The Airport Decision Engine: Real-Time Digital Twins for Complex Operations

Airports are among the most complex, dynamic environments in the world - where passenger flow, aircraft operations, security, and commercial performance must operate in sync. While digital twins have been widely discussed, the industry is now moving beyond static visualization toward real-time, operational digital twins that act as decision engines.

This session explores how next-generation airport digital twins- integrating IoT, LiDAR, video analytics, GIS, BIM, Business Systems and AI - are evolving into immersive, spatial computing platforms that enable real-time situational awareness, predictive analytics, and operational optimization.

Drawing from live deployments and case studies at major international airports, including enterprise-scale programs at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, this presentation introduces the concept of the “motional digital twin” - a system that models and responds to movement across passengers, vehicles, and assets in real time.

Attendees will learn how these systems:

• Improve passenger flow and reduce congestion 
• Enable predictive operations and simulation-driven planning
• Unlock non-aeronautical revenue through spatial intelligence Bridge digital twins with XR interfaces for operational teams

This talk connects the dots between digital twins and XR, showing how immersive interfaces are becoming the next layer of interaction for complex infrastructure systems.