Locations – Jim Gill's Blog

A Look at the Recently Completed $1.3 Billion Jewel Changi Project

October 4, 2019September 19, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Airports, Amenities, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Programs, Technology, Transportation

One of the airports often recognized among the best in the world is Singapore’s Changi Airport, which recently received a $1.3 billion upgrade via the Jewel extension. Changi Airport has become ingrained in the identity of Singapore with its distinctive amenities, which include a butterfly garden and rooftop swimming pool. Last year, 65 million travelers passed through the airport, making it one of the busiest in the world. The Jewel extension was completed earlier this year and was designed by Safdie Architects as an attraction unto itself, with the intention of attracting both foreigners and locals. More than half of Jewel’s visitors come from Singapore, partially because of the unique design, which is meant to uplift passengers and reduce the stress of travel through features that encourage repeat visits.

The Jungle at the Heart of the Jewel Changi Expansion

At the heart of Jewel Changi is a tropical jungle that encompasses five stories and 270 square feet. More than 100,000 shrubs and 2,000 trees were planted in the area, which is accessible any time of the day via trails or nets that stretch above the treetops. Guests can also walk across a glass canopy bridge that is 75 feet above the ground. The whole feature is topped with a domed glass roof made from 9,000 different panels. Small gaps between the panels provide air circulation to reduce heat indoors while letting in natural light for the plants. One of the most impressive features of this central space is its openness. To prevent columns from blocking views, the architects built a single base of clustered columns that slowly stretch apart like a fan as they move toward the ceiling.

The tropical garden also features a waterfall that sends mist into the air to help moderate the temperature. The entire building is shaped somewhat like a circular donut; rainwater is collected through a central opening to feed the waterfall, which is known as the Rain Vortex. The system pumps 500,000 liters of water from the basement to the top of the dome. When there’s no rainwater to feed the waterfall, the water is recirculated to keep it running. In addition, an animated light show projects onto the cascading water to add even more drama. The show was engineered by former Disney employees. To prevent spectators from getting wet, an acrylic column sits at the base of the building to collect water and protect against splashes.

Outside of the Main Garden Area

Outside of the indoor jungle, travelers will find many other attractive features throughout Jewel Changi. Many people have praised the retail complex attached to the facility, which contains 200 stores. Several of these retailers are the first or biggest in the region; Jewel Changi is home to the largest Nike store in Southeast Asia and the very first Pokémon Center in Asia outside of Japan. Diners have their pick of nearly 100 restaurants, ranging from fast food and fast-casual outlets to high-end eateries like Violet Oon, which serves traditional Singaporean food; and Shang Social, a standalone restaurant from the Shangri-La hotel group.

Travelers frequently choose to bring their food up to the top floor of Jewel Changi to enjoy the outdoor dining terrace. This area can hold up to 1,000 people, so even when the airport is busy, there is usually space to sit and enjoy a meal outside. However, the top floor has other attractions beyond the terrace. Travelers should not miss the towering four-sided sculpture, which also acts as group of playground slides for a few moments of fun before or after a meal. There’s even a hedge maze—a fun and active way to spend some time while waiting for a flight.

The More Practical Side of Jewel Changi

Not all the features of Jewel Changi are designed simply for the amusement of travelers. The extension was also created to move travelers to their flights as efficiently and pleasantly as possible. For example, the airport worked with more than 20 airlines to place early check-in stations throughout Jewel Changi. These stations allow travelers to drop off their bags early so that they aren’t forced to carry them through the new area. Furthermore, a train easily and quickly connects travelers to all the terminals while providing a calming view of the jungle garden and waterfall. Furthermore, travelers don’t have to worry about parking—the new facility expanded the parking garage to five levels with the capacity to house 2,500 cars.

The architects and airport leaders also installed amenities for travelers connecting to other modes of transportation. A luxury lounge caters to passengers who will eventually connect to cruise ships or ferries. This feature could help drive new partnerships with other travel companies. In addition, Jewel Changi provides an option for weary travelers who need rest during long, multiple-flight journeys. A YotelAir hotel offers 130 different cabins that visitors can book by the hour when they need a nap or just a quiet, private room in which to relax.

