Aviation has been a data-driven industry for many years, with more data being produced each day thanks to new sources like “internet of things” sensors and facilities management systems. For the past several decades, hundreds of data sets have been piling up, creating data proliferation. Today, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and augmented reality are empowering airports to thrive in the hypercompetitive air transportation industry and generate even more data. Yet, despite this abundance of data, there are still elements of airport operations and resiliency that can be improved through better data usage.
DATA MANAGEMENT
An important element of success in a data-rich environment is an airport’s ability to prepare for planned and unplanned outages. In these situations, the collection of data is vital to maintaining smooth operations. Airports own many systems for optimizing readiness and resiliency — all these systems produce data. Through a condition assessment or retro-commissioning process, critical systems like HVAC and electrical systems can have data-collecting sensors installed. These sensors provide critical data that can be used to predict failures of equipment critical to maintaining regular operations.
Central to predicting, preventing and preparing for critical failures in the ever-changing commercial aviation space is data analysis. Airports must have the ability to take all available data and perform predictive and cognitive analytics. Asset data, when paired with operational information from a Building Management System (BMS) or lighting control system, provides valuable insights that allow for prediction of future disruptions.
