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© 2020. Aruna Rajapaksha & Dr. Nisha Jayasuriya. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative
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Global Journal of Management and Business Research: A
Administration and Management
Volume 20 Issue 3 Version 1.0 Year 2020
Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal
Publisher: Global Journals
Online ISSN: 2249-4588 & Print ISSN: 0975-5853
Smart Airport: A Review on Future of the Airport Operation
By Aruna Rajapaksha & Dr. Nisha Jayasuriya
Abstract- Smart Airport concept is the future of Airport operation and it may dramatically change
the industry towards modern technology adaptation. This study mainly focuses on the Smart
airport applications in to passenger terminal process. Literature scattered on different sources
have been summarised to explain the features of smart airport with practical cases in global
context. Empirical indications on implementation of the smart airport applications discussed
based on practical implications of airport operations. Special attention given to the cases of the
best performing major airports in Asia, Middle East & Europe. This study contribute to the field of
academia and industry by identifying the advantages of smart airport implementation under the
key areas of Aviation Security, Passenger Convenience, Operational Efficiency and Optimizing
Limited resources. Further implantation methodology under passenger, baggage handling &
regulatory controls have been discussed in this paper. Finally key challenges in implementation
of the smart airport concept has been addressed and concludes with empirical justifications
highlighting future research priorities on implementing the concept.
Keywords: airport operation, aviation security, capacity crunch, operational efficiency, passenger
terminal process, practical implications, smart airport, technology adaptation.
GJMBR-A Classification: JEL Code: M19
SmartAirportAReviewonFutureoftheAirportOperation
Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of:
University of Kelaniya
Smart Airport: A Review on Future of the Airport
Operation
Aruna Rajapaksha α & Dr. Ni sha Jayasuriya
σ
Abstract-
Smart Airport
concept is the future of Airport
operation and it may dramatically change the industry towards
modern technology adaptation.
This study mainly focuses on
the Smart airport applications in to passenger terminal
process. Literature scattered on different sources have been
summarised to explain the features of smart airport with
practical cases in global context. Empirical indications on
implementation of the smart airport applications discussed
based on practical implications of airport operations. Special
attention given to the cases of the best performing major
airports in Asia, Middle East & Europe. This study contribute to
the field of academia and industry by identifying the
advantages of smart airport implementation under the key
areas of Aviation Security, Passenger Convenience,
Operational Efficiency and Optimizing Limited resources.
Further implantation methodology under passenger, baggage
handling & regulatory controls have been discussed in this
paper. Finally key challenges in implementation of the smart
airport concept has been addressed and concludes with
empirical justifications highlighting future research priorities on
implementing the concept.
Keywords:
airport operation, aviation security, capacity
crunch, operational efficiency, passenger terminal
process, practical implications, smart airport, technology
adaptation.
I.
Introduction
odern aviation industry is developing very fast.
The rapid growth of passenger volumes
alarming
to have advanced technology features
for design of future airports
to improve efficacy levels as
well as to utilise limited infrastructure
effectively
(Medvedev,
Alomar, & Augustyn, 2017). Airports Council
International (ACI) statistics show 8.8 billion passenger
traffic in the year 2018, which is 6% growth compared to
the previous year(ACI World, 2019). As per the
passenger forecast published by the International
Air
Transport Association (IATA), the Asia Pacific region
creates the largest passenger volume up to the year
2035 and predicting almost 50% of new passengers to
be
originated. As per the estimates up to 2035,
new
passengers 1.8 billion will travel from & within the Asian
Pacific region with a 4.7% annual growth rate with 3.1
billion passengers
(IATA, 2019).
The existing rapid growth of passenger volumes
has already created a pressure on airport operators to
re-consider the ability of the available infrastructure and
focus on terminal capacity enhancement, process
improvements, new revenue models and offer world-
class services to attract global passengers whilst
controlling physical & cyber security. Critical airport
terminal process limitations are the efficiency of check-in
process, integrated systems, CUTE (Common User
Terminal Equipment), “Agent-facing”
systems which
shared with regulatory agencies and concessionaries
(Sabatová, Galanda, Adamčík, Jezný, & Šulej, 2016).
