The transportation industry has undeniably been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, but airports in particular have been hit hard. On Dec. 6, 2020, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened approximately 837,000 passengers, a 64 percent reduction when compared year-over-year. To regain public trust and keep travelers and employees safe, airport administrators and facility managers have been tasked with providing data-powered facilities that are healthy, safe, efficient and ready for anything.

Beginning airports’ data-driven digital transformation with healthy buildings

With vaccine distribution underway, airport leaders are hopeful that the industry is approaching a key turning point, and many are questioning whether they will need healthy building solutions in the years ahead. However, the data-driven nature of these technologies is not just an investment in pandemic response, they will pay dividends long after this crisis has passed.

The industry was already hurtling toward a data-powered digital transformation wherein every data touchpoint is connected, allowing airport administrators to systematically manage buildings that have memory intelligence. But the pandemic has supercharged this transition with the creation of data-driven solutions including social distance monitoring, temperature screening and contact tracing.

Once the pandemic has ended, these technologies’ data collection processes — including sensors, video cameras, facial recognition and more — can be repurposed, allowing them to contribute to a safe and efficient passenger experience. As a result, these solutions are not just critical to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and other future emergencies; they are the foundation for the future.

Creating a safe, healthy environment for employees & travelers

A safe and healthy airport is key to protecting employees and passengers while encouraging airline travel. When reinstating trust in air travel, both passengers and airport employees benefit from investments to create an enhanced environment. Beyond this pandemic, consumers now expect a higher level of public health and safety protocols, especially in high density indoor areas like airports, and will take note of airports cutting corners. Specifically, airport administrators should focus on the following five outcomes to ensure a modern and healthy airport for years to come:

1. Clean air

Clean air must remain a goal long after mask mandates end. Airport administrators and FMs can install the latest HVAC systems to maximize a space’s clean air delivery rate (CADR); implement advanced air and surface disinfection solutions like ultraviolet (UV) lighting; and upgrade to the latest minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

2. Social distancing & mask compliance

AI-enabled video surveillance provides real-time, around-the-clock monitoring of airport occupants’ compliance with healthy building protocols. Should an individual remove their mask or stand too close to their fellow employees or passengers, the digital alert system can detect and alert FMs to the situation for swift, discrete and professional intervention. Social distancing solutions can even send reminders to employees to remain six feet apart at all times.

3. Efficient contact tracing

The latest in contact tracing solutions provides airport employees and travelers with the peace of mind that their health is being prioritized. Should someone fall ill, FMs can leverage solutions to retroactively trace their interactions and identify and notify at-risk individuals. As a result, contact tracing technology reduces the number of employees who must self-isolate and enables effective scenario planning for the future.

4. Touchless environments

To minimize touch contamination, thermal imaging cameras installed at entry and high-traffic points can rapidly scan moving crowds for elevated temperatures, removing the need for an employee to manually take temperatures. Additionally, airport administrators can install frictionless access control, which leverages AI-powered facial recognition technology to replace standard badges and keypads. From there, replacing traveler boarding passes with hands-free biometric devices helps protect passengers and streamlines security processes, allowing travelers to spend time relaxing and shopping ahead of their flight.

5. Emergency prepardeness

Security operations personnel rely on standard operating procedures (SOPs) to respond quickly and appropriately to security incidents. These operators can leverage digital solutions that automate these SOPs to effectively identify, manage and record any public safety event and present operators with actionable next steps. Based on the incident, operators can use these solutions to quickly alert emergency responders and initiate evacuations through the integration of site-wide paging and digital signage.

Revenue generation & cost efficiency

With air travel capacities still struggling to return to normal, non-aeronautical revenue generation is critical to airports’ survival. The best way airport administrators can maximize profits is by ensuring passengers have ample time to shop and dine on the premises. By leveraging digital solutions that capture location and passenger data for easier traffic flow, such as radio frequency identification (RFID), airports can move customers through security faster, giving them more time to explore and shop.

In addition to revenue generation, creating cost savings has proven to be just as critical to airports’ financial success. Through advanced asset monitoring and reporting, FMs can identify and resolve inefficiencies to maximize energy savings. Preventive and predictive maintenance help FMs ensure crucial building equipment remains functional and high performing, avoiding costly asset repairs and downtime. These measures allow airport administrators to redirect previously lost resources into new initiatives, technologies and more. For further cost savings, airports can integrate building systems like HVAC and lighting with flight schedules for terminal optimization, allowing them to automatically shut down gates that are not in use.

Remaining prepared for an uncertain future

While the industry is seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, the greatest takeaway has been the critical need for airports to have the technology infrastructure in place to ensure they are future-ready, whatever that future may require. Through innovative technology integration that connects buildings to unique software capabilities, airport FMs will have the insight to deliver higher traveler value like improved health and wellness, improved sustainability, safety, security and enhanced experiences. With data-collecting technology in place, airports can accelerate their digital transformation and become intelligent, connected facilities of the future.