workload as well as improving efficiency, service and security level of the airport.

Li Xin, CEO of Sinocloud Wisdom, said: “Using AI technology, we present our Smart Airport Solution to improve the service of the airport. We keep focusing on optimising customer experience by creating a convenient, non-interference check-in environment. Our smart airport equipments help the airport to adapt to a growing number of passengers as well as to upgrade their performance.”

TradeArabia News Service

source AI check in robot–

Digital control tower coming for Invercargill Airport

Karima Kouidri

Digital control tower coming for Invercargill Airport, air traffic controllers to be based elsewhere

Invercargill Airport general manager Nigel Finnerty with the control tower in the background.

Kavinda Herath/Stuff
Invercargill Airport general manager Nigel Finnerty with the control tower in the background.

Five air traffic control positions will be relocated from Invercargill Airport once a new digital control tower is put in place, with air traffic control being managed from a remote location.

The digital tower, which sends high definition video to a remote operations centre, is expected to be operational by 2020.

Airways chief executive Graeme Sumner said the five air traffic controllers employed at Invercargill Airport will be given the option to relocate to a central hub once the location of the hub is determined, and the company will be working closely with the controllers affected by this during the next couple of years.

The technology is already in use at airports around Europe, but Invercargill will be the first airport in New Zealand to feature an entirely digital tower.

“Digital tower systems give controllers additional tools to do their jobs, but it doesn’t make decisions for them. We still see people very much at the heart of managing aircraft in and out of airfields safely for many years to come,” he said.

he new control tower will feature a battery of sensors including surveillance, flight data and augmented reality overlays which are intended to provide controllers with a more detailed view than possible with the human eye, including infrared to provide controllers with improved visibility in low light conditions.

The tower will be operated from a separate building on the airfield initially, before air traffic controllers are moved to a central hub that will provide air traffic control services to a number of regional locations.

Airways, which provides air navigations services throughout New Zealand, issued a request seeking a supplier of digital tower technology for Invercargill on Monday.

A digital tower will also be constructed at Auckland International Airport, as a backup to the existing tower from 2020.

Invercargill Airport general manager Nigel Finnerty said Invercargill was selected as it had the right mix of air traffic to test the system.
“It doesn’t have the complexity of an international airport, but it is still pretty busy so any new system will be put through its paces. This is new technology and will be a new way of managing airspace around airports, so it is important we get it right,” he said.
The process of introducing the digital tower into the Invercargill operation will take some time, as the technology needed to be introduced and then approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, which could take up to two years, Finnerty said.
“After that, decisions will be made on how and where Invercargill air traffic will be managed from,” he said.
Passengers flying out of or into Invercargill won’t notice any difference during the implementation of the system, Finnerty said.
“They will see a new tower on the edge of the apron, but nothing else. Initially the new digital tower will work in tandem with the current tower until it is approved for use by CAA. The Air Traffic Controllers will then transition to managing the airspace from the new facility,” he said.
As the knowledge of the new technology grows, passengers should see the airport become more efficient with less flight disruption, Finnerty said.
“This technology, whilst still relatively new, is proving itself to be the way of the future. We are proud to be leading its introduction into New Zealand,” Finnerty said.

source : digital control tower

 

Abu Dhabi International Airport Reduces Waiting Times & Increases Capacity With Smart IOT Technology

Karima Kouidri

Abu Dhabi International Airport announced the implementation of smart Passenger Flow and Queue Management technologies,

to boost efficiency in day-to-day operations across check-in, security, immigration and baggage-claim in Terminals 1 and 3. The new technology will dynamically manage airport resources and ultimately increase capacity and passenger satisfaction.

The airport adopts smart technologies which include the “Internet of Things” (IOT) and business intelligence that ensures efficient, smooth and proactive Airport operations. The turnkey project included sensors installation, provision of infrastructure and integration between the Passenger Flow Management solution and different airport and airline’s operational systems. It entailed the design and implementation of a Desk Planner module that enables the airport to forecast “desk demand” for security and immigration areas. The collected data allows the airport operations to react with necessary measures against any challenges in the passenger flow that might arise, in timely manner.

More than 450 sensors have been installed in 19 areas across the two terminals enabling real-time monitoring. The system also ensures queue management efficiency and incident management, as well as allocating resources based on the predictive analytics of passenger flow and volume, thus aiding in seamless airport processe.

bdul Majeed Al Khoori, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports commented: “This project has been key in meeting the growing challenge of balancing the increased volume of passengers and operational efficiency. With the implementation of this smart technology, we are enabled to increase operational efficiency by receiving real-time data on passenger flows. The intelligence that the system is delivering has already proven its value by providing actionable information and real time inputs during recent Low Visibility Operations”.

He added, “As a regional hub for aviation, Abu Dhabi International Airport is truly embracing a progressive model for the airport of the future. Improving customer service whilst maintaining the highest standards in safety, security and operational efficiency, through innovative solutions is one of our key goals at Abu Dhabi Airports”.

The project began its trial operations in December 2017, as part of Abu Dhabi Airports’ initiative towards the digital transformation to a smarter airport. It will kick-start with an application accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop devices, feeding directly to the Airport Management Center and other digital channels for airport operations’ staff and stakeholders.

The project was executed as collaboration between Abu Dhabi Airports and Dubai Technology Partners LLC (DTP), the region’s leading systems integrator for the aviation industry, jointly with Xovis, the leading provider of people flow monitoring solutions.

source : Abu Dahbi International Airport

 

ROBOCOPS HAVE ARRIVED! at LaGuardia Airport

Karima Kouidri

During rush hour at LaGuardia Airport it is go, go, go for travelers –

it takes a lot to get people to stop in their tracks.

