Digital Twins for Airports

Decision making in an airport environment is often complex and time-consuming. Many decisions involve numerous stakeholders and considerable resources and can include an element of unanticipated adverse impacts if a less-than-optimal decision is made. “Digital twins” are detailed virtual representations of a facility or system that are kept up-to-date with real-time data. The most advanced examples are supported by machine learning and reasoning. Digital twins allow for speedier and more confident decision making, enabling not only a better understanding of how a system operates but also how a system might operate under different parameters. Although initially limited to the domain of manufacturers and engineers, digital twins are being employed in an ever-widening array of settings. Since airports often consist of a complex set of interactive systems, the potential value of digital twins for airports could be significant. Yet the development, operation, and maintenance of a digitial twin will require a significant investment of resources, and research is needed to help airports understand the potential benefits of digital twins and the steps for implementing and maintaining a digital twin for their airport.   The objective of this research is to develop guidance and tools for airports to evaluate the potential benefits that a digital twin might provide for decision making, identify which aspects of the airport could be included, and develop a digital twin that is scalable to their unique needs. 

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5205
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $350000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 03-66

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Airport Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Project Managers:

  Griffin, Matthew

• Start Date: 20210818
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Decision making; Digital simulation
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01779210
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 03-66
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 16 2021 3:16PM