Main airports in Europe, USA, Middle East
and
Asia are well equipped with modern technology and
ready for digital transformation. They use cutting-edge
technology and innovations in Information Technology &
Telecommunication (IT&T). However, some of the
airports in developing countries are not
par with digital
transformation and struggle with traditional airport
infrastructure & processes.
The level of technology adaptation of an airport
can be named as the digital maturity and airport
technology adaptation can be divided into four stages
such as Airport 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0(Nau & Benoit,
2017). This concept is presented in Figure 1.
M
Author α:Doctor Candidate Faculty of Commerce & Management
Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. e-mail: aruna.am@airport.lk
Author σ:Senior Lecturer SLIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of
Information Technology, Sri Lanka. e-mail: nisha.j@sliit.lk
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Figure 1: Level of Technology Adaptation in Airports (Nau & Benoit, 2017)
According to the above classification, the
traditional airports which are with manual processes and
basic IT solutions are known as Airport 1.0. The next
level, Airport 2.0 is known as early adaptors to the digital
technology into airport operations and partial self-
service facilities available such as Wi-Fi technology &
check-in process. When all level of passenger services
of an airport equipped to provide full self-service, it
named as Airport 3.0.In those airports, operational
controls are automated whilst predictive and mobility
solutions heavily used in passenger Terminal as well as
in the airside.
The emerging technologies lead the airport
industry towards Smart airports (NATS, 2019). Latest
smart technology airport solutions practice smart gates,
check-in, baggage monitoring, facial recognition,
biometric identifications, airport terminal navigation
through mobile devices, IP based security, data
analytics, data mining to study passenger behaviour, AI
adaptations and many other operational quality
enhancements.
As Smart Airport is still a developing concept, a
limited literature available on specific scopes under the
smart airport operations and lack of general discussions
on advantages, methods of practical implementation
and challenges with special attention on terminal
operations. There for the purpose of this paper is to find
out above details with rational justifications. The author
has used the deductive approach. Literature review
explains research findings, theoretical models and
empirical evidence relevant to the smart airport concept.
Number of real case studies disused with practical
examples on international context to justify the findings
of the paper.
II. Literature Review
a) Smart Airport
As a result of fourth industrial revolution the
Smart airport concept have been evolving all over the
world eliminating the drawbacks of the conventional
airport system. According to Bouyakoub, Belkhir,
Guebli, & Bouyakoub, (2017) Airport 4.0 is a concept
which leverages big data and open data to enhance its
own innovation. In those airports, operators create value
for operational efficiencies from collecting data with real-
time passenger flow whilst analysis passenger profile.
IoT provide facility to interact with different smart
devices and this approach generate many new
applications in large variety of fields such as
environment, health, smart cities and industry
(Bouyakoub et al., 2017).
The concept of Smart Airport which is based on
Humanism and O2O mode. Humanism address the
passengers and civil aviation industry employees. It
provides satisfaction for passengers while providing a
pleasant and efficient working environment for
employees. While O2O mode construct an effective
combination of an offline airport and online airport. In
this O2O mode offline one provide a personalised
solution for passengers while online one provide all the
digital information and inquiring services for passengers’
need (Qi & Pan, 2018).
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b) Smart Airport Definitions
The definition for the 4th evolution of the airport
which is known as Airport 4.0 is still being evolved.
There are diverse definitions available in different
literature for the airport 4.0 or the synonym called as
smart airport. The definition for smart airport is related to
the definition of smart city. Smart cities apply technology
for urban lives in order to create more convenient and
sustainable environment. Smart Airport is a sub system
of this smart city. In this system, urban life and aircraft
movements are connected. Information are readily
exchange among urban transportation management, air
traffic control and air lines. Via this connectivity the
optimization of individual processes and airport
operation as well as customer satisfaction are aimed to
achieve (Nagy & Csiszár, 2016). The figure 2 indicates
the Smart Airport operations within a Smart City
concept.
Figure 2: Model of “smart” airport in the concept of “smart” city.
