Proactive control and optimisation of airport passenger flows
Airports, especially in Europe, are facing the challenge of having to accommodate increasing passenger numbers using limited space and capacity. Although the long-term solution is the construction of new infrastructure capable of handling this demand, doing so can take years. Until a new building is up and running, airports should use existing capacity as efficiently as possible – an approach that requires smart and innovative solutions capable of enhancing productivity to the highest possible levels. One such advanced solution is AMORPH.aero an innovative software product supported by the EU-funded AERFOR project. “AMORPH.aero provides airport operators with continuous, accurate, near-term forecasts of passenger flows and the ability to simulate operational impacts,” says project coordinator Dr Frank Frauenhoffer. “With the increase in capacity that AMORPH.aero provides, the need for new investments in airport infrastructure can be delayed – or at the very least deferred.” Advanced capabilities for long-term planning According to Dr Frauenhoffer, the AMORPH.aero concept has the potential to provide airports with the ability to proactively control and optimise passenger flows over more extended planning periods, from days to years and even decades-long strategic planning. Unlike competitors using process flow-oriented models based on static mathematical values, the AMORPH.aero solution supports dynamic calculations based on actual passenger demand, compared to available resources. “This distinction is critical if airport operations are to have accurate information based on the current availability and schedule of staff, and the information on the results of operational actions regarding passenger flow,” says Dr Frauenhoffer. Immense business value Within the AERFOR project, AMORPH.aero was further developed into an innovative standard software solution offering enhanced planning, as well as real-time forecasting capacity. Specifically, three large-scale trials at airports in Helsinki (Finland), Nantes (France) and Stuttgart (Germany) were used to significantly improve AMORPH.aero’s core features. During the tests, researchers showed that AMORPH.aero could increase maximum passenger capacity by 15 % and passenger average throughput by 10 %. Furthermore, researchers demonstrated that the solution could decrease passenger processing time by up to 20 %, thus increasing the amount of time passengers have to shop and dine at the airport. Last but not least, the tests showed that with AMORPH.aero airports could increase customer satisfaction by up to 10 %. “These results prove that the newly developed technology of operational passenger flow forecasting has immense business value. It can optimise waiting times and enable more efficient allocation of airport staff,” says Dr Frauenhoffer. Enhancing Europe’s leadership in air transportation All of the new features developed during the AERFOR project are crucial to the commercial introduction of the AMORPH.aero software into both European and international markets. As a result, AMORPH.aero is now well-positioned to provide the European air transport industry the passenger flow optimisation solution it needs to improve airport profitability significantly. “Capacity optimisation leads to more efficient passenger flows and brings reduced operating costs, higher security, lower energy consumption, and better customer service,” says Dr Frauenhoffer. “All of these aspects enhance Europe’s leadership in efficient and sustainable air transportation.”
Keywords
AERFOR, AMORPH.aero, airports, airport operators, passenger flows
