Jayson Goh, MD Airport Operations Management of CAG; Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of CAG; Beh Swan Gin, Chairman of EDB; Thien Kwee Eng, Assistant MD of EDB; and Bernard Siew, Vice President Airport Operations Management of CAG.
Changi Airport has launched the Changi Airport Living Lab Programme in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The programme will see CAG collaborate with innovation-driven companies and start-ups, to develop and demonstrate new technology solutions, in a live airport environment.
With the support of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Living Lab Programme provides a platform for CAG, and partners in the airport community, including government agencies, ground handlers, concessionaires, security providers and cleaning companies, to co-create, test and demonstrate new solutions to future-proof the airport.
There are several technology areas that CAG believes are ready for innovations and adoption in the airport:
- Automation and robotics – opportunities to optimise scarce manpower resources and empower the airport workforce to operate at higher efficiency and productivity levels.
- Data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) – opportunities to enable a more accurate and real-time perspective of airport operations. This will allow Changi Airport to better optimise its operational processes, and power smarter decision-making. Consumer analytics will offer deeper insights into traveller’s habits and preferences, thereby strengthening the airport’s lifestyle product offerings.
- Non-intrusive security technologies – opportunities for Changi Airport to greatly enhance the passenger experience and reduce the stress of undergoing security clearance, while strengthening safety and security standards.
- Smart infrastructure management – opportunities to leverage new technologies such as sensors, IoT, and smart controls to optimise infrastructure standards.
Changi Airport has already started working with partners to set solutions in some of these areas to achieve a more seamless and positive experience for passengers and visitors to the airport. For example, it has been running prototype trials for autonomous cleaning robots to clean the vast tracts of floor in the airport terminals. It is also exploring the use of automated guided vehicles to ferry passengers between terminals. Another example is taxi queues and the estimated wait time. This would allow the airport to provide travellers with better advice on ground transport options during peak periods, as well as alert taxi drivers about impending demand for taxis at the airport.
Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of CAG, says: “Building innovation today is critical to transforming our business and operations for the future. We look forward to partnering established companies and enterprising start-ups to develop cutting-edge technologies for the airport. Through our Living Lab collaborations, I believe that we can add value to our partners in helping them scale up solutions for real-world applications.”