Source: Nagy & Csiszár, (2016)
According to Qi & Pan, (2018) the concept of
Smart airport is tend to achieved a ‘man machine
integration’ by resetting the service process based on
IoT, mobile network and big data. Furthermore,
Almashari et al., (2018) explained it as an airport
solution which enables controlling and monitoring many
systems from a remote area unlike in the conventional
airports. This provides safer environment for passengers
and workers while any fault occurred can be handled
immediately.
c) Advantages of Smart Airport
i.
Aviation Security
Aviation security requirements are mandatory
compliances to ensure safer journey to passengers,
aircraft as well as to all other airport users. Smart
Airports are improving the aviation security standards
with modern technology as per the regulatory
requirements and reducing passenger inconvenience.
Security screening processes in an airport spend
considerable time with unpleasant experience & making
unsatisfactory passenger. It is a challenging task to
ensure the flight security. Internet of things (IOT) is use
as smart application to mobilize, sensing and
processing tasks to authenticate passengers together
with RFID to offer advanced security service (Jalali &
Zeinali, 2018).
Munich, one of the best European airports has
introduced state-of-the-art CT scanner to the passenger
terminal which is capable to find solid and liquid
explosives. Passengers not required to take out laptops,
smart phones and any permitted liquid from their
baggage to declare and they can easily process
through the scanner for screening requirements (Munich
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Airport, 2019). To face the challenge of rapid growth of
passengers may need solutions in addition to the
aircraft capacity increase and airport expansions. It is
required to have further integrative smart technological
developments in airports. Use of Biometrics is another
key IT application of Smart Airports to secure personal
identification at the passenger security, check-in, border
control, &boarding at the airport(ACI World, 2005).Smart
airport provides safer environment for both passengers
and workers and if any security fault occurred can be
handled immediately with integration of IoT.
ii. Passenger convenience
Passengers expect their convenience
throughout the terminal formalities without any
harassment to the journey. Travellers of a smart airport
do not need to wait long period of time as at a
conventional airport. Sensors connected to IoT to
provide information about shortest line, parking space
and self-checking luggage (Almashari et al., 2018).
Changi Airport in Singapore, crowned as the
best airport for the 7th consecutive year by skytrax
World Airport Awards (Skytrax, 2019), introduced
automated baggage drop machines for their terminal-4
with passenger facial recognition technology. There is
no requirement for manual identity checks by security
staff as the entire departure screening process
automated by allowing flexible, secured and
convenience departure process for passengers
(Changiairport.com, 2019). Incheon Airport in South
Korea already introduced “Airstar” robots to the terminal
process for passenger ushering. These robots placed in
passenger congesting areas such as departure lobby,
duty-free stores and baggage belts at the arrival area.
Further they are improving passenger convenience and
smart experience services for airport users by guiding,
transporting, vehicle parking, self-driving vehicles and
indoor terminal location finding technology (Incheon
Airport, 2019).
iii.
Operational efficiency
Data collection of passengers is more important
to improve operational efficiency. Big data analysis is
the most beneficial advantage of a Smart airport. Identify
passenger behaviour, more revenue generation, trace
passenger gathering locations, calculate waiting time
average of a passenger and all other personal
behaviours of passengers can determine based on the
smart data processing (Al Nuaimi, Al Neyadi, Mohamed,
& Al-Jaroodi, 2015).
Modern Airport operators’ keen on sensing and
network infrastructure, data management infrastructure,
data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning capacity to upgrade operational efficiency level
of the airport. Changi Airport has already implement AI
and ML-enabled applications for various functions that
can sense better, analyse better, predict better and
improve the operational efficiency(Lee & Miller, 2019).
Incheon Airport has improved operational efficiency with
smart technology by utilizing real time data. On-time
performance and passenger convenience enhanced by
real-time monitoring of flight delays, in-flight waiting
times, and passenger terminal process. Also strictly
control operational delays with digital display boards
and intelligent CCTVs. Further operational dashboards
automatically update & alert on required level of
resources and performance levels through big data
analysis (Incheon Airport, 2019).
iv.