Featured Image by 郭瑞霖 | Flickr

Chicago Revives Idea of Building New Airport in South Suburb

September 20, 2019August 30, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Airports, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Planning, Transportation

Cities around the world are realizing the need for additional airports to serve an increasingly travel-oriented population, not to mention growing global business. In the United States, one city that has again begun thinking about building a new airport is Chicago. Currently, the Midwest metropolis is served by two main airports: O’Hare and Midway. Now, a plan has been reintroduced to create a suburban airport that would not only facilitate more flight options, but also potential grow e-commerce in the Chicagoland area and potentially attract giants like Amazon. The proposal calls for a new airport in Peotone, a suburb about 44 miles south of Chicago. This proposal has been hotly debated for decades now.

In the latest Illinois state budget, Governor J.B. Pritzker included a $162 million allocation for infrastructure improvements in the area around the airport. This money would connect the I-57 freeway to the proposed site of the airport and cover the costs of an environmental review and the creation of a master plan for the new facility. The fact that the state is now willing to invest money in the airport suggests that it might actually be built. In addition, corporate support for the airport would likely be strong, given the boost that it could provide for e-commerce companies with large distribution centers south of the city. Politicians and business leaders seem to be coming together in support of the project as well.

The Potential Drawbacks and Benefits of an Airport in Peotone

At the same time, the plan still has a decent number of opponents, such as local environmentalists and farmers in the surrounding areas. These individuals point out that other regional airports still have capacity for more traffic, namely those in Rockford and Gary. Plus, the new airport would consume thousands of acres of land that could otherwise be devoted to agriculture. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, the deputy director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center pointed out that the new airport would likely cause extensive development in the area and perhaps relocate people from South Chicago even further south, which would have a significant environmental impact. Even if this does not occur, the state would still have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars, in his view.

However, other people see the job creation as a clear positive and a way to keep the Illinois economy growing. Across the nation, e-commerce companies are looking for greater transportation and logistical support, and industry experts believe that many more airports will open to serve this need. A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation told the Tribune that Chicago should be at the center of this new growth, especially given the tenuous economic situation in the city’s south side and surrounding suburbs, which were hit hard by the loss of the steel industry and other manufacturing jobs. In addition, the private sector has already expressed interest in getting involved and offering services through the airport.

Political Struggles Surrounding the New Airport Project

Politicians have been debating an airport in Chicago’s southern suburbs for decades. Plans to build the airport in Peotone were started in the 1980s, and the Illinois Department of Transportation officially started purchasing land in Will County for the airport in 2002. Currently, the state owns about 5,000 acres for the airport, which makes up the vast majority of the proposed 6,000-acre facility. The project stalled under former governor Bruce Rauner, who had little interest in pursuing it. This year’s budget, however, received support from dozens of mayors and lawmakers, including the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

The major logistical hurdle that the airport now faces is a lack of transportation connectivity. The I-57 connection would solve this problem and remove one of the major barriers to carrying the plan forward. At the same time, there is still the question of connecting utilities to the site, which is in a rural location. Gas, water, and electricity lines must be built.

So far, no preliminary engineering or design work has been done to connect the site to I-57, though the plan currently centers on Eagle Lake Road south of the nearby town of Monee. Now that the state budget is in place, the upcoming multiyear plan should hopefully address these specifics.

Flights Potentially Starting from Peotone in Five Years

Advocates say that if all goes according to plan, flights could be leaving Peotone in five years. But the pushback against the airport is significant enough that the plan could still falter. Perhaps not surprisingly, Chicago Rockford International Airport is opposed to the project and has said that it has room to expand. Meanwhile, Gary International Airport is also focused on growth, while O’Hare has significantly boosted its cargo capacity in recent years and will add another 800,000 square feet of cargo processing space by 2021.

Supporters of the Peotone airport say that these airports still will not be able to keep up with the region’s growing air traffic. The Gary airport has little room to expand, for example, and significant expansion at Rockford could interfere with O’Hare traffic. One thing is certain, however: it will be fascinating to watch this project as it progresses.

