Denver International Airport (DIA) Denver Intl Airport – located in Co USA BAiNA 6 years (05-10) in a row and 10 years ago voted America's Best Run by Time mag. Largest u.s… Colorado, USA “Best Airport in North America” –Business Traveler Magazine, ‘05 to ‘10

DIA: Some interesting facts Largest U.S. airport, 2nd largest in world Opened in February 1995 Over 53 sq. miles, elevation 5,341 feet In 2011, carried 52,699,298 passengers Richardson, TX is 28.6 sq. mi, 2011 DIA is 11th busiest airport in world

DIA opens after costly 16 month delay Off to a rough start… Second target opening… DIA opens!!! Initial opening scheduled… Oct 1993 Nov 1993 Dec 1993 Jan 1994 Feb 1994 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1995 Feb 1995 While considered a success today– it sure got off to a rough start. Supposed to open in Oct 93 Third target opening… Fourth target opening… DIA opens after costly 16 month delay

So why the holdup? ~*~*~ “…a 16-month delay in opening DIA due to automated baggage system complications…” According to a 1995 report by the United States… it was due to complications with the Automated Baggage System. Now let’s look at the timeline of events that led up to this failure. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (1995, September). Denver International Airport: Information on Selected Financial Issues. (Publication No. GAO/AIMD-95-230).

So how much did the delay cost? The owners, City and County of Denver: $ 500M The major stakeholders had built: $ 330M in peripheral facilities + $ 100M FedEx sorting center $ 50M est. opportunity cost of idle Technology, power consumption, programming to manage the queueing algorithims incredibly complicated

Let’s consider 3 specifics Airport design did not include baggage system requirements/specifics Project Management team changes scope of single terminal automated system to be airport-wide Stakeholder involvement, responsibilities Voters approve and 6 months later, construction begins.

If you build it (fast), they will fly (slow) In May of 1989, voters in Denver approved a plan to build DIA Nov 1989 - Airport construction begins Baggage handling system was not a part of the initial airport design, retro-fitting track underground Voters approve and 6 months later, construction begins.

You’re changing this now? Change of scope Oct 1990 - Feasibility study on implementing airport-wide automated baggage system Decision made less than 2 years before the planned opening Almost one year after construction starts, the Project Team considers changing scope on baggage handling system and conducts a study to consider an airport-wide automated solution. Study comes back “not capable of being implemented”.

Hello. Is there anybody in there? Where are the stakeholders? City/County of Denver BAE United Continental Fed Ex U.S. Government Almost one year after construction starts, the Project Team considers changing scope on baggage handling system and conducts a study to consider an airport-wide automated solution. Study comes back “not capable of being implemented”.

100 networked PC’s to control flow of carts An abandoned system Technology, power consumption, programming to manage the queueing algorithims incredibly complicated 17 miles of track , 5 miles of conveyor belts 3,100 standard carts + 450 oversized carts 14 million feet of wiring 100 networked PC’s to control flow of carts

References De Neufville, R. (1995) “Designing Airport Passenger Buildings for the 21st. Century,"Transport Journal, UK Institution of Civil Engineers, in press Calleam. (2008). Denver Airport Baggage System Case Study. Retrieved July 2, 2012, from Calleam Consulting: http://calleam.com/WTPF/?page_id=2086 Breier Neidle Patrone Associates (1990) DIA -- Denver International Airport, Baggage Handling Systems, Conceptual Design Study Final Report, BNP Doc. Ref. 9016R.008, 19 Oct. U.S. Government Accountability Office, (1995, September), Denver International Airport: Information on Selected Financial Issues, (Publication No. GAO/AIMD-95-230) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_busiest_airports_by_passenger_traffic#2011_statistics “The Baggage System at Denver: Prospects and Lessons,” Journal of Air Transport Management, Vol. 1, No. 4, Dec., pp. 229-236, 1994. City of Denver engages consultants to do feasibility study.