CASE STUDY
One of the advantages of using Aruba ClearPass has been the consolidation of the SSIDs around the airport. With a role-based approach, all the businesses can access the same SSID. Once they have been identified and authenticated, they gain access to their specific domain and approved network resources.
THE NETWORK IS THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE AIRPORT.
More efficient operations, a better passenger experience
Increasing the airport’ s data capability means Gatwick, its passengers and on-site businesses will be able to take advantage of the latest technologies. The airport currently has 40 digital projects underway, many of which will completely change the passenger experience and improve efficiency across the airport. These include:
• Internet of Things – Deploying sensors to measure numerous parameters including waste bin levels, occupancy of check in desks, table availability or pond water levels
• Superfast Wi-Fi – Free Wi-Fi for passengers which typically gives more than 30mbps download speed
• New apps – The airport’ s passengerfacing app currently has 100,000 downloads, the community app for staff has 13,000 users. Both apps will add new features and functionality
• Network for campus entities – Stable network services for airlines, ground handlers and retailers, improving the flexibility and stability of their business operations, in addition to generating IT related revenue for the airport
• CCTV & IPTV services – Ability to operate high-definition CCTV and IPTV systems
• Passenger flow analytics – Detection of passenger flow based on smartphone locations as well as heat maps identifying queuing and performance improvement opportunities
• Baggage reconciliation – Reliable Wi-Fi services for airlines to reconcile bags with passengers
• Machine learning and facial recognition – To bolster security or develop Passenger Journey Mapping so gate staff can track late running passengers and send notifications via apps
“ We’ re also a reseller of IT services to many of our airline customers, our baggage customers and our retailers. We started selling services five years ago and realised £ 600,000 in revenue. Today we do £ 4.5m,” said Corcoran.“ We now have optionality and flexibility to consume the technology in the way we want. And for the companies that we provide IT services to, we also extend that flexibility optionality.”
The data to inform a‘ smart airport’
“ IoT will be an increasingly important element of the airport’ s future strategy,” said Corcoran.“ It will impact everything from optimised schedules to aircraft turnaround times. Every process that requires human involvement offers an opportunity to automate and innovate.“ Campus-wide IoT is going to be huge for us,” Corcoran added.“ We’ re rolling out 2,000 beacons to help with digital wayfinding. I want to place sensors on everything in the airfield. I want to know where the steps are, what the refuelling trucks are doing, where each piece of baggage is and I want to hook this data back to a single data lake. And then I want to view multiple data sets from a single pane of glass.”
“ Not all innovation needs to be‘ sexy’,” Corcoran concluded.“ Sensors may make the emptying of waste bins more efficient, or create intelligent toilet cleaning schedules, or send accurate real-time environmental updates. We now have Aruba wall-to-wall to help us innovate at the edge. We’ re really excited about the future.” •
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