Calgary airport gets a geo‑smart AI guide that talks to travelers

A new location‑aware travel assistant arrives at YYC

Mappedin has begun rolling out a location‑aware, conversational AI chatbot at Calgary International Airport (YYC). The system is built to answer plain language questions from travelers — for example, how to get from security to your gate, where to find a nursing room, or whether a particular lounge is open — and to give directions that depend on where the passenger is standing inside the terminal.

Mappedin said the pilot starts at key passenger areas and will expand across the airport in stages. YYC airport officials described the move as part of an effort to make navigation easier for busy travelers and to reduce pressure on frontline staff.

How the geo‑intelligent chatbot knows where you are and what to say

The chatbot combines a detailed indoor map of the terminals with software that understands natural language. In simple terms, it links a traveler’s question to a place on the map and then gives step‑by‑step guidance that fits that exact spot — not a generic answer.

Mappedin’s map data covers gates, shops, restrooms, lounges, ticket counters and service desks. The system uses things like Wi‑Fi signals, Bluetooth beacons and existing airport sensors to estimate a user’s position inside the building. That position lets the bot tailor answers: it can tell you which escalator to take, which side of a hallway holds a store, or where the nearest accessible washroom is.

On the conversational side, the chatbot uses an AI model that understands questions asked in everyday language. It pairs that understanding with rule‑based checks so it avoids hallucinations on safety‑critical answers. If the bot detects uncertainty — for instance, when gate assignments change or when a passenger asks for flight‑specific help — it routes the request to airport systems or to human agents who can confirm details.

What travelers and staff should notice in daily operations

For passengers, the benefit is straightforward: fewer confused steps and faster finds. If you’re late or carrying bags, the bot can point out the quickest route. If you need help with wheelchair access, it can show an accessible path and the nearest staff point for assistance.

For staff, the chatbot is meant to cut down routine queries that tie up counters and phones. That could free employees to focus on exceptions — security incidents, special assistance, or complex customer service — rather than repetitive wayfinding questions.

There are limits. Indoor positioning is rarely perfect and the bot will make mistakes, especially in crowded areas or after changes to the terminal layout. Airport operators plan a human backup for such cases and say they will monitor performance closely during the rollout.

Where Mappedin fits and how this can pay off

Mappedin makes indoor maps and navigation tools for malls, stadiums and transit hubs. Airports are a natural extension because they need accurate maps and real‑time updates. The company typically sells map software and a service layer — often as a subscription — so airports can host the tech within their own systems.

The commercial case is twofold. First, better passenger flow can cut costs and improve revenue from retail and food tenants when travelers find shops more easily. Second, the chatbot can be licensed to other airports, transit agencies and large venues. There is also room to bundle features for retailers inside terminals, like placing promotional wayfinding to a shop, though that raises commercial and privacy tradeoffs.

Competition exists from big consumer map players and from specialist vendors, but few combine detailed indoor maps with conversational AI tuned for an airport environment. That gives Mappedin a practical edge, though turning pilots into steady revenue will depend on adoption across multiple airports.

Privacy, security and accessibility — the tradeoffs

Location‑aware services raise obvious privacy questions. Mappedin says the chatbot can work with anonymous or opt‑in location data and that it will minimize storage of personally identifiable information. The airport and vendor say data will be aggregated and retained only as needed to run the service and to improve routing accuracy.

Security controls will be important because any system that links to flight or gate data could be attractive to bad actors. YYC and Mappedin say the deployment will keep sensitive systems segregated and restrict the bot to non‑critical data unless a secure integration is explicitly approved.

Accessibility is also explicit: the bot supports text and voice, and the maps include paths for wheelchairs and other mobility needs. How well this works in real life will be an early test for the project.

Rolling out, listening and looking ahead

YYC’s rollout will be phased. Mappedin and airport officials will watch usage patterns and error rates before activating the bot across every terminal. The initial phase focuses on high‑traffic corridors and common queries, with mobile and kiosk access planned first.

Officials describe the launch as the start of a longer effort to make travel less confusing. If the pilot proves reliable and passengers respond positively, the same setup could appear in more airports and large venues where indoor navigation matters most.

Sources

• prnewswire.com