03.04.25

A DIGITAL TWIN FOR MILAN BERGAMO AIRPORT

Milan Bergamo Airport will see the creation of a “digital twin” with the AVIO project, created and developed together with a series of partners to optimise the management of ground operations through improvements in situational awareness and decision-making processes.

These improvements will be the result of the studying and prototyping of a digital twin of the airport, which will gather and integrate real-time data from a series of sources, including artificial vision algorithms based on analysis of video images from existing video cameras positioned throughout the area, representing and viewing important information for “Airport Operations Coordination (AOC)” in an integrated, modern and intuitive manner. The digital twin will also be used for virtual reality training of ground crew, allowing staff to enhance their experience by drawing on the advantages offered by this specific form of advanced technology. The project is being co-funded by the “Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy” via the fund complementary to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRPP), CUP B49J24002200005. The project is the result of well-orchestrated collaboration between 4 important entities operating in the fields of software engineering and aviation: SACBO (project coordinator and operator of Milan Bergamo Airport - BGY) together with TXT e-tech, a digital-enabler company, SORINT.tek, a company from the SORINT.lab group specialised in the development of Advanced Analytics and IoT solutions, and the University of Pavia.

The collaboration between the 4 partners, which will cover a period of three years, is aimed at taking advantage and making the most of the opportunities offered by the relaunch plan in terms of accelerating digital innovation in the aviation sector. This will have significant technological impact on Milan Bergamo Airport and, more broadly, will facilitate the creation of similar evolved processes in Italian airport management, contributing to the achievement of the European Union’s digitalisation goals and strategically strengthening its current position in these fields.

SACBO, in its role as proponent and user of AVIO, will be providing a technologically advanced infrastructure equipped with a High-Performance Computer (HPC) from HP Enterprise equipped with a substantial number of high-performance Invidia GPUs, which will allow partners to develop the airport’s digital twin and virtual-reality training environment. In addition, innovative computer equipment will be used, such as hyperspectral video cameras and a de-icing simulator for staff training via VR (Virtual Reality).

As a result, SACBO will be able to benefit from simulations to improve the awareness and decision-making of airport coordinators and the abilities of ground crew. “A pro ject that looks to the near future and to technological evolutions in airport management.” - stressed Giovanni Sanga, President of SACBO - “As well as providing its know-how, the operator of Milan Bergamo Airport will be a forerunner in the development of digital twins for Italian airports”. “The AVIO project will play a central role in the digital airport ecosystem”- added Amelia Corti, Managing Director of SACBO - “increasing collaboration between stakeholders, allowing increased efficiency for ground operation processes, and improving safety and security levels as well as service levels, also leading to benefits for passengers in terms of customer experience”.

TXT, in its role as technical manager for the project, will be providing its experience and its skills in the development of digital twins, with particular focus on UX/UI (User Experience and User Interface) for natural interaction with operators. TXT will also be handling the development of Virtual Reality training, with the use of its proprietary product WEAVR. “ AVIO represents a significant opportunity for us in terms of further developing our XR applications in the airport field, an area in which we are developing our offer and our presence” - stated Michele Sesana, Innovation Manager TXT - “This will also allow us to further develop the functionality of our WEAVR product through the management of critical infrastructure, enhancing it with functions such as the management of large digital twins and a set of innovative forms of human-machine in terfaces”. SORINT.tek will be supplying artificial vision systems that classify and trace the movements of vehicles and people through the use of the most modern object detection and tracking technology, with a focus on developing a system that not only identifies, classifies and traces both vehicles and people, but that also understands, in real time, the actions carried out by various ground-based figures (both people and vehicles). The information gathered will be sent to the digital twin via a flow of data managed by an IoT hub, which will transform the flow of raw data into validated and refined data that can be used directly by the digital twin.