Optimising limited resources
Airports need to optimize limited terminal space
whilst ensuring more space for commercial activities, to
get reduced airline operating costs can use modern
technology adaptation. Throughout terminal process the
passenger comfort and smooth processes are the most
priority needs(Castillo-Manzano & López-Valpuesta,
2013). There are two methods to reduce passenger
waiting time in the terminal building as increasing
terminal passenger service resources and allocate
terminal resources based on passenger flow fluctuations
in different times(Cheng, Zhang, & Guo, 2012). It is
possible to reduce operational costs of the terminal and
improve the operational efficiency by implementing
above solutions in a proper methodology.
Smart airports concept is the best solution for
optimum utilization of limited airport resources including
terminal, airside and landside. Smart airports can
introduce IoT based real-time data systems to predict
peak time at the terminal and propose the best resource
shifting arrangements on AI analysis. Also manpower
allocation can manage effectively and reduce staff
engagements in automated passenger processes.
Robots technology, personalized mobile phone
directives, smart information panels and Airport
Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) systems can
optimize limited resources available. A-CDM system
introduced by Incheon Airport in 2017 to integrate real-
time data with ATC Tower &Apron Control Tower.
Improved the response capabilities with departure times
and runway queues in advance by A-CDM system
(Incheon Airport, 2019). Further, smart technology helps
in reducing energy use by handling lighting and air
conditioning systems based on a demand at a certain
timing. This helps to reduce cost related to energy
consumption (Almashari et al., 2018).
III. Application in to Smart Airport
Operation
Airport Management is the most responsible
and critical task in airport operations with limited
resources, dealing with internal & external agencies,
maintain on-time service delivery, maintain security of
passengers & visitors, safe aerodrome operation whilst
ensuring regulatory compliances. Airport terminal
operations can mainly divide in to passenger service,
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baggage handling & regulatory clearance. The impact of
smart technology provide various solutions to overcome
airport challenges due to increasing passenger flow
during peak hours (Mohamed, Gomaa, & El-Sherif,
2018). Smart airport applications can further elaborate
based on above key components as follows;
a) Smart Check-in
Passenger can use several methods for check-
in by using the web, mobile phones, personalised
methods and computer-based kiosks are limiting the
human involvement by ground handling staff and reduce
the cost component and human error (Wittmer, 2011).
Earlier some of the airlines were maintaining exclusive
kiosks only for their passengers. SMART airports
interlinked all severs of operating airlines and
passengers can check-in through any shared kiosk
placed at the terminal. This is a better solution for limited
terminal space available whilst reducing cost
engagement instead of different counter allocation for
individual airlines.
b) Self-boarding
The main expectation of smart airport
technology is to offer more efficient and convenient
travel experience by introducing interconnected
digitalized systems and processes (Mohamed et al.,
2018). Boarding process is one of the most unpleasant
and tension experience to the passenger due to number
of security screenings and manual processes. Therefore
it is required to empower passengers to have their own
boarding process with flexibility. Boarding card scanning
machines place at the gates to self-scan the boarding
pass printed by the self-check-in counter. Passengers
empowered to board into the aircraft without human
checking process but using the latest RFID scanning
methodology. Boarding gates open to the passenger
based on the data scanned in the boarding pass and
passengers can get into the aircraft. Human involvement
only for the supervisory process by the ground handling
staff.
c) Indoor navigation
Mobile devise applications offer personalized
information on their flight times, airport locations, and
other needs help to usher passengers on time to the
aircraft. Navigation from and to the airport and all other
related facility locations within the terminal can be
included in to the personal devises. Indoor mapping
within the terminal building with processing speeds will
give required alerts to the passenger (Mantouka,
Barmpounakis, Milioti, & Vlahogianni, 2019).
Passengers who are using the airport for the first time
may need to usher for airport formalities and later to the
boring gates. Google indoor maps or airport app can
help passengers to show the airport locations
conveniently. SMART apps direct passengers to
complete their airport formalities perfectly without the
assistance of ground handling staff. This may reduce
the necessity of airport terminal signage.
d) Biometric services
Most of the modern airports are implementing
automated personal identification systems in to the
vulnerable controlling points based on physiological
characteristics. Facial recognition, fingerprints, hand
geometry, handwriting, voice, retinal and vein are
identified as more tractable biometric features (Sharif,
Raza, Shah, Yasmin, & Fernandes, 2019). These
services creating passenger convenience throughout
the airport process as well as strengthen the security
concerns and reduce the human error. Airport access
controls, screening methods, travel documents
(passport), E-gates, permit entrance to the sterile gates,
identification in baggage claim, border control clearance
process can improve based on the biometric readers
and provide seamless service to the passenger.
