Operational gains take flight through unification
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) welcomes over 4.6 million passengers every year. Find out how one of the fastest-growing airports in the US uses data insights from various airport solutions to enhance efficiency and the passenger journey.
The company
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is a civil and military airport in Kentucky. Each year, more than 4.6 million passengers choose SDF as a launchpad for their travels. The airport offers nonstop service to more than 35 destinations on a dozen airlines, averaging 140 daily passenger flights. With just one stop, travelers can reach another 460 destinations worldwide. SDF is also home to the United Parcel Service (UPS) International air-sorting hub, Worldport.
The challenge
Prior to building the new command center, the airport’s teams faced challenges with siloed operations. “We wanted to design an airport operations center (AOC) and choose advanced technology that would bring information to us. Ultimately, we needed solutions that gave our specialists a more cohesive, data-driven experience while overseeing badging, security, and airside and landside operations,” said Megan Thoben, Vice President of Operations and Customer Engagement.
The solution
One view of airport security
The team monitors all areas of operation, from restricted zones and perimeter fences to various buildings, using Genetec™ Security Center. When they’re on the go, they access information from their phones.
Real-time baggage insights
Using the airport operations module, FIDS data connects into Genetec Security Center. If bags haven’t been offloaded after 30 minutes from the time the plane reaches the gate, the SDF team receives an alert.
Smarter airport badging
The Genetec™ Airport Badging Solution helps the SDK team automate TSA background checks and quickly assign, issue, or revoke access control credentials, all in one intuitive solution.
Expanded visibility with SaaS
Next up, the team is looking to extend coverage to their general aviation airport, Bowman Field (LOU), using Genetec Security Center SaaS. This will enable a centralized view of all sites in one hybrid-cloud solution.
“Before Security Center, there were many steps involved in responding to alarms and trying to figure out what happened. Now, it’s nearly impossible to miss an event because all video and data come into one easy-to-use platform. The unified view helps us respond faster and quickly share critical information with our officers.”
Megan Thoben, Vice President of Operations and Customer Engagement at Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Results
Today, SDF operations specialists oversee over 700 cameras, 498 doors, and over 3,000 cardholders, all from Security Center. Various camera analytics also feed information to the AOC staff, alerting them to bags left behind, crowds gathering in certain areas, or security checkpoint lines getting longer than usual. With everything in one view, the team now manages different priorities and tasks with greater ease and confidence.
With data in hand, SDF is also alleviating baggage claim delays and sharing this data with airlines. This gives airline tenants deeper insights into their operations so they can adjust staffing if needed. “Our goal is to reach 95% of flights unloaded within 30 minutes. Then I can tell those airlines that didn't meet 95% which specific flights routinely experience baggage delays,” explained Thoben.