Marco Pozzi, General Manager of Sorint.TEK: “T he AVIO project allows for the application of consolidated skills in a particularly challenging environment in terms of the quality and complexity of the data, integrating them into an IoT hub that will handle full integration between IoT applications and AI systems”. UniPV, the only research institute in the partnership, will be focusing on the main aspects of innovation that require particular attention from a scientific as well as an applicative viewpoint. In particular, UniPV will be working on studying advanced forms of event identification concerning vehicles and aircraft on the basis of video transmissions; data modelling with a semantic approach based on graphs that allow for the integration of information from a range of different sources and the extraction of user-centric viewpoints; the use of identification techniques via advanced sensors to be employed outdoors and on dedicated vehicles; the analysis and optimisation of human- machine interfaces on the basis of airport management operating procedures, and methods for the optimisation of interactive management of airport resources. In carrying out these studies, UniPV aims to make ample use of artificial intelligence to improve integration between functional components and accelerate the production of highly innovative solutions.

SACBO is the operator of Milan Bergamo Airport, the third busiest Italian airport behind Fiumicino and Malpensa, with 17.3 million passengers in 2024. Over the years, thanks to constant profitability and the body of investments made by SACBO with its own resources, the airport has developed service infrastructure and both the technical and operational capacity to fulfil its role as a strategic link between the territory and both national and European transportation routes, which in turn connect to the rest of the world. The new works aimed at expanding the terminal will allow, by the end of 2025, for a new check-in area and new security control stations, with latest-generation machinery implemented to streamline procedures. At the same time, works have been completed in preparation for the construction of the terminus for the future rail link with Milan. The airport generates over 11,500 direct jobs, i.e., positions for activities related directly with the airport, a number that increases to approximately 30 thousand when considering collateral and indirect employment, producing 8% of the GDP for the Bergamo area. The new Airport Development Programme for 2030 provides for 450 million in investments, representing the long-term vision of SACBO, which is focused on development and sustainability.

TXT is an Italian technology group with a significant international presence that represents a hub for innovation and advanced skills for the digitalisation of company products and processes and the creation of practical value in highly complex sectors. A veritable integrated ecosystem of top-quality tech companies, TXT is able to operate across a wide range of markets, with specific focus on Aerospace, Defence and Digital Finance, where the group draws on its particular aptitude for innovation and its capacity for technological development and latest-generation engineering. Its in- depth knowledge of digital transformation processes is best applied to sectors such as Public Administration, Health, Manufacturing and Transportation, fields in which the company has developed innovative projects throughout Italy. The combination of technological skills and the capacity to create innovative client experiences has allowed TXT to also expand in the field of MarTech. The Group, founded in 1989, has been on the Milan Stock Market (Star segment) since 2000, and has a turnover of more than EUR 300 million (2024 data). With more than 3 thousand employees in 20 branches worldwide, TXT is a global tech player with a solid presence in America, Asia and Europe.

SORINT.tek S.r.l. is the Advanced Analytics and IoT Business Unit of the SORINT.lab group, a European leader in advanced technology consultancy. SORINT.tek creates, manages and provides end-to-end support for data-driven strategies for partners and clients, from the design and implementation of Big Data and Fast Data architecture to the development of artificial intelligence and automation solutions and to the representation of information to aid company decision-making. It has gained considerable experience in the development of platforms and components for Big Data Analytics, from descriptive and diagnostic reporting to the most recent and advanced techniques in terms of machine learning and deep learning. It also has considerable experience in a range of domains and sectors, including the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, thanks to its proprietary IoT Asset Management and Operation Intelligence platform MangrovialoT. SORINT.tek - Where Insigh and Innovation Converge.

The University of Pavia is an Italian higher education institute that boasts centuries of excellence, with three Nobel Prize winners and numerous illustrious scientists having served on its teaching staff, including Alessandro Volta, Antonio Scarpa and Gerolamo Cardano. In its role as a high- intensity research institute, it is home to innovative equipment, laboratories and infrastructure, and collaborates on many national, European and international projects with institutions, enterprises and businesses in both the public and private sectors. The Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering is the second largest department at the University of Pavia, with more than 70 professors and over 200 PhD and post-PhD researchers. The department participates in a wide range of projects funded by the EU, and played an influential role in the setting up of five spin-offs in the biomedical area (analysis and interpretation of sequencing data in the clinical and research sectors, as well as software solutions for the public health system).

