Airport Defence & Security
In an era of hybrid threats, airport security extends far beyond the perimeter fence. This category challenges participants to redefine ‘safety’ by integrating AI into early detection, securing critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, and leveraging drone and satellite data for comprehensive airspace monitoring. We are seeking solutions that transform raw data into active shields, protecting thousands of lives and billions in assets.
Automatic Hazard Detection
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The Problem:
Birds, stray animals, or forgotten debris (FOD) on the runway can cause catastrophic accidents. Currently, this relies heavily on human eyes.
The Challenge:
How can we use technology (drones, smart sensors, or vision systems) to automatically spot and alert ground control about any “uninvited guests” on the runway in real-time?
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is the backbone of any aviation hub—a complex ecosystem where logistics, engineering, and sustainability meet. This section focuses on optimizing the “hidden engine”: from predictive runway maintenance and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) management to the digitalization of ground handling flows. The challenge is to build a functional “Digital Twin” that makes operations greener, faster, and more resilient.
Predicting Runway Grip
The Problem:
Pilots need to know exactly how “slippery” a runway is. Elements like ice, slush, or standing water change second-by-second, and manual reporting is slow.
The Challenge:
How can we calculate and transmit the runway’s contamination level (snow, ice, or water) in real-time to the cockpit, ensuring every landing is based on live data?
Securing Critical Machinery
The Problem:
Behind the scenes, the airport relies on a “nervous system” of heavy machinery—fuel pumps, baggage belts, and climate controls. If these industrial systems are tampered with or suffer a cyber-attack, the entire airport grinds to a halt.
The Challenge:
How can we build a shield for this critical infrastructure? We need a way to spot digital threats or physical tampering in real-time, ensuring that the invisible machines keeping the airport alive are resilient against any disruption.
Disruption Copilot
The Problem:
Duty managers juggle delays, gate swaps, and staffing shortfalls with no real-time decision support—firefighting manually while cascading failures pile up.
The Challenge:
Build a live alert + recommendation engine that predicts “what breaks next” and suggests ranked actions with explainability.
Resource Planner Overlay
The Problem:
Most small airports run stand/gate/desk planning on clunky legacy RMS or pure Excel—slow, error-prone, zero conflict detection.
The Challenge:
Create a modern drag-and-drop resource board that coexists with existing systems, detects conflicts, and suggests resolutions in real time.
Passenger Flow Predictor
The Problem:
Security and check-in queues spike unpredictably; staff react too late, passenger experience tanks, and complaints follow.
The Challenge:
Predict queue times 60–120 min ahead using lightweight inputs and recommend lane/staffing actions before the wave hits.
Airport Data Hub
The Problem:
Legacy systems don’t talk to each other; every new digital initiative stalls on integration, and there’s no single source of operational truth.
The Challenge:
Build connectors + a canonical data model that normalizes flights, resources, and events into clean APIs any app can use.
AI-Native AODB (Airport Operations DataBase)
The Problem:
Legacy AODBs are passive data stores—manual entry, stale ETAs, conflicting sources, zero intelligence. Small airports either overpay for bloated systems or run on duct tape.
The Challenge:
Build a predictive, self-healing flight data layer that ingests messy inputs, reconciles conflicts, and surfaces insights—starting as an overlay, earning the right to become the core.
UX
The passenger experience doesn’t start at the boarding gate; it begins the moment they leave for the airport. This category is dedicated to innovators who want to eliminate travel stress through human-centered technology. From high-precision indoor navigation and touchless biometric processes to intelligent baggage tracking, the goal is to transform transit into a fluid, intuitive, and memorable digital experience.
Measuring Passengers Satisfaction
The Problem:
Airports often only find out a passenger was unhappy after they leave. We need to know how they feel while they are in the terminal.
The Challenge:
How can we measure passenger stress or satisfaction at different points in the journey (check-in, security, waiting area) and use that data to improve their experience instantly?
Effortless Indoor Navigation
The Problem:
GPS stops working the moment you enter a building. For a passenger in a rush, finding a specific gate, pharmacy, or lounge can be frustrating.
The Challenge:
How can we use indoor tech (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AR) to create a “Blue Dot” navigation experience that guides a person to their exact destination inside the terminal?
Retail Reimagined: The Future of Airport Shopping
The Problem:
Airport shops are often ignored by passengers who are either stressed or bored at the gate. Traditional “duty-free” needs a digital-age makeover.
The Challenge:
How can we innovate airport retail? Think personalized offers, “order-to-gate” delivery, or interactive experiences that turn waiting time into an exciting part of the trip.
The Digital Passenger Ally
The Problem:
Airport terminals are high-stress environments where information is fragmented and physical help is hard to find. Whether it’s a traveler looking for a gate or a passenger with reduced mobility (PRM) waiting for a wheelchair, the lack of real-time transparency leads to anxiety and operational bottlenecks.
The Challenge:
Build a “no-download” digital interface that empowers every passenger to navigate the terminal, query live data, or request and track personalized assistance in real-time. Your solution should transform the passenger journey from a passive wait into an empowered, self-service experience.
Portable Digital Identity
The Problem:
Passengers show their passport 4+ times per trip—check-in, security, lounge, gate—creating queues, friction, and redundant verification at every touchpoint.
The Challenge:
Enable verify-once, travel-everywhere: a biometric or token-based identity (wallet) that follows the passenger, sharing verification status (not raw data) across airport and airline systems.