BACKGROUND

The effective use of an Internet of Things (IoT)—a network of connected devices—installation in an airport setting can provide data and, in turn, improve many aspects of the airport’s business, operations, and passenger experience. Since the publication of ACRP Research Report 191: A Primer to Prepare for the Connected Airport and the Internet of Things, significant advancements have been made in the enabling technologies and the diversity of IoT solutions, including hardware and software products. To leverage these advancements, airports need updated guidance on planning and deploying IoT equipment, developing processes for managing and operationalizing the output, and identifying target areas of improvement.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this project is to develop (1) a guide for U.S. airports that provides strategies for developing or improving an integrated IoT program and (2) a menu of IoT use cases scalable to U.S. airports of all sizes and all levels of information technology (IT) maturity. Each use case should consider and/or affect one or more airport stakeholders or users, including passengers, airport employees, government partners, and tenants.

The guide should, at a minimum, address or include:

• Best practices and lessons learned from current implementations of IoT technologies and solutions that apply to airports of all sizes and maturity levels;
• Implementation roadmaps for airports at all levels of IT maturity corresponding with the menu of IoT use cases;
• Facility and technology infrastructure;
• Increasing the utilization of mature, existing technology deployments;
• A review of emerging technologies (e.g., private wireless networks, battery advancements, novel power source solutions, autonomous devices);
• Strategies for future planning;
• Guidance on developing a business case for deploying IoT devices and their associated software solutions, including a cost/benefit analysis, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs);
• Risk assessment guidance, including cybersecurity considerations;
• Regulatory compliance;
• Data governance;
• Organization-wide procurement and contracting strategies for existing and future contracts; and
• Staffing considerations to support the implementation, adoption, and management of IoT solutions.

RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan shall include, at a minimum, the following interim deliverables for ACRP review and approval:

• A literature review;
• A data collection plan;
• The proposed format of the menu of IoT use cases along with an updated list of use cases cross-referenced by pertinent variables (e.g., stakeholder, airport size, and/or maturity of IoT implementation); and
• An interim report, including a summary of the research to date, an annotated outline of the guide, an updated list of use cases, and potential follow-on research ideas to be developed into problem statements. 

The research plan shall include, at a minimum, the following checkpoints with the ACRP panel:

• A kick-off web meeting to be held within 1 month of the Notice to Proceed;
• One face-to-face interim deliverable review meeting;
• A 1-hour web meeting to be held during the week following the delivery of each quarterly progress report; and
• Web meetings tied to the panel review and ACRP approval of other interim deliverables deemed appropriate.

The final deliverables will include:

• The guide;
• The menu of IoT use cases;
• A Contractor’s Final Report documenting all research steps, results, and analyses;
• A technical memo titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”;
• The Summary of Key Findings; and
• The Further Recommended Research Memo. 

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.