The digital twin of Milan Bergamo Airport
Milan Bergamo Airport focuses on innovation with the arrival of the "digital twin" to optimize ground operations. The airport is preparing to take a significant step forward in the field of technological innovation thanks to the AVIO Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a "digital twin" of the airport. It is a digital replica of the physical infrastructure, which will make it possible to substantially improve the management of airport operations, enhancing situational awareness and real-time decision-making capacity.
At the heart of the project is the development of an advanced digital platform that will integrate real-time data streams from numerous sources, including computer vision algorithms based on video analysis from cameras already in the field. The information processed in this way will be represented in an intuitive and integrated way, for the benefit of the Operational Coordination of the Scalo (COS). Not only that: the digital twin will also be used in immersive training activities for ground personnel, through Virtual Reality simulations, increasing the operational experience of employees thanks to the potential of cutting-edge technology.
The project, co-financed by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy as part of the Complementary Fund to the PNRR (CUP B49J24002200005), is the result of a synergistic collaboration between four important players: SACBO (project coordinator and manager of Milan Bergamo Airport - BGY) together with TXT e-tech, a digital enabler company, SORINT. TEK, a Sorint.LAB group company specializing in Advanced Analytics and IoT, and the University of Pavia.
This collaboration, which is set to last three years, aims to accelerate digital innovation in the airport sector, generating a significant impact on the Bergamo airport and contributing, in parallel, to the evolution of the entire national airport system in line with European digitalisation objectives.
For the development of the digital twin and the VR environment for staff training, SACBO will provide a state-of-the-art technological infrastructure, equipped with an HP Enterprise HPC supercomputer , with high-performance Invidia GPUs. The project also involves the use of innovative devices such as hyperspectral cameras and de-icing simulators for staff training in a Virtual Reality environment.
Through AVIO, Milan Bergamo Airport confirms itself as a hub of excellence in the digital transition of air transport, focusing on operational efficiency, safety and advanced staff training. A model that looks to the future, with the aim of extending itself as a best practice at national and European level.
"A project that looks to the near future and to technological developments in airport management - underlines Giovanni Sanga, President of SACBO. In addition to making its know-how available, the management company of Milan Bergamo Airport will be a forerunner in the development of the digital twin in Italian airports".
"The AVIO project will be a central element of the airport's digital ecosystem," adds Amelia Corti, SACBO General Manager , "it will increase collaboration between stakeholders, make it possible to further streamline the operational processes relating to the so-called "ground operations", to improve the level of safety and security with an increase in service levels that will also benefit passengers in terms of customer experience".
