UC 1819 Innovation Hub, CVG join forces to transform airport technology
New approaches improve passenger experiences
1819 Innovation Hub staff tour Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport behind the scenes. Photo courtesy of 1819 Innovation Hub
Thousands of travelers pass through Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) every day, and another 16,000 people comprise the airport’s workforce. As a “city within a city,” the 7,500-acre campus serves as a living laboratory where officials are continuously redefining the airport experience through innovation.
On a tour of the airport organized by the 1819 Innovation Hub’s Partner Success team, University of Cincinnati students, staff and corporate partners learned about the groundbreaking advancements in air travel made possible through research engagements with UC, other universities, corporations, governments and more.
UC students and researchers have open minds when it comes to solving a challenge we pose. We are always looking for new approaches and innovative technology to improve our expanding digital and robotic ecosystem to improve customer experiences.
Brian Cobb CVG chief innovation officer
Four innovation verticals
As the tour guides explained, CVG's innovation strategies are centered around four verticals: transport, connect, clean and secure. Staff and leaders are dedicated to
- Remaining ahead of transportation infrastructure demands and adopting new technologies
- Creating curated experiences for customers that ensure information is accurate, meaningful and empowering
- Serving as a socially conscious neighbor for the region and industry, pushing beyond regulated minimums
- Anticipating sensitive security implications, emerging threats and soft targets
"CVG is committed to innovative efficiencies to redefine the travel experience," said Josh Edewards, CVG senior manager, strategic innovation.
- Employing best practices to advance industry standards, CVG is known for several innovations:
- Being the first airport to display security wait times for passengers
- Serving as the only North American airport location for a DHL “SuperHub”
- Being the first to incorporate Bluetooth data to improve customer experiences
- Serving as the primary U.S. hub for Amazon Air, with options to expand its recent 1 million- square-foot facility
Better airport experiences through technology
Brian Cobb, chief innovation officer at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Photo courtesy of 1819 Innovation Hub
Harnessing technology to improve operations is paramount for CVG executives like Chief Innovation Officer Brian Cobb, who collaborated with UC doctoral student Javier Viaña in the College of Engineering and Applied Science to analyze wait times at airport security.
Using airport technology, Viaña identified the number of people entering terminal checkpoints by developing a customized algorithm to predict surges of travelers within 15-minute increments.
“This information was of great value in continuous work to manage wait times for passengers,” said Cobb.
Cobb explained how CVG serves as an ideal incubator for entrepreneurial innovators who wish to test an idea.
“UC students and researchers have open minds when it comes to solving a challenge we pose,” he said. “We are always looking for new approaches and innovative technology to improve our expanding digital and robotic ecosystem to improve customer experiences.”
Featured image at top: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Photo courtesy of 1819 Innovation Hub
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