ALGORITHMS FOR GREENER FLYING: TRIPAI ADOPTS OAG FLIGHT DATA TO TACKLE EMISSIONS
Data spanning several years powers algorithms that help airlines predict emissions and discover fuel-saving opportunities.
With the power of Artificial Intelligence, TripAI's platform seeks to take on travel-related issues. Using Algorithms and AI to predict fuel burn and emissions across flight operations, they are providing a forward-thinking solution that helps airlines reduce fuel consumption and address emissions.
Paving the Path to a Greener Future, with Flight Info Direct from OAG
TripAI, a sustainability-focused start-up based in Texas, aims to inspire travelers to make better lifestyle choices, and airlines to make operational decisions that are kinder to the planet. They have built an AI Platform that can analyze fuel-saving opportunities and estimate emissions based on a number of factors that help airlines reduce fuel consumption and address emissions targets.
Today, we’ll look at the challenges the team has faced so far in that journey, as well as the solution they found for their product and their resulting successes.
Challenge
With the aviation industry geared towards achieving Fly Net Zero targets by 2050, airlines, airports, travelers, and the broader industry are seeking ways to reduce emissions. TripAI wanted to provide a tool with which the air travel industry could better predict their impact and make proactive changes. They looked to center of gravity standards for aircraft to make predictions that would allow for reduced emissions and fuel consumption.
The team needed vast amounts of fuel burn and historic carbon emissions data, spanning several years and global flight routes, to support their algorithms.
Solution
OAG had the most reliable and detailed historical emissions data to feed into their algorithms, and the right technology environment to access and test data for ML/AI purposes. Adopting Historical Emissions Data, they drilled into fuel burn and CO2 emissions by flight number, route, airport, and carrier. With this data, they were able to feed their algorithms with the key insights they had been missing, such as historical fuel burn and CO2 calculations for each flight stage from take-off and landing data.
To ensure scalability and efficiency, the team chose to access the data via Flight Info Direct. Powered by the Snowflake cloud, it provides ready-to-query, high-quality flight datasets that are scalable and customizable. Flight Info Direct also enables users to rely on one single source of truth for their data and reduces time to insight.
Flight Info Direct was the obvious choice for TripAI. Accessing OAG’s Historical Emissions Data and data fields such as CO2 and fuel burn (tonnes) by flight stage (taxi, take off, cruise, landing.), provided a unique view that allowed TripAI’s algorithms to be scaled up or down based on the requirements of their customers.
TripAI created a fuel-saving opportunity algorithm and an emissions prediction calculator. Named EP (Emissions Predictions), their product works with OAG to provide a look at the environmental impact of flights at individual levels, including aircraft type, the center of gravity position, and more. One way the team articulates these predictions is through the percentage of savings achieved i.e., 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2%, etc. Where an airline can save 1-2% on their emissions, they can also save on their fuel costs.
Airline flight and ground operations processes have several fuel reduction opportunities, and TripAI’s algorithm examples are based on AFT CG setting practices, as well as many other variables associated with flight planning and aircraft load planning. They also consider various Optimum AFT CG settings, which have a greater influence on the reduction of fuel consumption.
Results
By leveraging OAG's Emissions Data and core flight operations data, TripAI has been able to improve the accuracy of its own emissions predictions. Their product is adaptable, API driven and can be tailored to the specific needs of individual airlines or airports.
TripAI’s EP can help industries plan and implement effective strategies to reduce their carbon emissions. They hope that its technology will help businesses invest in renewable energy sources, optimize transportation logistics, and implement energy-efficient practices. Currently, they offer airline sustainability teams the opportunity to make internal savings. In the future, they are keen to expand by providing a holistic approach to fuel savings and emissions reductions, with a new offsetting product they hope to roll out in Q2 of 2023.
Read our full Q&A with TripAI here
"As the aviation industry grew, so did its impact on the environment. Our team faced the challenge of reducing carbon emissions and conserving fuel.
By leveraging OAG's accurate and reliable data, TripAI has been able to improve the accuracy of its emissions predictions and help industries reduce their carbon footprint."
Samar Khan & Tony Mamakos, TripAI
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