Fentress Architects Names 5 Winners in Futuristic Airport Design Contest

August 30, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Airports, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Technology, Transportation

The best airports in the world push the boundaries of both functionality and design to deliver an experience unlike any other. Earlier this year, the design firm Fentress Architects issued its 2019 Fentress Global Challenge, which asked architecture students to design an “airport of the future” for the year 2075. The competition is based on the idea that modern architects can continue to push boundaries and design public infrastructure that is both visually stunning and highly functional. This year, aspiring architects from more than 50 countries submitted their terminal designs; Fentress received upwards of 500 applications.

In late July, Fentress Architects announced the winners of its contest. These winners were chosen based on their overall concept, as well as the contextual orientation of their vision and the boldness of their final design. Applicants were asked to focus primarily on the terminal buildings and to consider what the future of aviation holds for air travelers. They were also tasked with creating a space that makes it easier and safer to fly. To do so, the applicants had to think about mobility, technology, urbanization, and feasibility. The jury included a Fentress executive, an air safety specialist, a representative from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and professionals from the Harvard University School of Design, NASA Johnson Space Center, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, among others.

The Three Top Winners of the 2019 Fentress Global Challenge

The winning design was the “Infinity Airport” by Daoru Wang, a student at North Carolina State University. His design aims to improve airport efficiency, and he undertook an intensive study of aircraft traffic flow to think about how one might create a “drive-through” airport. To enhance accessibility, the design pays special attention to how the airport weaves into the existing transportation infrastructure in an urban environment. The physical shape of the building borrows from the torus knot, a design similar to two overlapping infinity symbols. Thus, the airport has a circular concourse system, which makes it possible to streamline the loading and unloading process to improve efficiency and get flights in the air as quickly as possible.

Submitted by New Jersey Institute of Technology student Samantha Pires, the “Newark Airport Biophilic Headhouse and Community Nexus” took home the second-place prize with an entirely different approach. Pires took inspiration from the economic analyst John Kasarda, who wrote a book called Aerotropolis. This book challenges the modern concept of the metropolis by putting the airport at the very center of an urban area. Kasarda imagines a future in which airports serve as the nexus of social and economic development within a city. Pires intended her design to show how airports can serve as a point for community engagement and neighborhood growth by creating new job opportunities. Her design is fully integrated into the community through a rail network.

The third-place title went to “LondonHeathrow2075” by Christopher Johnson of the University for the Creative Arts in the UK. Johnson’s design explored the idea of smart cities and other technologies designed to connect people. He examined the existing infrastructure and land use at Heathrow and imagined how it could be changed to increase efficiency. Already, technology is reducing the use of physical passports, and the security and immigration processes are becoming more digital. Johnson’s design takes this reality into account and envisions an “international zone” around the airport that allows visitors to roam freely. The airport is the center of a real destination, not just a transportation portal. LondonHeathrow2075 also features a drive-through area below the airport that could reduce aircraft traffic wait times.

Winners of the 2019 Fentress People’s Choice Awards

While these three winners were chosen by the jury, Fentress also posted the project proposals on social media, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to see and comment on the ideas. Two winners were chosen for the 2019 People’s Choice Awards based on the overall number of likes the designers were able to secure. Overall, these designs are perhaps more futuristic and conceptual than the winners of the juried competition, but they still offer intriguing food for thought and visual excitement.

With nearly 3,000 votes, the winning design for the People’s Choice Award was “Y3M,” by Chai Yi Yang and Ng Yi Ming of the University of Malaya. Their project offered an extremely futuristic take on the airport by deriving the design from an Elon Musk hyperloop tube system. The airport—including runways—is built on a series of high platforms connected by hyperloop rail. Instead of a centralized mass, the airport would essentially take the form of a “vessel-like network” to cut down on turnaround times and labor. In addition, passengers would enjoy a seamless transition from rail to flight. This design also had the added benefit of requiring less land than traditional airport.

The runner-up for the People’s Choice Award received more than 2,500 votes. This design by a group of Tel Aviv University students was called “Six Lane City” and takes into account the large amount of unused land usually associated with airports. For example, O’Hare International Airport in Chicago extends over 12 square miles, yet much of this land is not exploited. The designers proposed a new form of city that would be built 650 feet above ground, on top of the airport infrastructure, to transform the airport into its own metropolis. In this way, the design offers new residential space and additional economic opportunities.