Verify the identity of individual passengers prior
to board in to aircraft in critically important to ensure
safe air travel. Bio metric ravel documents can use to
improve the accuracy levels to recognize individual
passengers separately (ACI, 2005). This technology can
easily verify that passengers’ board in to the aircraft are
the same individual who checked-in as per the
procedures. At the check-in point can take the first
biometrics such as finger prints and facial reconditions
to monitor the passengers by using intelligent CCTV’s
and border control will cross check the accuracy with
passenger travel document. Then passengers can
easily access to the boarding gate with smart boarding
pass and biometric proof. Most of the modern airports
already adopted this methodology to improve
passenger convenience, process efficiency, reduce
manpower involvement, and improve accuracy levels
and feeding data to use AI decision makings.
e) Smart wearable
With modern technology wearable hardware
solutions are in use and embedded micro system is the
core structure. Physical interaction module share
environmental sensors to measure temperature and
humidity, scanners and remote controller modules.
Passenger centric modules operate touch screens,
cameras, audio features and motion sensors.
Communication systems include WiFi, Bluetooth, GPRS,
IOT & other latest communication methods (Kong, Luo,
Huang, & Yang, 2019). Smart devices such as watches,
electronic hand bands, Bluetooth hats, smart glasses,
head phones and electronic accessories with sensors
use to give alerts to passengers on timing for airport
formalities. Further, they are being informed on boarding
gate changes, check-in counter, special discounts in
duty-free shops and restaurants and more passenger
convenience. Real-time travel information starts from the
front door of the terminal or at the taxing of the aircraft
for arriving passengers.
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f) RFID baggage tags
The radio frequency identification (RFID)
technology mainly use for baggage handling process.
This technology facilitate to monitor the screening
remotely from the particular location with several
interfaces. Passengers will be benefitted from RFID
baggage tags to trace their baggage, status of baggage
loading or unloading to the aircraft during their
departure, arrival or transit (Kovynyov & Mikut, 2018).
Smart airports can reduce the risk of mishandle
baggage by using this technology. Additional data can
be added in to the system such as manufacturer, brand
and the size of the baggage. Human involvement is very
less and explosive detection system may reduce the risk
of damages to happen.
g) Self-baggage tagging
There is a growth of full service and low cost
carriers and self-connecting air passengers will increase
in Asia similar to European airports. Major Asian hubs
such as Singapore, Tokyo Narita, Kuala Lumpur, and
Seoul Incheon airports will be the key self-handling
airports to handle their rapid growth of passengers
(Chang, Lee, & Wu, 2019). Smart Airports facilitate
passengers to tag their own baggage by using baggage
drop-off machines at the departure terminal. Passengers
can print their baggage tag from their house and most
of the budget airlines prefer this methodology to reduce
their stationary and operational cost. The same time can
track the baggage status through the smart phone.
Digital baggage tags are an alternative to conventional
paper-based baggage tags. Given digital barcode can
be changed remotely by airlines or ground handling
agents in case of changes of the flight or off-load plan.
h) Kiosks for Lost Luggage
RFID technology can adopt in to the lost
luggage problem and this system distribute baggage to
the correct loading aircraft and allowing passenger to
monitor throughout the transit and at the arrival (Shehieb
et al., 2017). Kiosks for Lost Luggage are connected to
the global airline & airport network and help passengers
to trace the status of their baggage via smart mobile
phone. Reporting lost luggage system also easing by
allowing passengers to scan the boarding pass and
include brief on the items were in packed in the luggage
and forward to the relevant airline. In the same message
or email can include the present contact details of the
passenger and address for the delivery of the luggage
found.
