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Simulation Supporting Total Airport Management

Simulation enables total airport management

The COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on the entire aviation industry. Passenger and aircraft traffic plummeted to levels the aviation industry had never experienced before. At the moment, the aviation sector is beginning to show signs of recovery.

Airports are facing major challenges related to capacity issues. To uphold standards, airports need to identify possible measures that can increase operational efficiency, relieve pressures on the systems, and improve passenger experience. The pandemic introduced new challenges related to health and safety that must be addressed to ensure a seamless journey for passengers. InControl’s simulation software offers valuable strategic, tactical, and operational solutions. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches, airports can better navigate the complexities of the current aviation landscape and emerge stronger than ever.

Total Airport Management Brochure

Curious how InControl’s Simulation Software can contribute to the challenges that arise on Strategic, Tactical and Operational level in the aviation industry?

Download our digital Total Airport Management Brochure.

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Total Airport Management

Implementing Total Airport Management (TAM) and set steps to  Digital twins including a Predictive twin is crucial to develop an effective and future proof Airport Operations Centre (APOC) integrating all airport processes including passenger, baggage and cargo  and those of its stakeholders. 

InControl has many years of experience in simulating baggage handling systems, passenger flows, cargo and border control optimization and multimodal transportation hubs. InControl’s Simulation Software contributes as well to customers with similar challenges e.g. train and cruise ship terminals.   

Passenger proces:

 

total airport management

Airline proces:

 

total airport management

source: Royal Schiphol Group – 2021 Annual Report

 

Our Track record

Traffic

An urban center, a residential area, or other infrastructure within a city should be designed in such a way as to let people live, work, move, and recreate in an efficient, pleasant, and safe way. Multimodal transportation hubs are key for the development of urban areas.

A multimodal transportation hub should be based on seamless mobility and operate as an environment enabling an easy and pleasant flow between public transport and public space. It is not just a starting or ending point of a journey, a multimodal transportation hub also serves as a node for communities that surround or reside around the hub. InControl’s simulation software is globally implemented to analyze passenger flows in and around public transport hubs, such as airports and train stations.

The multimodal hub of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of Europe’s largest public transport hubs. On average, the Schiphol public transport hub processes 109,000 travelers per day. Every hour, 140 public transport buses traverse the center of Schiphol, along with other modes of transportation that arrive and depart in and around Schiphol Plaza.

Shortly, an increased number of people (up to 120,000) traveling through the Schiphol public transport hub is expected. In line with these numbers, the current Multimodal Hub Schiphol (MHS) will be redesigned to create sufficient capacity to handle this increase. The simulation software Pedestrian Dynamics® is implemented to simulate the completely new infrastructure of the new MHS. This will contribute to the vision of Royal Schiphol Group to create the world’s most sustainable, and high-quality airport.

Passengers

In an airport terminal, everything should be perfectly tuned to provide passengers a smooth and stress-free time and make traveling by plane a pleasant experience. So, despite the inevitable fluctuations in flight schedules long waiting lines and overcrowded areas need to be avoided.

Airports require insights and forecasts to anticipate and mitigate potential issues that may negatively impact the overall travel experience. Some examples include:

  • Challenges arising from the new season schedule.
  • Queue times in front of check-in and the security filters are too long.
  • Inefficient staff planning.
  • Terminals and piers need to be evacuated in time in case of an emergency situation.

InControl’s simulation software includes various demographic algorithms offering solutions providing insights to get a more efficient, passenger friendly and safe terminal process. It enables customers to create a model of a complete infrastructure for passenger handling or smaller models focusing on specific areas. An integral model will provide insights into the complexity and interdependency of all terminal elements, while local models offer a more detailed analysis of movements in specific areas or processes. With our software, customers can make informed decisions to optimize their terminal operations and deliver a superior passenger experience.

Baggage Handling systems (BHS)

Airports are highly dynamic environments where situations change rapidly, whether it be seasonally, weekly, daily, or even by the minute. Baggage handling systems must deal with short connection transfer bags, temporary and overnight storage, peak input flows, and many other challenges. This requires a robust infrastructure and optimized business control rules to ensure an efficient operation.

Our product portfolio, including the powerful software product Enterprise Dynamics®, each process and type of equipment within the Baggage handling system can be simulated. This allows the user to gain valuable insights into the performance within the BHS, enabling them to optimize system operations and experiment with different allocation strategies.

Enterprise Dynamics® is recognized by customers as a valuable asset in testing and optimizing designs and processes of baggage handling processes. It provides insights into and contributes to the development of many different airport processes such as:

  • The BHS as an integrated system
  • Check-in planning
  • Reclaim
  • Improving transfer unloading and handover capacity

Simulation provides insights that are impossible to otherwise obtain, enabling the user to make informed decisions. By simulating different scenarios, you can evaluate use cases and build business cases on widely-supported numbers that can easily be understood throughout the organization. Another application is the PaxBax-generator offering customers relevant information to feed, control, and steer BHS, UX, and security processes.

Security

In just a few months, a new Entry and Exit System (EES) will be implemented across all external border locations in Europe. EES can be considered as part of future and smart borders. EES legislation regulates the digital registration of all non-European passenger traffic, including fingerprints and facial recognition for enhanced security at border checkpoints.

InControl is an indispensable partner in predicting crowd flows at border areas such as airports, seaports, cruise terminals, and train stations. With the proven simulation models of InControl, passenger flows can be easily tracked and enforced, ensuring safety and efficiency. Our software enables the creation and analysis of various scenarios including impact, what-if, risk, and risk-mitigation scenarios. Furthermore, we can create 2D and 3D models these scenarios for better understanding. With these accurate forecasts, a safe and seamless passage of passengers is ensured.

EES and other implementation plans can be tested and optimized in a simulation model. InControl enables the preparation of new legislation, new innovative technologies, risk-driven checks and integration of border control processes. Our software is contributing to the improvement of passenger capacity, UX, staff capacity and job satisfaction. These contributions are part of a safer and better control society. Simulation applications make a more structural simulation, and therefore more efficient and effective control of border areas, possible.

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airside

InControl’s simulation software can contribute to several aspects of airside planning, design, and operations. We provide advanced solutions to predict, control, evaluate and optimize existing facilities and improve operational processes. The software can simulate both pedestrian and traffic flows to ensure a safe environment for passengers, visitors, and staff. InControl and its business partners are working on a solution to reduce the turnaround time on airports.

YOUR CHALLENGES, OUR CONCERN

InControl’s simulation experts would be happy to use their expertise helping you to cope with your challenges.  

Please feel free to contact InControl to find out how we can contribute  together with your teams and business partners. 

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