What You Need to Know about the Upcoming Opening of Beijing Daxing

August 1, 2019August 1, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Airports, Amenities, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Technology, Transportation

One of the most exciting airport projects of the last few years has been the massive new facility planned for Beijing. The new airport now has an official open date right on the eve of China’s current government’s own 70th birthday. The so-called Beijing Daxing International Airport cost billions of dollars to construct and has a design meant to resemble a starfish with enough space to accommodate the extensive projected growth for the city, as well as China in general.

China has experienced a massive growth in its air traffic in recent years and the new airport will provide space for even more with the potential to become the busiest facility in the entire world. Official work on the airport recently ended and the inauguration is scheduled for September 30.

Growing Excitement around a Brand-New International Airport

President Xi Jinping has scheduled a large military parade to take place through the center of Beijing. This will celebrate the new airport as a futuristic hub embodying the future of China, as well as the creation of the People’s Republic, which took place on October 1, 1949.

The airport is situated less than 50 kilometers from Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing, and set for exponential growth, although full capacity operation is not expected to start until 2025. With four runways, the airport has the potential to serve 72 million passengers each year.

Beijing Airport — Image by keso s | Flickr

However, expansion will not end there. By 2040, the hub may have up to eight runways, including one designated for military use. When this plan is completed, the airport will accommodate 100 million passengers annually.

At this point, the airport would become the largest in the world in terms of traveler capacity. The Atlanta airport can currently receive more than 100 million passengers each year, but it operates across two different terminals. Daxing will achieve its massive size with a single terminal.

The current Beijing Capital International Airport actually already comes in as the second-largest in the world with slightly more than 100 million passengers each year. However, traffic needs have exceeded this capacity due to increases in living standards. This has inspired a newfound desire to travel.

Market analysts believe that China will surpass the United States to become the world’s biggest aviation market by the mid-2020s. According to the International Air Transport Association, China will see 1.6 billion flights annually by 2037. By 2025, more than 170 million passengers per year will travel through Beijing in one of the two airports.

A Facility Designed for Both Beauty and Convenience

When it opens, the new airport will certainly be quite a draw for passengers due to its unique and gorgeous design, not to mention its sheer size. Coming in at 1.03 million square meters, the facility is about the size of more than 140 soccer fields. Thus, the airport will be counted among the largest terminals in the world.

Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid designed the structure. It was brought to life despite the designer’s untimely death in 2016 through the engineering of Aeroports de Paris. The structure has been called “The Golden Phoenix” because of its design, which includes a bright orangish yellow exterior that resembles the mythological bird.

Inside, individuals will notice the flowing, curved lines complemented by light that seems to flow down from the top of the building to the lower levels through carefully planned openings in the roof. These openings create a rather dramatic effect for travelers.

The design also takes into account convenience for travelers. Beneath the airport is a train station and a metro line to take individuals closer to their final destinations without even having to leave the facility. Ultimately, travelers will be able to reach the center of Beijing from the airport in a total of about 20 minutes using public transportation.

Altogether, the project cost $23.6 billion for the facility alone. It cost more than three times this amount when the rail and road links to the new airport are factored into the final price. However, this investment may prove worthwhile as it offers the critical infrastructure needed for the Chinese air industry to continue flourishing.

The Path forward for Two Massive Airports in Beijing

According to the most recent plan, the SkyTeam Alliance brands will take over the new airport and abandon their current places at the old facility. These brands include Delta, Air France, and KLM, the Dutch airline. Furthermore, their partners, including Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, will also become tenants of the new facility.

Meanwhile, Air China, which has emerged as the third-largest airline in the country, will maintain its place at Beijing Capital International Airport and presumably expand its number of flights to fill in the space left by the airlines that transfer to the new facility. This transfer should also provide some relief to congestion felt in the current airport. In the meantime, before the facility opens, six simulation exercises are planned to put everything to the test so that no surprises await travelers after opening.

7 of the Most Exciting Airport Projects to Know about in 2019

June 25, 2019June 21, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Airports, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Technology

People do not typically look forward to spending time at airports. However, as technology makes them more convenient and new projects make them more comfortable, this could change. Over the course of 2019, several new airport projects are slated to open that could attract travelers with their unique designs and features.

