Case Studies QLD Airports Deploys OneBlink to Create a Safer, More Efficient Workplace In The Air and On The Ground

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	QLD Airports Deploys OneBlink to Create a Safer, More Efficient Workplace In The Air and On The Ground

QLD Airports Deploys OneBlink to Create a Safer, More Efficient Workplace In The Air and On The Ground

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Industries	Transportation
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Facility Management Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Digital Twin Predictive Maintenance Real-Time Location System (RTLS) Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration Training
Challenge	The efficient management and day-to-day operation of any airport involves a lot of paperwork. From flight departures and arrivals to security and baggage handling, there is information that needs to be captured and a myriad of forms that must be completed every day. Often the information is double-handled. Field and operational staff fill out a paper form or computer spreadsheet which is subsequently hand delivered or emailed to another staff member so that the data can be keyed into another information system. This may happen several times for a single dataset, not only consuming valuable time but creating multiple opportunities for data to become inaccurate. In early 2012, Ford decided it was time to find a better way of managing data capture and data flows. In place of clipboards and paper forms, she wanted to deploy an enterprise mobile platform that could communicate with all mobile devices and enable access to almost any QAL computer system or file. Her aim was to provide staff with a mobile tool that would allow them to read and update data in key information systems such as Microsoft SharePoint and Finance One. Read More
About Customer	Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) is a 100 per cent Australian owned regional airport specialist. Based in Queensland, the organisation owns and operates Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports. As part of its portfolio of aviation support businesses, it also owns the Northern Australian Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Townsville, AVIEX (an aircraft maintenance and painting operation) based in Townsville, and Aviation Ground Handling which has a significant presence at five of Queensland’s regional airports. QAL is responsible for the efficient management and day-to-day operation of these airports, which involves a lot of paperwork and data management. The organisation aims to improve its processes and create a safer, more efficient workplace through the deployment of advanced technology solutions. Read More
Solution	The platform chosen to achieve this was the Blink Mobility Platform, an Australian-developed solution that enables rapid development and deployment of mobile business services. Using the BlinkForms module within the securely hosted platform, Ford planned to develop electronic forms that would enable data to be completed real-time and uploaded directly to the airport’s systems using a variety of commonly available tablets, phones, and laptops. Out of the plethora of possible forms replacement projects, Ford decided to begin with the lost property form. Before the BlinkForms deployment, if a passenger reported a lost item, the QAL Duty Manager and passenger would have to return to the duty manager’s office where a search would be run on the lost property database. With BlinkForms in place, duty managers now simply use an iPad to instantly search the database from anywhere in the airport. The new process removes previous duplicate data entry requirements, minimises disruption to work schedules, and ensures faster customer service as queries are resolved within seconds. The project was judged a complete success and board approval was soon received for additional development. One of the next forms to go from manual to mobile was the Bird Count Register. Every morning, as part of the airport’s environmental management responsibilities, Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) drive onto the tarmac and complete a report noting the type and number of birds that can be observed in the air. Previously, the data had to be written down on a piece of paper and then keyed into the information system. Today ASOs use mobile devices to enter the data directly into SharePoint via BlinkForms. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms

Applicable Industries

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Facility Management

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Digital Twin

Predictive Maintenance

Real-Time Location System (RTLS)

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

The efficient management and day-to-day operation of any airport involves a lot of paperwork. From flight departures and arrivals to security and baggage handling, there is information that needs to be captured and a myriad of forms that must be completed every day. Often the information is double-handled. Field and operational staff fill out a paper form or computer spreadsheet which is subsequently hand delivered or emailed to another staff member so that the data can be keyed into another information system. This may happen several times for a single dataset, not only consuming valuable time but creating multiple opportunities for data to become inaccurate. In early 2012, Ford decided it was time to find a better way of managing data capture and data flows. In place of clipboards and paper forms, she wanted to deploy an enterprise mobile platform that could communicate with all mobile devices and enable access to almost any QAL computer system or file. Her aim was to provide staff with a mobile tool that would allow them to read and update data in key information systems such as Microsoft SharePoint and Finance One.

About Customer

Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) is a 100 per cent Australian owned regional airport specialist. Based in Queensland, the organisation owns and operates Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports. As part of its portfolio of aviation support businesses, it also owns the Northern Australian Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Townsville, AVIEX (an aircraft maintenance and painting operation) based in Townsville, and Aviation Ground Handling which has a significant presence at five of Queensland’s regional airports. QAL is responsible for the efficient management and day-to-day operation of these airports, which involves a lot of paperwork and data management. The organisation aims to improve its processes and create a safer, more efficient workplace through the deployment of advanced technology solutions.

Solution

The platform chosen to achieve this was the Blink Mobility Platform, an Australian-developed solution that enables rapid development and deployment of mobile business services. Using the BlinkForms module within the securely hosted platform, Ford planned to develop electronic forms that would enable data to be completed real-time and uploaded directly to the airport’s systems using a variety of commonly available tablets, phones, and laptops. Out of the plethora of possible forms replacement projects, Ford decided to begin with the lost property form. Before the BlinkForms deployment, if a passenger reported a lost item, the QAL Duty Manager and passenger would have to return to the duty manager’s office where a search would be run on the lost property database. With BlinkForms in place, duty managers now simply use an iPad to instantly search the database from anywhere in the airport. The new process removes previous duplicate data entry requirements, minimises disruption to work schedules, and ensures faster customer service as queries are resolved within seconds. The project was judged a complete success and board approval was soon received for additional development. One of the next forms to go from manual to mobile was the Bird Count Register. Every morning, as part of the airport’s environmental management responsibilities, Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) drive onto the tarmac and complete a report noting the type and number of birds that can be observed in the air. Previously, the data had to be written down on a piece of paper and then keyed into the information system. Today ASOs use mobile devices to enter the data directly into SharePoint via BlinkForms.

Impact #1	The new process removes previous duplicate data entry requirements, minimises disruption to work schedules, and ensures faster customer service as queries are resolved within seconds.
Impact #2	Mobility was introduced to QAL’s incident register, making it far more accessible so that any QAL staff can quickly report potential safety hazards to the safety officer.
Impact #3	All aircraft movements are recorded via BlinkForms, ensuring real-time data entry and reducing the number of hands the data passes through.

Impact #1

The new process removes previous duplicate data entry requirements, minimises disruption to work schedules, and ensures faster customer service as queries are resolved within seconds.

Impact #2

Mobility was introduced to QAL’s incident register, making it far more accessible so that any QAL staff can quickly report potential safety hazards to the safety officer.

Impact #3

All aircraft movements are recorded via BlinkForms, ensuring real-time data entry and reducing the number of hands the data passes through.

Benefit #1	The current program of manual form replacement is likely to continue for at least another 18 months to two years.
Benefit #2	The new process ensures faster customer service as queries are resolved within seconds.
Benefit #3	The OneBlink deployment has reduced the number of hands the data passes through from five or six to real-time online entry.

Benefit #1

The current program of manual form replacement is likely to continue for at least another 18 months to two years.

Benefit #2

The new process ensures faster customer service as queries are resolved within seconds.

Benefit #3

The OneBlink deployment has reduced the number of hands the data passes through from five or six to real-time online entry.

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Overview

QLD Airports Deploys OneBlink to Create a Safer, More Efficient Workplace In The Air and On The Ground

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit