Airport News

Manchester Airports Group is to use GIS (Geographical Information System) technology to better manage its assets and growth plans.

The Esri UK developed system will allow MAG's airports to map and record asset information in one central  database and share it between any department.

Due to go live in 2014, implementation is already underway with major development projects such as Manchester’s Airport City set to be among the first to benefit from the new system.

According to Esri, the GIS will combine multiple layers of information on the same map, enabling MAG to visualise assets in many different ways, helping each airport to manage the increasing diversity of each site and visualise the future requirements.

“The best way of looking at what we do across such complex sites, and communicating it around the business, is on a map,” states Vickie Withnell, Group GIS Advisor at MAG.

“As the airports evolve, we need the right tools to determine how to optimise use of our assets and resources.

"By joining-up related parts of the business, GIS will play a crucial role in helping shape each airport’s future growth and development."

Such detailed site data combined with catchment area data will enable MAG to visually manage the assets at each of its four airports, influencing both development and operational needs.

Withnell says that it will also allow for the introduction of new ways of working and increasing collaboration between airport departments with master planning, asset management, finance, property and engineering, amongst others, sharing the same central source of asset data.

A set of automated processes will also make data updates more efficient and accurate.

“By having a single source of asset information that informs the whole business, each airport will become better connected internally and be able to make faster business decisions,” enthuses Withnell.

“Visualising assets in a single view gives airports the big picture needed to manage their increasing diversity,” comments Graham Wallace, business strategist, Esri UK.

“Using GIS simplifies the entire lifecycle of asset data, making it easier to share and harnesses its true business value.”