These projects represent the unique potential of airports to become destinations in their own right, or at least temporary destinations where travelers will be happy to spend time between flights. Doing so often translates into more flights and higher profits. Some of the most exciting airport projects of 2019 include:

1. Singapore Changi Airport

The new Jewel Changi Airport complex opened its doors in April. This expansion has garnered a lot of attention in the last year as it serves as a central hub for the airport’s three terminals. The architect Moshe Safdie designed the structure, which features massive glass panels encasing a circular building spanning more than 1.4 million square feet.

A highlight of the structure is the Rain Vortex, which has earned recognition as the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. Lush greenery around the water feature help make travelers forget they are in an airport. This luscious design plays with the Singapore moniker “city in a garden.”

2. Beijing Daxing International Airport

One of the most ambitious airport projects to date, Beijing Daxing International Airport aims to become the busiest airport in the entire world when finally completed. Certainly, the airport will have one of the largest passenger terminals ever completed, with space for 100 million passengers each year. It will also feature seven runways.

Furthermore, the design leaves space open for easy growth in the years to come. Both China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines will depart to and from the new airport. A high-speed rail network and motorway will help speed connections.

3. Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport

Located in Israel, Ramon International Airport represents the unique design aesthetic of Amir Mann-Ami Shinar Architects and Moshe Tzur Architects. The low-to-the-ground, glass-paneled building has a futuristic look that is supposed to remind travelers of the transportation developments to come.

The airport is about 20 kilometers from Eilat and covers more than 1,250 acres with capacity for 2 million passengers each year. The structure has room for growth and will one day likely accommodate about 4.25 million passengers annually. While the structure looks futuristic, it also blends well into its desert surroundings and features a design that helps protect against the major temperature fluctuations that occur there.

4. Istanbul Airport

While this airport actually opened toward the end of 2018, it has only recently begun hosting significant flight volumes after a planned staged opening. The design of the airport won first prize at the 2016 World Architecture Festival in Berlin and features an elegant, tulip-shaped control tower.

The entire airport was completed in fewer than four years, which is an impressive feat in itself. Plus, the airport will continue to grow in the near future, with an eventual goal of transporting 200,000 or more passengers each day. The airport purportedly features a green design, although this claim has been disputed.

5. LaGuardia Airport

On the domestic front, one of the busiest airports is finally getting a much-needed facelift. LaGuardia is getting a complete revamp and reconstruction of all terminals and taxiways to help better accommodate the large number of passengers served by the airport.

The project will add more gates and create more space in general by getting rid of the low ceilings and narrow corridors. Furthermore, the airport has now adopted a unified terminal structure to eliminate the confusing passageways between different flight areas. The overall improvements also include new parking facilities, as well as a link directly to the New York City Metro system.

6. Carlisle Lake District Airport

Located in England, this new regional airport will make it much easier for tourists and British national to visit the lake district. This part of the United Kingdom is a major draw for nature enthusiasts with its rugged scenery. What makes this airport’s opening so exciting, in addition to the fact that it provides easier access to a region once more difficult to visit, is that business will finally start.

The airport has been the source of much controversy due to delays in opening that were attributed to issues with staff training. However, summer flights can now be booked, so the opening seems to be set in stone. Scottish airline Loganair will operate the routes, which include London, Belfast, and Dublin.

7. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Another domestic airport in dire need of updates, Louis Armstrong in New Orleans has finally opened to the public after multiple delays. The new, modern terminal cost more than $1 billion, but it provides solid infrastructure and a significantly improved passenger experience.

This update comes at a key time in the history of the airport, which is experiencing a period of growth due to new international flights, including a direct route to London. A modern airport could help attract more tourism from overseas for the city and potentially make New Orleans an important hub for transfer flights should the airport continue to grow.

This Is What You Need to Know about American Airports and Rideshare Policies

May 16, 2019May 10, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Administration, Airports, Amenities, Infrastructure, Locations, Regulation, Technology, Transportation, Vehicles

Many airports are experimenting with their own advances in transportation technology. However, they are also experiencing significant effects from the advent of new options, including ridesharing services.

