PIT Embraces GIS, Digital Twin, and BIM for Future-Ready Operations

In 2004, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) underwent a transformation when its major carrier abruptly left, forcing the airport to shift away from operating as a regional hub and significantly reducing flights. This process, known as dehubbing, had a profound impact on not only the airport but also the surrounding community, causing significant economic disruptions.

The dehubbing of PIT saw 90 percent of flights disappear overnight. Over the last decade in particular, the airport’s chief executive has aggressively pursued re-creating PIT as an origin-and-destination facility, making it clear to stakeholders that hub status simply cannot be wished back into existence. Today, PIT welcomes nearly 10 million passengers annually—a meaningful figure when considered against the scale of its former operations and its impressive infrastructure.

PIT is addressing its evolving status and former economic challenges through the integration of geographic information system (GIS) technology and the development of a digital twin. These efforts support the organization’s aim to reshape its operations and improve its long-term economic viability.

The initial adoption of GIS at PIT was driven by the need to better understand the location and interconnections of the airport’s facilities. However, limited resources posed significant challenges. Julia Arnone, PIT’s planning services manager, did much of the foundational work herself during nights and weekends, which she described as being a “0.25-person operation” as there was no one else doing the job. With the knowledge that GIS could help the organization break down information silos and improve workflow efficiencies, Arnone kept at it.

One of the first major GIS successes at PIT was addressing the airport’s concession spaces. After dehubbing, many businesses vacated. When the concessions program operator left, the airport found itself needing more precise data to verify which spaces were occupied and determine which of the keys left behind opened which doors. By creating a survey form and web map application, initially using ArcGIS Survey123 and later migrating to ArcGIS Field Maps, the airport was able to track control of concession spaces and identify issues such as long-term unauthorized occupancies.

This effort not only resolved operational challenges but also helped garner management’s support for GIS initiatives. The capabilities and easy use of the key and concessions applications, as well as several smaller use cases, helped build support from a very low base. There was initial cautiousness from senior management about bringing on what seemed only to be yet another software solution, but the situation has shifted to where Pittsburgh International Airport has recently joined the Esri Advantage Program and is recruiting more staff dedicated to GIS. 

Efforts to realign the airport and maintain its operational and economic relevance are ongoing, with several infrastructure projects underway. These include renovations to the existing airside fire restricted terminal, the closure of a half-mile rail link between the old landside and airside terminals, various developments across the 8,800-acre campus, and the construction of a new terminal set to open in fall 2025. To ensure the success of these projects, the airport has embraced building information modeling (BIM) as a design standard. GIS-BIM integration has been retrospectively applied to its existing facilities. This integration has driven the widespread adoption of GIS as a critical management tool.

The construction of the new terminal brought a clear opportunity to integrate BIM for operations and maintenance. The airport’s planning team took the lead, integrating BIM data into ArcGIS Pro and sharing the results through 3D Scene Viewer. Arnone highlighted the ease of using modern GIS tools, even for users without deep technical expertise.

By leveraging BIM and GIS, PIT is creating a unified source of truth for internal staff and external consultants, streamlining workflows and breaking down information silos.

GIS-BIM integration has already begun to transform operations at PIT. For instance, geolocation and geofencing tools are being built to assist the airport’s fire department in locating fire-suppression lines and optimizing the use of the department’s new fire truck’s 3,000-foot hose. Similarly, ground maintenance crews can use GIS-based apps to manage mowing boundaries effectively.

The planning team is also streamlining inspections and reporting. Previously, inspections across the 8,800-acre campus relied on manual processes, requiring days to compile data. Now, GIS-based forms allow field inspectors to update information in real time, including images of anomalies, significantly improving efficiency. These efforts are paving the way for future advancements, such as integrating asset management with GIS to track work orders, inspections, and utility meters using automated processes.

BIM developments have captured senior management’s attention, serving as a catalyst for integrating asset management with GIS. For example, Revit models of the new and existing terminals are being integrated into geospatial systems to map asset locations precisely. This progress paves the way for advanced asset management, transitioning from 2D floor plans to 3D models, with the Esri Advantage Program playing a central role in the integration.

The airport’s IT department is advancing efforts to create an Internet of Things (IoT) environment, where even small objects on the campus provide valuable data. Combining sensors with machine learning, the airport can generate heat maps and use GIS analyses to improve operations and passenger experiences.

For asset management, the integration of weather and traffic data aims to enable predictive maintenance. Arnone envisions a future where all airport systems are interconnected through a comprehensive digital twin, a process expected to take within three to five years.

“The first step is integrating all the data across departments,” Arnone explains. “Then, real-time sensors and machine learning can create a basic digital twin. The ultimate goal is to predict and optimize everything within the built environment.”

PIT aims to develop a comprehensive digital twin of its facilities within three to five years. This involves integrating existing data, applying real-time sensors, and leveraging machine learning to achieve predictive insights. The airport also plans to automate inspections and enhance environmental monitoring, including dashboards for outflows and disposal. “The end goal is to achieve predictability across our built environment,” says Arnone.

PIT’s ambitions also include improving public access to retail information. By embracing GIS, BIM, and digital twin technologies, PIT is transforming into a modern, efficient airport, better serving the Pittsburgh region while leading the way in sustainability and innovation.