Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has announced that its ArcGIS technology will assist Dublin Airport on its Digital Twin journey. The digital twin will create one trusted view of the priority assets and system across the campus, helping daa plan and prioritise its multi-billion-euro capital investment programme as the airport scales for 40 million passengers a year. Earlier visibility of maintenance needs will help teams make faster decisions and direct investment where it is needed most.
With 50 airlines flying to almost 200 destinations, Dublin Airport is continuing to expand its infrastructure and operations. The ArcGIS platform provides a shared foundation for major infrastructure projects across the campus, including the new runway, terminal extensions, additional car park capacity and a future transport hub for the Metro. Bringing planning and asset information together enables daa to coordinate projects at scale, while aligning infrastructure investment with the airport’s long-term development. Dublin Airport’s adoption of digital twin technology places it among the earliest airports worldwide to do so, alongside pioneers such as San Francisco and Hong Kong.
The digital twin will bring CAD, BIM and IoT sensor data into one system, giving daa a single, authoritative and unified view of critical infrastructure, from 307 kilometres of water pipelines to more than 8,500 airfield ground lights. This will enable a “predict and prevent” approach to maintenance, giving teams earlier insight into what is needed so repairs can be prioritised and investment directed where it will deliver the most value.
For passengers, the focus is on reducing waiting times. By identifying pressure points around areas such as security queues and escalators, the system can show where resources should be directed to improve passenger flow.
Existing ArcGIS applications already demonstrate how the technology is improving day-to-day operations, helping the sharing of information, reducing risk and delivering services more efficiently. ArcGIS Survey123 and ArcGIS Dashboards are used for activities ranging from manhole surveys and crane inspections to a structured Shift Handover application used by more than 40 team leaders. By standardising the transfer of information between shifts, the application supports continuity of ongoing work and provides senior management with live updates twice daily.
Interactive dashboards provide real-time visibility across the organisation, from senior executives to airfield teams, making complex engineering information accessible to technical and non-technical staff alike. The technology also supports safety and compliance across the airport, including fire hydrant mapping and regulatory reporting for the Irish Aviation Authority.
daa is also leveraging the ArcGIS platform to advance its sustainability ambitions through energy monitoring, noise mapping and flight path analysis. As the digital twin develops, these capabilities will continue to evolve, supporting more efficient airport operations and daa’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Michael Earley, BIM and Digital Manager, daa, said: “A digital twin gives us the insight to make faster decisions by bringing together information that was previously spread across multiple systems. It means our teams can work from the same information and have a clearer picture of what is happening across the airport. It lays the foundations to support future growth as we work towards serving 40 million passengers a year.”
Damien Garry, Asset Management, Information Technology and Development Manager, daa, said: “Esri’s technology helps us manage infrastructure more efficiently and enhance the passenger experience. As we continue to invest in the airport’s expansion, having this level of visibility will be critical to delivering projects safely and sustainably. The technology gives us greater confidence in the decisions we are making as the airport continues to grow.”
Padraig Quinn, Senior Account Manager, Esri Ireland, said: “Dublin Airport is demonstrating how location intelligence can provide the foundation for the airport of the future. By creating a single, trusted view of its infrastructure and operations, daa can make more informed decisions and deliver a better experience for millions of passengers. Digital twins will play an increasingly important role in helping airports build more resilient and passenger-focused operations. We’re proud to support this transformation with ArcGIS as Dublin Airport continues its investment in future growth.”
