The global airline industry experienced huge growth in 2017 with airlines around the planet are expected to make a combined net profit of $29.8 billion during 2017, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). As airline profits strengthen and technology advances each year, both airport authorities and individual airlines are on the lookout for new ways to revolutionise the aviation industry. Augmented reality technology and beacon systems are just some of the possibilities that the airline industry is exploring to make the passenger experience a more comfortable, functional, and convenient one.
Improving the design of airports is another high priority, with factors such as aesthetics, security, and cost savings in mind. Smartglass technology is a prime candidate for airports—in this post, you’ll learn what smart glass is and how it provides a host of benefits for airports that install this relatively new glass technology.
Smart glass is a type of switchable glass technology that uses an electric current to instantly alter the properties of the glass, for example, from transparent to opaque. Remote controls, switches, movement sensors, and timers are all viable options for controlling the appearance of the glass panels.
Security, for many obvious reasons, is hugely important in all airports. Switchable glass provides a modern aesthetic and superb functionality, which can be combined in airports with other types of advanced glass technology, including ballistic glass or blast-resistant glass to maximise security. The combination of smart glass and other reinforced glass leads to safer airports without compromising the interior or exterior aesthetic.
Airports consume vast amounts of energy, both from air-conditioning in summer months and/or warmer countries, and heating during colder months or in colder countries. Transforming the modern airport into a more energy-efficient building is important in reducing energy consumption and overall costs.
Solar Smart Glass offers a unique solution in meeting the energy saving needs for airports to lower costs. This type of glass is a unique smart glass technology that can be manually or automatically “tuned” to precisely control the amount of light, glare and heat passing through its panes. Users can instantly switch solar smart glass to maximise daylight when it’s really needed and to provide controllable solar shading during peak light conditions. The result is an energy-efficient glass solution that decreases HVAC costs in airports, helping to improve airport profitability.
Smart glass offers privacy on-demand within office spaces, and its efficient use of space for office interiors in the form of glass partitions allows more natural daylight to enter a building compared with traditional partitions. The privacy at the flick of a switch with smart glass allows meetings to be held without outside distractions, and the change of state between transparent and opaque does not alter existing light levels.
In terms of its relevance in airports, privacy SmartGlass business can be installed in airport business meeting rooms and executive lounges. Such meeting rooms and airport lounges are becoming increasingly popular for business travellers because they minimise the logistics and complexity associated with business travel. Clearly, in such environments as airports, it is important to closely replicate a normal office if the concept of the airport meeting room is to become a mainstay in modern airports. Privacy Smart Glass helps achieve a professional environment by minimising visual distractions from elsewhere in the airport, while providing a stylish, professional design.
In a globally connected world, modern aviation enables passengers to easily travel between different corners of the planet. However, the nature of airline schedules means that long-distance travel often requires connecting flights, which may necessitate long layovers in airports.
Airport sleep rooms and lounges are an established concept in many modern airports. However, getting forty winks at the airport isn’t always easy. Sleep rooms and lounges can make use of a specific type of smart glass known as Blackout Smart Glass, which offers unparalleled privacy with a stylish design. Blackout Smart Glass provides a complete blackout effect on demand. Minimising light is conducive to getting a good sleep, and airports can use this type of smart glass in their sleeping lounges or sleep rooms to make it easier for passengers to fall asleep, regardless of the time of day.
To find out more about smart glass technology, contact the Smartglass International team.
Wherever you are in the world one of our team will be in touch to advise on the best smart glass solution for your needs.