VIP+

Airport 4.0 - Opportunities, Challenges and Risks of Digitization of Airports and Impact on Airline Management Practices

The fourth industrial revolution challenges the Air Transport industry, including airports and airlines, to adopt new standards to increase productivity and save resources through IoT platforms.  Engineers and technicians need new skills to make the transition and to transform airports into I4.0 facilities.  This VIP project exposes students to contemporary topics and future trends in airport digitization and related industries fostering the development of their leadership and entrepreneurial skills and enhancing their employability and potential for initiating startups.

Digital solutions for airport operations aim to enhance commercial and technical efficiency. Digital transformations have different stakeholders, such as airlines, ground handling, duty free shops, restaurants, and other service providers.  They span different platforms including websites, smart phones, GUIs, and digital screens, leveraging diverse technologies, such as biometric check-in, thermal scanners, and other smart phone applications.

Airport 4.0 systems encompass equipment and devices used throughout the passenger, baggage, and aircraft journey.  These devices are transformed into cyber-physical systems with capabilities to autonomously make decisions based on data collected via cloud-based IoT platforms. 

This VIP project serves as a comprehensive umbrella for many potential future-focused projects.  Initially, the project prioritizes the integration of digital technologies and process innovations to enhance the travel experience through digitization and data science, with a specific emphasis on passenger handling within airport terminals. 

Presently, airports are introducing technology to expedite processing, enhance safety, and improve efficiency for passengers across various stages of their journey. However, existing knowledge on innovation to enrich the passenger experience remains limited. The primary focus of this project is to advance knowledge in this area and equip our graduates with the requisite skills for navigating the transition to a digitalized world, thereby transforming airports into Industry 4.0 facilities. The project will continue to expand in various directions, with diverse focuses falling under the umbrella of Airport 4.0.

Digital initiatives encompass more than just the implementation or development of new technologies. Another key aspect of this project involves addressing the softer facets of the digitization process, including cultural, legal, security, and organizational considerations. Furthermore, the project is concerned with quantifying the economic impacts of digital initiatives and mitigating the associated risks.

Desired Disciplines

The project is multi disciplinary and needs students from different academic background to work on it.  In particular, students from the following disciplines and with the following skillset are needed:

Team Leader

Testimonial

Whoever is reading this,

If you are thinking about joining a Vertically Integrated Project, Airport 4.0 with Dr. Pierette Zouein, is a “structured” considering. On a very practical objective level, it is a strong line on your CV: it is relatively more concrete than most projects as you are able to claim a contribution to an ongoing airport operations and innovation initiative, with real data, real constraints, and structured deliverables. That gives you concrete examples to talk about in interviews instead of vague claims about skills.

What you gain, however, goes beyond the CV. You are exposed to proper modelling, data handling, documentation, and presentations, all within a realistic airport context. You learn how to structure a problem, break it down into models and KPIs, and then communicate your work clearly. There is also a sense of continuity: this VIP is not a dead end:  your outputs feed into future phases, and the project keeps evolving over time. Or, to put it more simply, at least with Dr. Pierette, it doesn’t become a dead end.

It is also honest to say that the workload is heavy. Dr. Zouein has some EXTREMELY HIGH attention to details. The rumors you hear about the amount of work are true: you will revise, refine, and push your work further than in a normal course. But the difference is that the effort translates into visible growth in your skills as you’ll discover some bounds within the scope of work you didn’t know existed. If you are looking for an easy “relaxing” VIP, this is not it. If you are looking for something that actually hones your skillset and that you can confidently advertise, then Airport 4.0 with Dr. Pierette is a very solid choice, especially if you’re seeking a career in pure INE.

-Anonymously, an airport 4.0 contributor

 

Whoever is reading this,

If you’re thinking about VIP Airport 4.0 with Dr. Pierette, here’s an honest version from someone who’s been in it.

You do learn a lot, but not in a “theoretical” way, it’s because there’s a lot of work, and many tiny navigations. You read, research, build models, fix mistakes, and get a lot of comments on your writing. Over time, you get better at explaining ideas clearly, organizing your thoughts, and dealing with “messy” problems that don’t have one straight answer. That’s the biggest gain for me, more than any single topic.

It also changes how you work with people. You’re not just doing your part of a random group project; you’re working in a team that has to keep the same project moving forward over time. You learn how to divide tasks, push each other, and accept that sometimes your first version isn’t good enough and that’s normal.

The rumors about the workload are true because there are busy weeks and it can be stressful. But if you’re okay with being pushed and you want to actually practice research, writing, and problem-solving in a real context (not just in an exam), then Airport 4.0 with Dr. Pierette is a solid choice. It’s demanding, but it’s real work, not just filler.

-Anonymously, an airport 4.0 contributor