i) Border control
Clearance form regulatory agencies such as
Immigration & Emigration, Customs, Intelligent services
and quarantine are required to complete the full
authorization. Airport Council International recommends
to use international standardized formats for biometric
data and introduce harmonized approach for the same
(ACI World, 2005). Automated border control systems
not having required control over the facial recognition
and additional security measures required to check the
accuracy between travelling person and travel
document. Therefore it is required to introduced
biometric readers in addition to the facial recognition to
the e-gates located at border controlling points
(Sanchez del Rio, Moctezuma, Conde, Martin de Diego,
& Cabello, 2016). E-gate systems can be introduced for
both departure and arriving passengers. In addition to
the airport infrastructure, regulatory border control body
of the country should initiate the electronic travel
documents for the use of local citizens at the initial
stage.
j) Airport Apps for Mobile Devices
Passengers can have airport services through
mobile applications and Ticket Kiosks on their booking
completion through the travel agent or online portal of
the airline. In generally SMART airport experience starts
48 hours prior to the departure. After providing itinerary
details this application starts to work and assist the
passenger with all features available (Harteveldt, 2016).
The primary options of the smart airport mobile
application activate with the itinerary details such as
luggage pick up of the passenger from any given
location. Then passengers need not carry the luggage
along with him/her to the airport. A SMART application
connected to cab services and passenger will be pick
up from home and drop at the airport on time.
Passengers will get continuous alerts & reminders on
flight status. Google Indoor map will assist indoor
walking with directions to walk within the terminal.
Kiosks will validate the itinerary once a
passenger collects the boarding pass and same time
can change seating arrangement on their preference.
After passenger verification, automated Kiosks will print
baggage tags. Baggage will correctly be sent to the
relevant feeding bay based on the RFID readers and
passenger will get updates to their smart mobile phone
at feeding bay, carrying to the aircraft and after the
baggage loaded to the aircraft(Abdullah Alghadeir,
2016).
After the baggage dumping, the application
guide passenger through other formalities such as
security check and immigration with specific distance
and waiting time. If sufficient time available to the
boarding, passengers may get some special Duty Free
shop promotions into their mobiles as a promotional tool
to improve airport revenue. Further, the application
shows restaurants, washrooms, smoking zone, lounges
and other facilities available for their waiting time. All
relevant public announcements come to the mobile
phone in both voice recording and text. Once the aircraft
is ready for boarding passenger should just scan the
boarding pass at the gate and RFID scanning screener
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will open the gate at the boarding as well as the
boarding bridge up to the aircraft door.
IV. Strategic Challenges
a) Cyber Security
The key risk factor of Smart Airport is Cyber
security and it is one of the most critical safety factor
need more attention in modern airport operation. To
provide optimal services in reliable & sustainable
manner, smart airports struggle with growth, efficiency,
safety and security (Lykou, Anagnostopoulou, &
Gritzalis, 2019). The modern SMART application process
which is open for open data and big data is clearly open
for cyber-attacks as these systems are working
independently. In addition to that, system access
permitted through dedicated APIs to have innovations
and developments generate the unwanted risk of cyber-
attacks. Data interception, access to local network,
interferences to data transferring and denial of service
are the key risks of smart airport technological
adaptation. Accessing to confidential data of the
passengers by unauthorised persons may challenge to
the privacy of them.
Cyber security treats are emerging in addition to
the physical security of an airport as the increase of
technological adaptation specially with mobile based
applications created for passenger convenience. Smart
airports may have high tech communication equipment
and related infrastructure to support sophisticated
aircraft technology and navigational systems to maintain
effective end to end communication via different
applications. Therefore the cyber security risk is further
increasing and mitigation actions need to be taken on
priority basis (Gopalakrishnan, Govindarasu, W.
Jacobson, & M. Phares, 2013). Therefore it is necessary
to establish Cyber-attack detection centres internally or
outsource the requirement. Further, penetration tests
need to be carried out continuously in the same model.
As risk mitigating strategies should implement
industry standards among all the users of smart airport
systems, introduce cyber security measures, and
educate both technical personnel and users.
Educational campaigns more effective if conduct on the
user focused method to provide customised knowledge
to prevent cyber security risks and recommended to the
airport staff who assign to monitor the system.
b) Return on “Smart” Investment
It is difficult to manage fixed and moveable
resources of an airport effectively, as they have to spend
largely on capital expenditure which is not properly
managed. Cloud technology can be used for reducing
IT-related hardware cost and manpower cost
involvement. Heavy capital investments required for
smart airport technology as traditional technology and
infrastructure not capable to ful fil the requirement.
