Hong Kong – Airport Benchmarking

Airport Authority Hong Kong

Karima Kouidri — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 12:38:23 +0000

Airport Authority Hong Kong calls for closer collaboration as big data and biometrics projects advance.

Andy Bien, CIO, Airport Authority Hong Kong (pictured here speaking at FTE Global 2017), told FTE that industry stakeholders could collectively benefit by working more closely together. “The future is about collaboration,” he said.

At Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the Three-runway System (3RS) project is being undertaken to prepare the airport for significant growth in passenger and cargo volume. The construction started in August 2016 and it is expected to be completed by 2024. In the meantime, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is investing in a raft of technology-centric initiatives to further enhance efficiency across the airport.

One example is the use of big data, which Andy Bien, Chief Information Officer, AAHK, explained is at the centre of a triple-pronged strategy to enhance operational efficiency, deliver retail benefits, and optimise asset management. “If you have a ‘shot-in-the-dark’ approach, it’s very difficult to get any tangible results, so we are refining our approach to big data,” Bien explained to FTE. “To ensure exploration work can yield useful results, participation of subject matter experts in the respective areas would make a big difference.”

To quote an example, the application of big data in the retail space is part of a bigger strategy to overhaul the way airport retail works at Hong Kong’s hub airport. “We are more than just being a landlord. Now we are engaging more directly with our passengers, and technologies such as big data are transforming the way we engage with them,” Bien stated.

Robots and biometrics

On robotics, Bien explained robots could have a role to play, for example in delivery work. But this is not the only area where the value of robots is being considered. “Timmy” the robot has already been trialled in a service role to assist in customer service. “In Hong Kong we have the unique problem where it’s fully employed. The use of robots is not because we want to reduce costs or staff numbers. They will be augmenting, not replacing humans,” Bien said.

Another technology that Bien and his team are paying close attention to is biometrics. “First of all, we want to trial e-gates, following the IATA seamless travel initiative,” Bien said. “We’re studying the use of the face as a token to go through the airport, as some other major airports are doing.”

The use of biometrics could allow a passenger to enrol for their biometric single token, use their face as their identifier at each touch-point (check-in, bag drop, security, immigration, boarding, etc.), and also pay for products and services using facial recognition technology. In parallel, the upgrading of the CCTV system with state-of-the-art digital technology will enable the airport to take full advantage of image processing capabilities.

Bien continued: “Both the seamless travel project and the passenger engagement initiatives on the retail side have some kind of image recognition or personal identification need. Rather than being implemented as siloed systems, each of these initiatives could be based on a single platform and work in tandem.”

‘We need horizontal solutions’

Bien said industry players have to change the way they work to provide the necessary solutions: “One of the major challenges we’ve seen in the past is that established suppliers have vertical solutions for each one of these needs. What we need now is a horizontal solution serving multiple purposes.” These systems will be gradually introduced in the next few years.

Bien also suggested that closer collaboration within the industry could be crucial to achieving this more horizontal approach to biometrics integration.

“We talk about collaboratively reinventing the airport experience or the way we manage airports, but we are not alone in having this challenge. A lot of the start-ups we work with don’t worry so much about holding on to their own IP and holding back. They focus more on using open source and open data, and this is where we really can differentiate two mindsets. One is more protective and one is more transparent. Just holding on to your own secret weapon might have worked in the past, but the future is about collaboration.”

While it remains to be seen how long it will take industry suppliers to fully embrace collaboration for the benefit of the wider industry, the transformation of Hong Kong International Airport will continue regardless. While new facilities will cater to significant passenger growth in the long term, it is technology that holds one of the keys to making the most of the existing infrastructure in the immediate future.

source ; https://tinyurl.com/yc7ly2hb

Kiosk Robots set to take over airports

Karima Kouidri — Fri, 26 May 2017 16:42:49 +0000

A swarm of high-tech robot kiosks persistently chased an unsuspecting man in Brussels, Tuesday. The kiosks are set to take over airports in the near future, in a bid to phase out manual check-ins..

https://youtu.be/N3KQr9ns5-s

NetDragon’s cherrypicks (TM) Wins Contract with Hong Kong International Airport

Karima Kouidri — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 12:16:24 +0000

– Leveraging innovative and commercially proven starbeacon solution –

HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (“NetDragon” or the “Company”; Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building online communities, is pleased to announce that cherrypicks, a global mobile and O2O (online-to-offline) technology innovator and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has signed a contract with Hong Kong International Airport (“HKIA”) to provide mobile indoor navigation services for passengers. The innovation and technology, effectiveness and past achievements won the tender from over a dozen global and local solution providers.

