SPECIAL REPORT: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Intelligent design Atkins’ future borders technical lead, John Drever, explains how data modelling can reduce queuing times at airports.
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s transit infrastructure like airports, train stations and borders become busier and more complex, our approach to designing public spaces with security in mind takes on another dimension. However, advances in technology can make these spaces easier to transit, not harder. By optimising our infrastructure for the digitally-enabled passenger, we can even design-out unnecessary queuing – something more important than ever in a post COVID world. To reduce queueing times and improve security, airports are introducing more and more digital technology alongside their existing infrastructure. This includes the likes of 3D baggage screening, body scanners, self-service kiosks and automated biometric identification, as well as online advanced passenger information, which can be completed before the passenger even leaves their home. But, as the passenger experience and security are driven upwards, so too is the complexity of what needs to be done by people and computers behind the scenes. In short, it results in a three-dimensional set of design variables: 1. Infrastructure – corridors, security lanes, bag-drops, scanners, check-in desks, etc 2. Passenger and staff behaviour 3. IT systems So, how can we cope with these (often conflicting) variables, to design a system that reduces queues and improves security? The answer is with data modelling. Here are two techniques from the model-based systems engineering toolbox that can help design the optimised environment.
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AIRPORT WORLD/ISSUE 6, 2020
Method 1: Dynamic process data modelling and simulation Simul8 – online simulation software – can be used to model the detailed flow of people through complex and secure infrastructure; in this case an airport. Process modellers can use the tool to create a dynamic model covering the arrival, processing and transit of passengers through the security checking infrastructure, IT systems and human processes. The software enables models to be fed with actual passenger numbers, processing times and arrival frequency from the airport in question to simulate an end-to-end journey process that mirrors the passenger experience for the airport in question. It can also be used to conduct trials of new systems and configurations, to provide additional data and to prove the model. Having used this software for a client’s security lane in the past, some of the benefits included: • Removal of bottlenecks in the passenger journey • Optimising the security process • Finding the most suitable position for new airport security gates • Testing and rapid down-selecting of design options • Predicting the impact of proposed regulation, process or equipment changes • Accurately sizing the number of gates and fast-track lanes required • Providing a data-driven design for a future security lane.
