Simulation Modeling Approach for Evaluating a Solution Designed to Alleviate the Congestion of Passenger Flow at the Composure Area of Security Checkpoints

In a previous study, we found that replacing the exit roller of a security checkpoint lane for a continuously circulating conveyor could potentially increase the throughput of passengers by over 28% while maintaining the TSA security-waiting time limit (Janer and Rossetti 2016). This study intends to expand this previous effort by investigating the impact of this circulating conveyor on the secondary screening related processes. Leone and Liu (2011) found that imposing a limit on the x-ray screening time, and diverting any item exceeding this limit to secondary screening, could decrease the waiting time by 43%. Our objective is to verify Leone and Lui’s findings using discrete event simulation, and evaluate the effect of a circulating conveyor on these findings. In particular, we intend to optimize univariate response curves of the same response variable in Leone and Liu’s effort. Simulation will be used to evaluate the optimal solution, and investigate the possibility of replacing a traditional two-lane system with a single lane having the circulating conveyor in place

Intermodal connection management with passengers' trajectories

In the course of an intermodal journey, there are varying compensation policies covering topics like missed connections, delays or denied boarding on the intra-modal level. The risks of an inter-modal journey usually lie with the travellers. This study examines how an integrated solution can be offered with the focus on transfer situations for air passengers commuting by public transport. For this purpose, in a first step, the concept of the digital twin is transferred to the traveller, creating a virtual image of his journey, the so-called passenger trajectory. In the second step, scheduled departures and arrivals are blended with these passenger trajectories, resulting in a detailed service demand for all relevant infrastructures and means of transport. The third step is data enrichment with real-time information and forecasts that keep track of demand. Digitisation of passengers’ trajectories, system wide information exchange and real-time based situational awareness improve resource utilization as well as intermodal connectivity

Airport Passenger Arrival Process: Estimation of Earliness Arrival Functions

Abstract Airport terminals are complex nodes where passengers are processed under limited capacity conditions. Congestion problems and delays are likely to occur, with negative impacts on customer satisfaction. To keep high quality levels, the knowledge of passengers' arrival patterns is a key factor. In this study, a methodology based on the use of Bar Coded Boarding Pass (BCBP) technologies has been proposed to estimate arrival rate functions for different types of passengers (Low Cost and Full Carrier passengers) and time of the day. The results obtained for a test case have been analysed and discussed

Public Transport to the Airport and Its Influence on Handling Process

The paper focuses on several possibilities of the mass public transport to the airport, including analyses of the expected impact on the various airport processes. Within the article, three main transportation system types will be described and compared. Firstly, the problem regarding current bus transfer system to the Václav Havel airport Prague will be analyzed. According to the analysis results the focus now turns to the description of the potential influence of the introduction of the new transfer systems, including the impact on the airport security and passport control process, and other procedures, which include some kind of a queuing process. This airport was chosen as the biggest airport in the Czech Republic, which in today and future business environment could expect problems related to the public transport of the passengers to and from the airport. Besides the description of the current structure, the paper tries to elaborate issues such as calculation of the queue waiting times and to propose a new system, more suitable for the given conditions. Results of the research include various calculations, such dependence of a modal split and intervals of the waiting times within a check-in process

Analysis of Airport Security Screening Checkpoints using Queuing Networks and Discrete Event Simulation: A Theoretical and Empirical Approach

This study utilized discrete event simulation (DES) and queuing networks to investigate the effects of baggage volume and alarm rate at the Security Screening Checkpoint (SSCP) of a small origin and destination airport. A Jackson queuing network was considered for a theoretical assessment to SSCP performance. A DES model using Arena version 12 was utilized for an empirical approach. Data was collected from both literature and by manual collection methods. Manual data was collected during the peak operating time of 6am-7am local time at the airport being modeled. The simulation model was verified and validated qualitatively and quantitatively by statistical testing before experimentation. After validation, a sensitivity analysis was performed on baggage volume of passengers (PAX) and the alarm rate of baggage screening devices, where SSCP throughput and PAX cycle time were the dependent measures. The theoretical queuing network approach proved an accurate method of predicting cycle time, but only under limited steady-state conditions. The empirical model and sensitivity analysis showed that SSCP performance is highly sensitive to alarm rate in both throughput and cycle time. Furthermore, empirical modeling and sensitivity analysis showed that SSCP performance was moderately sensitive to alarm rate, and completely resilient to the effects of baggage volume. Practical implications and future directions were also discussed at the conclusion of the study

Revealing Influencing Factors of Check-in Time

Air passengers are particularly faced with uncertainty during their travel. Information regarding the expected check-in time is not sufficient enough. In many cases, there is no infrastructure to measure the time of check-in process and to inform passengers. The aim of our research was to elaborate a method based on historical data in order to reveal the influencing factors and their effects on time elements (queuing and service time). We have considered various air-carrier operational types, periods of the year and destinations. The cases of each type and their combinations have been fully investigated. The most important influencing factors are: passenger numbers, baggage to passenger ratio, ratio of wheelchair passengers and the number of open check-in counters. The results serve as input data for prediction of check-in time in a personalized passenger information service

Using hybrid technique: the integration of data analytics and queuing theory for average service time estimation at Immigration Service, Suvarnabhumi Airport

In the past few years, Thai tourism industry has become one of the big markets in the world that makes the number of air passenger has growth rapidly.The survey shows that 15,883,928 passengers arrived at Suvarnabhumi international airport, Thailand in 2015 which increase around 11% every year.Due to this reason, the airport needs to seek for effective strategies to operate an immigration service in order to avoid long waiting time.The effective immigration operation actually can gain passenger satisfaction. In addition, the fast immigration process provides the significant benefit for businesses in the airport because short immigration waiting time would be able to increase the purchase amount in shopping area.This paper aims to propose the hybrid method, the intregration of data analytics and queuing theory, for average service time estimation at the immigration unit, Suvarnabhumi airport. From the experimental study, the proposed technique can estimate the average service time, server utilization and average number of passengers in a queue based on the statistic of arrival passengers. The result shows that the number of opened counter and month are the factors to provide different results

In Defense of the Broader Application of Virtual Queues

The broader application of virtual queues is proposed. A review of the current state of queuing theory is presented as well as an acknowledgment of the deficiencies in the practicality of queuing theory. It is suggested that the queuing process can be improved by implementing the option of pursuing a virtual line. Specifically, the potential utility of introducing virtual queues is discussed in the context of the FastPass system, highlighting the major features of the method as well as examining the disadvantages of the service. The implementation of a FastPass-style queuing process outside of theme parks is presented as a combination of two common, everyday queuing principles, namely the first-come, first-served and reservation systems. A case study analyzing the impact of applying the proposed queuing system to a customer call center is investigated in which clients have the option to receive a call-back time in place of waiting for a representative. Finally, a review of two primary obstacles to the complete application of the queuing model is conducted