Tampa brings airport technology to its science museum

Tampa International Airport (TPA) has partnered with the city’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and Sotereon.AI on a new interactive exhibit showcasing how emerging technologies are being used in airport operations.

The display gives visitors a hands-on introduction to LiDAR and artificial intelligence, including how airports can use the technologies to monitor passenger flows, track wait times and identify potential issues before they develop. Sotereon.AI helped develop and test the LiDAR solutions featured in the exhibit and donated equipment for display. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a sensing technology that uses laser beams to create and map images of people and objects.

The exhibit also traces wider developments in aviation technology, from the first regularly scheduled commercial airline flight between St. Petersburg and Tampa to TPA’s early automated people mover system.

David Golden, Manager of Emerging Technology at TPA, said the aim is also to encourage interest in future aviation and technology careers. “I hope kids get inspired,” he said. “I hope they are inspired to be free thinking, innovative, and to be a positive impact on the community.”

MOSI attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually, giving the airport an opportunity to introduce a wider audience to the technologies shaping its operations.

Photo: Tampa International Airport