The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, is undergoing a large-scale digital transformation. This project aims not only to enhance operational efficiency but also to optimize traveler experiences and increase non-aeronautical revenues. At the heart of this transformation is the use of an advanced business intelligence system based on technologies like Databricks, Microsoft's Power BI, and a focus on big data, data governance, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Centralizing the Chaos

One of the biggest challenges airports as busy as Atlanta face is the massive amount of data generated daily. From air traffic management to passenger experiences, maintenance, and resource management, data flows from multiple sources. Without a centralized source of truth to manage this data, the risk of inefficiencies and delays is high.

Jon Pruitt, IT director at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, started by developing a business intelligence dashboard for a key executive in the emergency response team, allowing them to access key metrics in real-time such as weather conditions, terminal occupancy, concession operations, and parking capacity.

The pilot test consisted of a data repository fed by 11 different data sources, including text files and data stored through APIs both on-premises at the airport and in the cloud. The key executive, who was used to tracking various tabs within an Excel sheet, saw the dashboard proof of concept and gave Pruitt the green light to continue investing in the airport's digital operations improvement.

The project features an Azure data lake to load, clean, store, and process data, as well as Microsoft Power BI dashboards to generate graphs of critical operational data such as the total number of domestic and international flights arriving and the average security wait times.

With the implementation of the dashboard, the chief operating officer has experienced an 80% improvement in information retrieval time, reducing it from 30 to 5 minutes, allowing much faster problem resolution. Having all the data in one place allows the airport to anticipate issues before they occur and respond more proactively.

Data Governance

Following the success of the first dashboard, the IT team began planning phase two, which will incorporate data governance and cleansing, as well as the expansion of analytics to new departments such as finance, technology, commercial, administration, and infrastructure.

In a digital transformation project, especially one of large scale, data governance is crucial. In a complex environment like an airport, where data flows from multiple systems and departments, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and responsible data management is essential. To preserve data governance and security, the IT team conducted an assessment to determine who has access to which data and the encryption needs for each data source. 

The assessment allowed the team to uncover a significant challenge: data duplication. Building a single source of truth would be the only way for the airport to increase its daily data generation, which would occur by incorporating a digital twin, new IoT sensors, and predictive analytics.

Artificial Intelligence to Boost ROI

One of the most exciting aspects of the airport's digital transformation is the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize resource allocation and predict future needs. By using machine learning models, the airport can foresee peaks in demand, such as waves of passengers at certain times of the day, and adjust operations accordingly.

Hartsfield-Jackson recently completed a pilot test with Microsoft called Smart Flow. The application allows the IT department to select a time period to analyze passenger traffic in specific areas of the airport. Through AI and predictive forecasting, Smart Flow helps determine whether the airport should offer additional services and products to those passengers or reassign resources between areas.

In a next phase, by incorporating machine learning models, the airport will be able to improve its gate utilization and reduce security wait times, becoming much more efficient and shifting from a reactive to a proactive culture.

For instance, Delta Air Lines rents 85% of the airport's gates, making Atlanta its hub. With the newly implemented technology, Hartsfield-Jackson can identify underutilized gates and, if so, renegotiate leasing agreements with major airlines.

Although its application in airports is still in the early phases, the possibilities for using generative AI are enormous. Paul Baier, CEO of GAI Insights, says that investing in such technologies will offer airports significant opportunities to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. A clear example is AI's ability to glean value from unstructured data, like wikis, SharePoint documents, technical manuals in PDF form, or listings, which abound in airports.

Another use of AI that would be hugely beneficial for airports are language translation tools. These would help airports to enhance their service to passengers by offering translations in their language cost-effectively and generating automatic responses to inquiries.

The Takeaway

The Atlanta International Airport is at the forefront of digital transformation in its industry. With the implementation of a centralized business intelligence system, the use of AI to optimize resources, and a focus on data governance, the airport is improving both its operations and passenger experiences. As technology continues to evolve, we're bound to see more exciting innovations in airport management, driven by collaboration between airports and technology providers.

At MangoByte, we understand that digital transformation is essential for improving efficiency and customer experience. If your company is seeking tailored solutions to tackle its technological challenges, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you design and implement digital strategies tailored to your needs.