A robot straight out of Star Wars is pacing the arrivals curb at the airport’s Terminal B, loaded with cameras and other sensors to enhance security coverage in the congested spot. The security robot – she’s a girl by the way, even has a name – ‘B-3PO’ for Terminal B, where she roams around.

World’s largest airport show to take off in Dubai

Karima Kouidri

The 18th edition of the show will host over 350 exhibitors from 60 countries.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, will inaugurate the Airport Show, the world’s largest annual B2B airport industry event, on May 7, 2018.

When the Airport Show opens on over 15,000 square meters of space across three halls of the iconic Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, DICEC, it will have a couple of records to boot: highest number of exhibitors, hosted buyers and participants expected.

For the first time this year, the three days of exhibition and knowledge sharing will also see the launch of the Innovation Awards, with winners selected from a global pool of submissions and industry jury.

The 18th edition of the show will host over 350 exhibitors from 60 countries, with the largest number of dedicated pavilions ever, representing Europe, US and Asia, along with over 7,500 visitors expected to attend.

This year’s event is also hosting its largest number of buyers ever, with 190 buyers attending from 34 countries, representing 75 airport, ground handling, police, immigration, customs, air traffic control and aviation authorities.

Sheikh Ahmed said, “When it comes to construction projects, airports are at the top of the list. We cannot make compromises to make passenger journeys better through airports. Whether it is the latest scanning technologies, passenger experiences or robot baggage handlers, the region’s airports are investing in the latest technology and concepts to delight customers and stay of the competition. This exiting time in the industry will be reflected at the Airport Show.”

According to the Centre for Aviation, CAPA, data, up to US$1.1 trillion is spent on airport construction globally – this is broken down by US$255 billion being invested in new (Greenfield) airport projects around the world and US$845 billion in projects such as new runways and terminal buildings, runway and terminal extensions.

Mohammed Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, DCAA, and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services, said, “I consider the inclusion of the ATC Forum as part and parcel of the Airport Show as a timely decision. We are aware that ATM plays a pivotal role in making Dubai the world’s most-preferred airport destination.

The Middle East air passengers alone are projected to reach the 517 million mark by 2036. IATA expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036.”

source : World largets airports show

 

Singapore’s Changi Airport tests facial recognition technology

Karima Kouidri

Singapore’s Changi Airport tests facial recognition technology to find late passengers delaying flights

Ever been delayed on a flight because of straggling fellow passengers?

That might be an annoyance of the past at Singapore’s Changi airport which is testing facial recognition systems that could, in future, help locate lost travellers or those spending a little too much time in the duty-free shops.

Changi Airport, ranked the world’s best for six years straight in a survey by air travel consultancy Skytrax, is looking at how it can use the latest technologies to solve many problems – from cutting taxiing times on the runway to quicker predictions of flight arrivals.

It comes as the island state embarks on a ‘smart nation’ initiative to utilise technology to improve lives, create economic opportunity and build community ties. However the proposed use of cameras mounted on lampposts that are linked to facial recognition software has raised privacy concerns.

Steve Lee, Changi Airport Group’s chief information officer, told Reuters the airport’s experiments are not from a “big brother” perspective but solve real problems.

“We have lots of reports of lost passengers… so one possible use case we can think of is, we need to detect and find people who are on the flight. Of course, with permission from the airlines,” Lee said.

Facial recognition technology typically allows users to match the faces of people picked up on cameras with those in databases.

Lee said they have tested technology that could allow for this, and are working with various businesses, adding that they should have some capability to do this in a year’s time.

While he declined to provide names of the firms involved, France’s Idemia, previously known as OT-Morpho, has previously provided some facial recognition technology to Changi.

Chinese firm Yitu, which recently opened its first international office in Singapore, told Reuters it was in discussions with Changi Airport Group. Yitu says its facial recognition platform is capable of identifying more than 1.8 billion faces in less than three seconds.

Changi’s newest terminal, T4, already uses facial recognition technology to offer self-service options at check-in, bag drop, immigration and boarding.

The technology means there are fewer queues and fewer visible airport or security staff.

Luggage is dropped at unmanned booths that take your photo and match it against your passport. You are snapped again at an automated security gate at immigration – a picture that is used to verify your identity at the boarding gate.

Changi is exploring how facial recognition can be implemented in its three older terminals for automated bag drop and immigration.

The airport sees T4 as a test bed for its fifth terminal, which will be up and running in about a decade.

“Today you take passport, you show your face and you show your boarding pass,” said Lee, adding it may, however, be possible to use biometrics instead.

“Then actually in the future, you just take your face. You don’t need your passport,” he said.

Other technology trials underway at the airport use sensors to measure when an aircraft pushes back from the gate and when it takes off, data that has improved decision-making and shaved about 90 seconds off aircraft taxiing time per flight during peak hours, Lee said.

Another program uses artificial intelligence that gathers wind, weather and landing direction to learn to better predict flight arrival times.

With such technology, the airport is now able to estimate a flight’s landing time when it’s two hours away having previously only been able to make an accurate estimate 30 minutes to an hour ahead.

Lee said this helps create efficiencies in everything from gate planning to arrival queues.

He said a smart nation strategy begins at a country’s airport.

“You can’t say you are a smart nation when you come to the airport and it’s not so smart.”

source : Singapore’s Changi airport