Most people probably look as ridesharing services, such as Lyft and Uber, as a good thing. Unfortunately, they may actually contribute to a variety of problems in American airports. Many people have recognized that American airports have not developed at the same rate as international ones. These individuals may not know that this problem is, at least in part, directly linked to rideshare services.

In the United States, the vast majority of people arrive at airports in cars. Historically, they would use their own vehicles and park them on the premises or take taxis. However, rideshare services are cheaper and more convenient. This makes their growing popularity understandable.

A recent study found that prior to 2012, when ridesharing became widely adopted, 80 to 90 percent of journeys to the airport were made in taxis, rentals, and personal vehicles. The remainder of this figure comes from the limited public transportation options in some areas.

How Rideshare Services Cut into the Profits of American Airports

The situation has changed quickly. At San Francisco International, Uber and Lyft accounted for about 4 percent of drop-offs in 2014 and then 29 percent in 2017. During the same time, ridesharing-related business expenditures increased from 8 to 62 percent. Although this may not seem problematic at first, it actually contributes to the current underinvestment in infrastructure in American airports.

Historically, car parking has accounted for a significant portion of airport revenues in the United States. This revenue is now falling due to ridesharing, which ultimately means less money to reinvest in facilities. Furthermore, Uber and Lyft drivers, at least right now, pay less in access charges to pick up airport passengers. This is because they have less liberal access to the curbside than taxis. Diminishing taxi use has also cut into airport profits.

The growth of ridesharing services has certainly affected airports across the globe. However, this effect is especially strong in the United States because of the prevalence of personal vehicles. Additionally, there is resistance to transforming airports into bigger drivers of profit via better shopping and dining options.

American airports derive less than 10 percent of non-aeronautical revenue from retail and concessions. This is not the norm around the world, where major hubs like Changi in Singapore and Hamad in Doha have created luxury attractions for wealthy travelers. In other words, American airports have really relied on ground transport-based income. To maintain this source of income, a number of airports have begun changing their policies to increase income from rideshare providers.

Logan Airport in Massachusetts Begins Charging Rideshare Drivers

An airport that has made a lot of news in recent months is Logan in Boston. Very recently, the Massachusetts Port Authority Board of Directors approved a ground transportation plan that will begin charging a $3.25 drop-off fee for Uber and Lyft drivers starting in October 2019. Both of these company protested this change.

The new charge will help the airport recoup some of the losses it has experienced as a result of rideshare service adoption. The plan also creates an entirely new space at the airport for rideshare pickups at a centralized garage site, at least between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 a.m. In the early morning, pickups will be allowed curbside. In part, this policy addresses the issue of public transportation, which services the airport but with limited hours.

The new area would include dedicated ride-hailing areas, as well as space for check-in and checking baggage directly without needing to go to a separate space. According to the authority, the idea behind the new space is to reduce the number of rideshare trips without passengers, thereby reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Estimates show that about 30 percent of empty trips will be prevented.

A representative from Uber has criticized the decision, arguing it will cost the airport significant money to execute while also charging passengers more. Both Uber and Lyft ran radio ads to oppose the change and collected more than 10,000 signatures on petitions. Ultimately, the fee is slightly less than the proposed $5 charge, but passengers will begin paying it soon.

More Changes Likely in the Future for Airport Rideshare Policies

Ideally, the new plan will raise some money for the airport that will facilitate infrastructure investments beyond the new garage area. When consumers see how this extra fee can actually improve their experience significantly in the long run, they may not push back as hard, but these effects will not be seen for years to come.

In line with the airport’s statement that the decision is to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas admissions, passengers on pooled rides, such as Lyft Line and UberPool, will have a reduced fee of $1.50.

Other airports across the country are starting conversations about similar decisions to address both the congestion at the curbside and the loss of revenue due to fewer long-term parkers. In the years to come, it will not be surprising to see some radical changes to policy that are even more forward-thinking than those at Logan.

