Pittsburgh International Airport Partners With AI Startup Zensors To Provide Live Wait Times For TSA Lines

March 17, 2020

New technology connected to camera network generates accurate estimates within two minutes of time passengers will spend in security lines.

PITTSBURGH – With the summer travel season in full swing, flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport just got easier through a partnership between the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Pittsburgh software firm Zensors.

Technology developed by Zensors is being used to solve one of air travel’s biggest pain points: waiting in line at security. Data gathered via closed-circuit cameras will be used to generate an accurate estimate, within two minutes, for the amount of time passengers will wait in any of the three lines at the airport’s primary security checkpoint. Those times will be displayed on screens throughout the Landside Terminal as well as on the airport’s website, FlyPittsburgh.com, and its app. Wait times at the alternate checkpoint will be added later as cameras are installed.

Pittsburgh International Airport is the first airport in the country to utilize Zensors’ unique technology in measuring line length.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the passenger experience, especially with the innovative use of emerging technologies developed right here in Pittsburgh,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis. “We know security can be a frustration for travelers, and having accurate wait estimates can help set expectations and aid in planning trips.”

Zensors uses a specially trained neural network that continually observes and learns how long passengers are waiting in line while also weighing factors such as the time of day and the number of TSA agents on duty. Estimated wait times are updated every minute, and arrows indicating whether those times are increasing or decreasing are also displayed.

Anuraag Jain, Head of Product at Zensors, said the project is the just beginning of leveraging AI in spaces like PIT. “Airports are a perfect use case for this type of technology. We’re applying deep learning in a way that can really become a game-changer for passengers and airport operations. We’re excited to help turn Pittsburgh into the world’s smartest airport.”

The project is the latest example of the airport embracing cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the air travel process. Partnerships with dynamic firms like Zensors will continue to improve operations that directly affect passengers, employees, tenants and airlines every day.

In May, the airport and CMU researchers rolled out a new smartphone-based app – NavCog – that helps blind passengers navigate the terminal utilizing beacons installed in the facility.

Download our Building Intelligent Airports PDF to learn more!