Data and digital services are reshaping and improving operations and passenger experiences at every airport. Simultaneously, these digital capabilities are helping the aviation sector to navigate unprecedented change – stricter regulations, evolving passenger expectations, cost pressures, and the need to meet ambitious sustainability goals.
In all these contexts, digital, including new AI-powered systems, can and must play a bigger, more effective role. At Arup, our aviation and digital experts focus on the best way to navigate these various digital transformations effectively, in such complex operational environments, finding ways to add real value.
Digital strategy underpins real success
We work with aviation clients and airport operators to develop the strategic case for digital innovation before shaping solutions that address real sector challenges: seamless passenger experiences; business continuity, cybersecurity and airport safety; greater flexibility in terminal operations; supporting energy reduction and greater sustainability.
In an industry that will always need to make confident predictions about the near future, we define the precise strategy and infrastructure required to realise the emerging and evolving technologies such as AI and machine learning (ML).
As digital service experts, we work with clients to define and integrate digital platforms and solutions, using our decades of industry experience to bridge gaps in knowledge, reduce risk and manage complexity as technology is implemented.
Utilising a vendor and technology agnostic approach, we believe it’s vital to understand what an airport truly needs and develop strategic digital services from there. The result is that clients can make the right decisions for their future, choose technology that fits their goals, gain more value from the data they already produce, and add decision-making insight from the information running through their buildings and assets.
Implementing AI/ML in the airport context
- Identify the data foundations: from passenger preferences and patterns, to energy and resource use, many airports aren’t yet able to gain a full picture of how well they’re operating. We help systematise existing data sources, overcome gaps in legacy systems and define end-to-end solutions.
- Use AI/ML’s predictive and interpretative power: AI/ML both hold much promise, from automating passenger queries at scale to automation of inspections using computer vision. These technologies – and the advanced analytics they offer – are transforming how airports operate, enabling predictive maintenance, smarter resource allocation, and seamless passenger journeys. We help clients to develop solutions that align to existing airport priorities and add real value.
- Connect AI/ML solutions to airport or airline operations and culture: technology is never solely determinative of a positive outcome and genuine innovation is never simply a case of plug-n-play. We help aviation clients to understand how digital solutions can dovetail with existing organisational structures, operational priorities and airport culture.
Working alongside clients as strategists and partners with wider expertise in every element of aviation design, engineering and operation, investments in digital services must be anchored within a deep understanding of how airports and airlines work.