These Are 5 of the Airports Implementing Autonomous Vehicles

April 18, 2019April 18, 2019 by James Gill, posted in Airports, Amenities, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Technology, Vehicles

Airports across the globe have begun paying more attention to autonomous vehicle technology, especially as organizations begin implementing pilot projects. The use of autonomous technology has the potential to reduce overall costs while also providing a variety of other benefits. In addition, autonomous vehicles could help curb emissions attributed to airports while increasing safety.

Airport professionals have just begun to scratch the surface of how this technology could improve the customer experience and drive revenues. A number of exciting projects have already begun. While these trials are all very experimental, they have largely demonstrated the impressive efficacy of autonomous technologies.

Some of the most exciting experiments with autonomous vehicle technology at airports include:

1. Heathrow Airport

Recently, Heathrow Airport in England teamed with IAG Cargo and Oxbotica to launch a trial of the CargoPod, an autonomous vehicle that operated in the airside environment. The trial was meant to collect data that the CargoPod designers could use to refine the technology and potentially identify new uses for the self-driven vehicle.

The CargoPod served Heathrow for almost a month. During this time, it traveled along an established cargo route along the perimeter of the airside space. Altogether, more than 200 kilometers of data were collected that will allow IAG Cargo to refine the product further.

Engineers were pleasantly deep surprised by how well the vision-based localization system of the CargoPod operated, even in more complicated situations like the transition from indoor to outdoor spaces.

2. Rotterdam The Hague Airport

To explore the use of autonomous vehicles in baggage handling, Rotterdam The Hague Airport teamed with Vanderlande to launch FLEET. This system will streamline the baggage handling at the airport. It will concurrently improve working conditions for staff and reduce the chance of human error in getting baggage where it needs to be for flight or pickup.

With FLEET, there is no need for conveyor belts or sorting systems. Instead, each FLEET vehicle carries a bag to its destination using an algorithm to plot the most efficient route through the airport.

One of the biggest benefits of this system is resiliency. If a vehicle fails, only one bag is affected and the rest of the luggage carriers can continue around the disabled one. When a conveyor fails, the results are generally catastrophic for an airport.

3. Charles de Gaulle Airport

At Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, Groupe ADP spearheaded a trial of two shuttles that operate using only electricity and without the need for a driver. This trial was meant to gauge how the vehicle would operate when used on high-traffic roadways, such as those surrounding a major international airport.

The two trial vehicles were also used in the real estate district Roissypôle to provide a different sort of environment for the shuttles to navigate. These shuttles use a unique road infrastructure with constant traffic signals that communicate conditions to the shuttle.

Using technology gathered from this trial, Groupe ADP hopes to bring the shuttles to other sites in the near future. Such autonomous vehicles could serve a number of different purposes, from transporting people between departure areas and car parks to taking people to their flights.

4. Gatwick Airport

Another London-based airport has become the site of experimentation with autonomous vehicles. Gatwick Airport has teamed with Oxbotica for a trial of electrically-powered autonomous vehicles designed to carry employees between different parts of the airfield.

Such technology would allow the airport to reduce the number of vehicles on the airfield considerably while simultaneously minimizing emissions and reducing costs. The technology behind these Oxbotica shuttles is quite unique and depends solely on onboard sensors without any reliance on GPS or other external tech.

Gatwick imagines that the technology will operate sort of like an autonomous Uber. Employees would have the ability to hail a shuttle whenever they need to get quickly to another part of the airfield.

Both Gatwick and Oxbotica acknowledge that much more research and development needs to be done before this technology is made commercially available. However, this trial is an important and exciting step toward the future.

5. Fagernes Airport

In Norway, Fagernes Airport became the testing ground for an autonomous snow-clearing vehicle designed by Yeti Snow Technology, Semcon, and Overaasen. During a demonstration, the autonomous vehicles were able to clear 357,000 square meters of space of snow over the course of an hour.

Yeti has actually designed a four-stage solution for moving from person-operated snow clearing devices to the autonomous devices slowly after collecting data about operations at the specific airport. The company first works with airports to optimize snow-clearing routes and then missions are tracked by GPS and logged. Next, drivers are given specific directions for clearing routes before the vehicles are transitioned to driverless ones.

Major airports often have staff on call to deal with snow. This represents a major expense during the winter months. Making this process more autonomous can eliminate much of this expense while also improving the safety profile of the operation.

Category: Locations