19.03.25

THE FIRST STONE HAS BEEN LAID FOR THE MILAN BERGAMO AIRPORT SERVICE CENTRE

Today, Wednesday 19 March, saw the ceremony to mark the laying of the first stone for the new Airport Service Centre, the work site for which has been set up in the area of SACBO property adjacent to the P3 car park and part of the municipality of Bergamo. 

Giovanni Sanga, the president of SACBO, was joined by Elena Carnevali, the mayor of Bergamo, Pasquale Gandolfi, the president of the Province of Bergamo, Claudia Maria Terzi, the executive councillor for Infrastructure, Transport and Sustainable Mobility for the Lombardy Region, Alessandro Colletta, Manuel Bentoglio and Gabriele Cortesi, the mayors of Orio al Serio, Grassobbio and Seriate, Roberta Carli, the director of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority for Bergamo, and representatives of airport organisations. 

The Airport Service Centre will cover an area of 3,600 m2. The 6-storey building, which will have an overall area of 10,000 m2, will be home to a series of offices related to airport activities, as well as conference rooms and a 180-room accommodation structure, the management of which SACBO has assigned to HNH Hospitality under the brand name “Hilton Garden Inn Bergamo Airport”. 

The works, carried out by the Magenta-based Gencantieri S.p.A. on the basis of a project by the Studio Milan Ingegneria firm (Milan) will have an approximate overall cost for SACBO (*) of 30 million, and completion is due for 2026. 

“These works are in response to the various demands of travellers, bolstering the series of dedicated services and offering a range of convenient and quality logistics solutions” - stated Giovanni Sanga, president of SACBO - “The new structure will be available right before the inauguration of the direct rail link to our airport, contributing to creating a new dimension of mobility and hospitality, and marking a further improvement in quality in this area”. 

The high point of the ceremony saw the president of SACBO, Giovanni Sanga, place a scroll in the foundations, which carries the following message: “The act of construction is like planting a seed to be cultivated. A building requires the attention of a gardener, and the project that will be constructed here will see the utmost attention to every detail, to serve travellers and visitors alike”. 

(*) “Funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU as part of the NRPP - “Italian Recovery and Resilience” Fund of Funds – M1C3, intervention 4.2.3 for which the Italian State is the sole contributor, and assigned for management to the European Investment Bank”. 

09.02.25

HARE CAPTURE OPERATION AT ORIO AL SERIO AIRPORT PREMISES

On the morning of Sunday, February 9, 2025, a hare capture operation was carried out in the grassy area of the airport premises in Orio al Serio, with the support of personnel from the Ambito Territoriale Caccia (ATC) of the Pianura Bergamasca, led by Mario Fogazzola and based in Caravaggio, along with volunteer game wardens from the Province of Bergamo.

The operation, conducted two years after the previous one, was requested and organized by SACBO in compliance with European EASA regulations on wildlife hazard prevention, aimed at removing wild animals from areas affected by aircraft movements.

As in previous similar operations, all necessary precautions were taken to ensure the protection and welfare of the captured hares. Each specimen was tagged by a veterinarian before being relocated to repopulation areas in the Bergamo lowlands.

At 7:30 AM, 48 operators set up specialized nets in strategic locations, using controlled sounds and disturbances to gently guide the hares in the desired direction for careful capture. The operation concluded at 12:00 PM, successfully capturing 11 hares, contributing to the ongoing effort to manage their presence within the airport premises.

Throughout the operation, airport activities continued as normal, with no disruptions or restrictions to air traffic.

23.01.25

THE ITALY-MONGOLIA AGREEMENT PAVES THE WAY FOR A DIRECT FLIGHT BETWEEN MILAN BERGAMO AIRPORT AND ULAN BATOR

Direct flights between Italy and Mongolia are now possible thanks to the bilateral agreement between the two countries, signed in Rome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the minister Antonio Tajani and the Mongolian undersecretary for transportation, Sandagdorj Batbold.