Leveraging cherrypicks innovative and commercially proven starbeacon solution, which comprises of starbeacon hardware, Software Development Kit (SDK) and Cloud-based backend consoles, the Company is proud to work with HKIA to provide the indoor way-finding services to over 65 million travellers passing through the airport each year.

Travellers can search and choose their destination within the airport such as check-in counters or boarding gates. The best route will be provided to them via an indoor map on their mobile device. The solution includes destination alerts and re-routing intelligence if the user strays from the path.

Augmented reality (AR) mode turn-by-turn navigation enables travellers to follow directional arrows through an AR camera view to guide them to their destinations. The mode supports 2D map, perspective map and AR map. All above functions can still be available in case of loss of data connection.

Airport signage can be translated into the travellers’ designated language through cherrypicks’ proprietary AR technologies when the camera phone is held to the signage.

starbeacon is the Company’s proprietary Presence Detection & Indoor Positioning (PDID) solution and will utilize over 10,000 base stations across the airport. The system is adaptable and allows HKIA to manage and update the floor plan accordingly, and provide behavioural data to further enhance traveller experience in the airport. The solution is also applicable to airport retail shops and restaurants.

Dr. Simon Leung, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of NetDragon, said, “We are extremely proud to work with Hong Kong International Airport on this pioneering project. Our innovative, reliable and commercially viable technology will enable the airport to be the first in the world to utilize the starbeacon solution and provide a best-in-class passenger experience and further enhance its status as one of the world’s leading airports. Beyond airports, we also see opportunities for this leading technology in large space venues. The starbeacon solution is highly scalable with great market potential in China and around the world.”

About NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited

NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) is a global leader in building internet communities. Established in 1999, NetDragon is a vertically integrated, cutting-edge R&D powerhouse with a highly successful track record which includes the development of flagship MMORPGs such as Eudemons Online and Conquer Online, China’s number one online gaming portal, 17173.com, and China’s most influential smartphone app store platform, 91 Wireless, which was sold to Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) in 2013 as the largest Internet M&A transaction in China at the time. Being China’s pioneer in overseas expansion, NetDragon also directly operates a number of game titles in over 10 languages internationally since 2003. In recent years, NetDragon has become a major player in global online and mobile learning space as it works to leverage its mobile Internet technologies and operational know-how to develop a game-changing learning ecosystem. For more information, please visit NetDragon.com.

About cherrypicks

Established in 2000, cherrypicks is a home-grown technology startup headquartered in Hong Kong and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetDragon. It is a regional Mobile Technology and Mobile eCommerce leader specializing in building shopping loyalty communities, SHOPPO, and applying leading-edge technologies in Augmented Reality and Proximity Detection and Indoor Positioning. The company has developed popular Online-to-Offline (O2O) mobile platforms such as SHOPPO and iButterfly. NetDragon’s “VR +” strategy was carried out through the acquisition of cherrypicks, which brought a range of augmented reality technologies to the Company, directly supporting NetDragon’s business verticals, in particular Elernity. In addition, cherrypicks starbeacon technology will further unlock the unlimited potential of the company’s businesses.

find lore about the company : https://tinyurl.com/zhqal6p

NetDragon’s cherrypicks (TM) Wins Contract with Hong Kong International Airport

Karima Kouidri — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 15:26:51 +0000

HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ —

NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited Wins Contract with Hong Kong International Airport

(“NetDragon” or the “Company”; Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building online communities, is pleased to announce that cherrypicks, a global mobile and O2O (online-to-offline) technology innovator and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has signed a contract with Hong Kong International Airport (“HKIA”) to provide mobile indoor navigation services for passengers. The innovation and technology, effectiveness and past achievements won the tender from over a dozen global and local solution providers.

Airport signage can be translated into the travellers’ designated language through cherrypicks’ proprietary AR technologies when the camera phone is held to the signage.

Dr. Simon Leung, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of NetDragon, said, “We are extremely proud to work with Hong Kong International Airport on this pioneering project. Our innovative, reliable and commercially viable technology will enable the airport to be the first in the world to utilize the starbeacon solution and provide a best-in-class passenger experience and further enhance its status as one of the world’s leading airports. Beyond airports, we also see opportunities for this leading technology in large space venues. The starbeacon solution is highly scalable with great market potential in China and around the world.”

About NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited

About cherrypicks

IoT Applications for Smart Airport

Karima Kouidri — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 17:38:43 +0000

How to improve Airport axperience ?

Airport Authority Hong Kong