Passenger-centric Intermodal Traffic Management involving Airports and Railways

Abstract

The FAA envisioned seamless air traffic in its Destination2025 report. Developing such an air transportation system will require the conjunction of different transport modes. Whereas physical connections for intermodal transport are already in the focus of stakeholders at an airport, a conjunction on a management level is also desirable. Efficiency and predictability of operations could be increased, if the position of passengers within the operational chain at an airport was known in addition to the location of every aircraft. We present a Passenger Information System in the form of an app for smartphones. It provides passengers with real-time information such as estimated remaining time to reach the gate throughout the journey and allows stakeholders, such as airlines and airports, to make decisions based on passenger locations. We employ our virtual intermodal traffic management system to test the application with a realistic flight plan, airport terminal layout, and train schedule. Usability and acceptance of the smartphone app is tested in a survey covering functionality and user-friendliness.