The news of the signing of the document was warmly received by the president of SACBO, Giovanni Sanga, who met with a delegation of government and business representatives from Mongolia on an introductory visit to Bergamo last November, during which they visited the airport and explored the interterritorial economic and industrial fabric of the surrounding area.

“On behalf of SACBO”, stated Giovanni Sanga, “I would like to thank the minister Tajani, the members of parliament from Bergamo Alessandro Sorte and Stefano Benigni, and all those involved in setting up this significant transportation agreement. The interest shown in Milan Bergamo Airport as a logistics destination favouring the development of passenger traffic and commercial exchanges with Mongolia can now be expressed through the opening of a route connecting Ulan Bator. We are ready and willing to examine the relative terms and methods with the national airline Miat Mongolian Airlines. The direct flight between Bergamo and the capital of Mongolia will play a strategic role for the entire north of Italy, and for the multifaceted industrial and business world that revolves around it, and will undoubtedly bolster and accelerate the development of imports and exports between the two countries”.

The developments resulting from the agreement between Italy and Mongolia will set the scene for further expansion of the network of routes offered by Milan Bergamo Airport, which grants access to hundreds of destinations in Asia and Africa via direct flights connecting the hubs of Dubai, Sharja and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

16.01.25

SACBO HAS BEEN ASSIGNED THE ANMIC AWARD FOR IN-AIRPORT ASSISTANCE FOR PASSENGERS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY

The Bergamo branch of ANMIC, the national association for the wounded and disabled, has assigned an award to SACBO for support services provided to passengers with reduced mobility travelling through Milan Bergamo Airport. The president of ANMIC Bergamo, Giovanni Manzoni, presented the award to the president of SACBO, Giovanni Sanga, during the annual meeting with sector associations representing disabled people held at the executive offices of SACBO.

“The association hereby expresses its profound appreciation of SACBO for the attention, regard and

constant collaboration demonstrated in ensuring quality services for disabled people at Milan Bergamo Airport: a commitment that sees Bergamo Airport as an example on an international level”, reads the motivation for the ANMIC award.

“We are honoured to have received this award”, said Giovanni Sanga, the president of SACBO.

“We constantly dedicate the utmost attention to disabled people, as well as those suffering from temporary invalidity, who require in-airport assistance. We thus guarantee everyone’s right to travel and to access all available services, facilitating operations both on departure and arrival. Deserved praise goes to the entire SACBO workforce for having achieved widely recognised standards of quality; standards that we are committed to improving ever further”.

“ANMIC and SACBO have been successfully collaborating for decades, resulting in services for reduced mobility passengers of the highest quality”, stated Giovanni Manzoni, president of ANMIC Bergamo. “We have worked together towards progressively eliminating all architectural barriers to sensory and motor accessibility, as well as to facilitating certain categories, such as families with young children. SACBO merits praise for having created the “Sala Amica”, an area of the highest standards, with a full range of comforts, qualified and helpful personnel, and a reserved area for people with autism. We have observed, over the years, the utmost willingness of the airport personnel and management under all circumstances. However, people with the right to support unfortunately do not always follow regulations, failing to make the necessary reservations for assistance. Despite this, the airport operator continues to fulfil its duties with professionalism, skill and devotion”.

The meeting involving ANMIC and associations for disabled people saw the presentation of data regarding assistance provided at Milan Bergamo Airport. In 2024, assistance was provided 88,480 times, 50% more than in 2019 and in 2022. Last year, passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) accounted for 0.74% of overall passengers (17.3 million), the highest ever. Assistance was provided to 82 passengers every one hundred flights. However, 23 percent of these did not request support. In light of this, SACBO, ANMIC and other representatives of disabled people have launched a programme to raise awareness over respect for the rules, an element that is not only essential but also required by regulations for the purpose of guaranteeing assistance that is precise and suited to the requirements of each individual PRM.