While airports may not be the final destination for travelers, they undoubtedly serve as the “first gateway” that creates a lasting impression and reflects the country’s image in the eyes of international visitors. Therefore, many countries around the world strive to elevate their “national airports” to deliver exceptional experiences to all travelers.
In addition to extravagant designs, technology plays a vital role in enhancing the airport experience and ensuring seamless travel for passengers, particularly those who are infrequent flyers. “Airport Indoor Navigation,” also known as indoor building navigation, is one of the technologies implemented in various airports worldwide, such as Hamad International Airport, Gatwick Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport.
Airport Indoor Navigation is an essential technology for digital airports due to their large size and the need to accommodate a massive number of domestic and international passengers every day. This technology enables all passengers, especially infrequent travelers, to easily and quickly locate various services without impacting their travel time. By connecting signals from smartphones to devices such as Wi-Fi, beacons, and ultrasonic sensors for enabling real-time indoor positioning of each passenger. This allows for precise location tracking and provides both an overall and individualized route within the airport. With the intelligence of this technology, many airports worldwide have adopted and further developed Airport Indoor Navigation to maximize its efficiency and create seamless travel connections.
Here are some key features and benefits of Airport Indoor Navigation technology:
- AR Indoor Navigation: Augmented Reality technology creates a new experience by using avatars to guide passengers on real-time navigation displayed on screens. This enables passengers to accurately and quickly find various services and also share real-time locations, making it convenient for meeting family and friends.
- Real-Time Notification: By connecting with passengers’ current location data, this feature calculates waiting times or walking distances to service points such as check-in counters, baggage claim areas, boarding gates, parking lots, and shuttle bus stops. It allows passengers to effectively manage their time for shopping or engaging in various activities without missing their flights.
- Passenger Queue Monitoring: Passenger location data can be analyzed to determine crowd density in different areas. This enables airport service providers to allocate resources effectively, especially during peak seasons when a significant number of tourists are entering or leaving the country. For example, additional service counters can be opened, or robots and automated systems can be deployed to reduce passenger waiting times.
- Passenger-Friendly Airport: Analyzing passenger traffic patterns helps optimize the design of airport spaces and service points to ensure passenger convenience throughout their journey, from entering the airport to boarding the aircraft. For instance, installing self-check-in kiosks near self-bag drop counters allows passengers to check-in and drop off their luggage without spending excessive time searching for these services.
- Intelligent Facilities Management: Airport service providers can update real-time floor plans, allowing passengers to have up-to-date information and pinpoint areas with any disruptions. This enhances the coordination of maintenance and preventive measures within the airport, ensuring quick and efficient handling of incidents.
- Advertising & Proximity Marketing: Passenger traffic data assists in targeted marketing campaigns within the airport. By analyzing passenger behavior, specific products or promotions can be presented based on individual interests or triggering persuasive advertisements to entice passengers to visit nearby stores.
- Security and Access: Connecting security systems within the airport ensures monitoring of restricted areas, preventing unauthorized access, and enabling swift response to incidents.