WVXU: New year means new airlines, tech for CVG
UC grad helps predict crowding at airports to shorten lines
WVXU highlighted one of the ways the University of Cincinnati is helping Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport improve the travel experience.
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science doctoral graduate Javier Viaña is using artificial intelligence to help the airport's data tracker better predict when it could see longer lines at the terminal and security.
The system considers factors such as whether a passenger will use long-term parking, check a bag or travel with family to predict surges in foot traffic.
Airports already know how many passengers to expect from flight reservations. But Viaña said that doesn’t tell them how many people to expect in a terminal at any given time.
“There’s a big difference between the flight schedule and the actual flow of people,” he said. “You might be able to say 10,000 people will be taking off at 10 a.m. But they don’t show up at 10 a.m. Some might show up at 8:45 or 9:20.”
His algorithm more precisely predicts how many people will filter through check-in and security in 15-minute intervals, Viaña said.
“It’s an exciting project. We’ve been getting good results,” Viaña said.
Featured image at top: UC students pick up their bags at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate Javier Viaña developed an algorithm to help airports predict crowding. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Related Stories
Sugar overload killing hearts
November 10, 2025
Two in five people will be told they have diabetes during their lifetime. And people who have diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. One of the deadliest dangers? Diabetic cardiomyopathy. But groundbreaking University of Cincinnati research hopes to stop and even reverse the damage before it’s too late.
Is going nuclear the solution to Ohio’s energy costs?
November 10, 2025
The Ohio Capital Journal recently reported that as energy prices continue to climb, economists are weighing the benefits of going nuclear to curb costs. The publication dove into a Scioto Analysis survey of 18 economists to weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy. One economist featured was Iryna Topolyan, PhD, professor of economics at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.
App turns smartwatch into detector of structural heart disease
November 10, 2025
An app that uses an AI model to read a single-lead ECG from a smartwatch can detect structural heart disease, researchers reported at the 2025 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. Although the technology requires further validation, researchers said it could help improve the identification of patients with heart failure, valvular conditions and left ventricular hypertrophy before they become symptomatic, which could improve the prognosis for people with these conditions.