Therefore advanced technology applications must focus
on cost involvement against the efficiency level
improvements. The latest Airport 4.0 technology use for
smart airports such as big data analysis, Internet of
Things and augmented reality should apply to enhance
the efficiency level of the airport operations in addition to
the passenger facilitation.
Kansai Airport is keen on energy saving and
planning to use hydrogen and clean energy for their
terminal development (Baxter, Srisaeng, & Wild, 2018).
Energy consumption including illumination and air-
condition for terminal buildings can control based on
intelligent CCTVs and automated controllers based on
passenger traffic. Most of the businesses use traditional
KPI’s to measure the performance focus on physical
capital or human capital such as inventory, productivity
and utilization. Digital transformation not affect to the
basic KPI’s of the company and need to track
intermediate indicators (Barry Libert, Beck, & Wind,
2016).
Though the initial introduction cost is high in
technological adaptation in long run will generate more
profits against the investment. It is recommended to
invest on smart features on priority basis by identifying
most critical elements and data integration
requirements. Digital transformation cost of smart
airports can be handled carefully and cost saving
methods should be introduced systematically. Above
decisions should be taken based on dynamic manner.
Financially viable projects should be implemented by
considering the ROI. User-friendly semi-technology
should be adopted in several development stages whilst
educating the internal & external agencies of the airport
operation and slowly adopt passengers also into this.
Digital transformation cannot run overnight and should
be in rationalised approached on identified priorities.
c) Change the Mind-set and Maintain Standards
As per the Technical Acceptance (TAM) when
people have a positive attitude towards something they
form intention to perform behaviours whilst technological
adoption in different industries is being explained with
the said model (Davis, Bagozzi, Bagozzi, & Wars haw,
1989; Nayanajith, & Dissanayake, 2019). Technology
can reshape the business models of provided
stakeholders adopt it (Siriwardane & Dissanayake,
2018). Therefore the airport operator should maintain
positive attitude of airport employees on technical
adaptation and closely coordinate with relevant
stakeholders including regulatory agencies, airlines and
other related institutions. Airports should identify,
prioritize and implement required digital solutions which
are specifically relevant to the context of airport
operations. This may be challenged by non-digitalized
mind-set within the organization. It is required to change
the mind-set of airport staff including regulatory
agencies as well as concessionaries. They may have
required training on how to operate their own systems
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and educate on basic features and importance of the
system implementation. It is required to have the
relevant technological knowledge and maintain the
standards of systems up to the industry requirements.
V.
Conclusion
Smart airport concept is the future of the airport
operations. There are some key operational areas
identified in the passenger terminal process to introduce
digital transformation as passenger operations,
baggage handling and border control by regulatory
agencies. Major components in implementing the smart
airport functions are Aviation security, Passenger
convenience, Operational efficiency and Optimizing
limited resources. Each factor is easing the process with
comfortable and effective operation with modern
technology adaptation such as RFID Screening, IoT, Big
data analysis and other features of digital
transformation. Smart Check-in, Self-boarding, Indoor
navigation, Biometric services, Using smart wearable,
RFID baggage tags, Self-baggage tagging, Kiosks for
Lost Luggage, Border control and Airport Apps for
Mobile Devices can identify as application tools of the
smart airport concept. Need special attention on key
strategic challenges to implement the smart airport
operation. Cyber security is the most vulnerable threat to
smart features of any airport and special controls need
to be introduced. The digital transformation is a costly
exercise and return of the intended investment should
be considered (Rassool & Dissanayake, 2019). Airport
staff should be trained properly to create a positive
approach on digital transformation together with all
regulatory & supportive agencies. Future researches
recommended to identify the required level of smart
technology adaptation in airport operations subject to
the return on investment. Special attention on specific
regional studies may give more accurate research
findings to determine the most relevant smart airport
adaptation levels. Conclusively, future research works
need more attention to provide practise related insights
on how to model smart airport concept specially in
emerging economies and tourism sector focused
countries. Such infrastructure developments result direct
and indirect impact on connected industries.
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