The Abu Dhabi International Airport has launched an interactive walkway, which can convert the footsteps of travelers into off-grid electricity and data. The 16sqm walkway was delivered by Pavegen and Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and connects two terminals within the airport.
According to a statement, the airport handles around two million passengers a month, and the launch of the walkway is a regional first for a commercial airport. The footsteps of approximately 8,000 travelers per day are being captured and converted into electrical energy to track footfall data, and power lighting along the walkway as travelers pass between Terminals 1 and 3.
“We’ve partnered with Masdar to install the Pavegen walkway, poised to power the data-driven, smart cities of tomorrow. Through this collaboration, Abu Dhabi Airports aims to further its commitment to sustainable practices, educating travelers and residents alike about different sources of off-grid energy and data. Our environmental performance and green initiatives demonstrate Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to delivering innovative solutions for the international aviation community,” explained Ahmed Al Shamisi, acting chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports.
The system is said to feature screens that highlight how much energy is being harvested with a game interface for children, which shows airplanes rising and descending in relation to the energy being generated.
The articulated flooring surface is built using a series of interlocking triangles. As people walk across the patented system, electromagnetic generators produce off-grid energy.
This electricity is being used to power local LED lighting and to provide a data feed.
Laurence Kemball-Cook, founder and CEO, Pavegen added, “With millions of visitors a day, airports are a key destination for our energy and data generating technology. As the first major Pavegen permanent installation in the Middle East, this a key milestone for us as we look to grow our presence in this fast-changing region.”