Cockermouth tech firm to trial AI system at Glasgow Airport

Createc, based in Cockermouth, will trial its Situate technology at Glasgow Airport as part of the Connected Airport Living Lab, a programme delivered by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with the airport and funded by Innovate UK.

Rosie Richardson, chief commercial officer at Createc, said: "Airports are busy, complex environments, and understanding how passengers move through them is really important to improving their experience.

"In this project, we will combine Situate’s existing anonymous movement data with real passenger feedback to understand where queues or congestion are building and how they're affecting passengers in real time.

"We've already demonstrated the technology at major transport hubs, including London Luton Airport and King's Cross, so we're really pleased to be working with Glasgow Airport to explore how Situate can make a real difference to passengers and airport operations."

Situate uses artificial intelligence and LiDAR sensors to anonymously track how people move through crowded spaces, without identifying individuals.

At Glasgow Airport, the system will combine movement data with live passenger feedback to assess how queues, crowding, and waiting times impact the traveller experience.

It will provide airport teams with real-time passenger experience scores, trends, and alerts—enabling them to identify potential issues, respond quickly, and measure the effectiveness of their interventions.

The Glasgow trial is part of the fourth year of the Connected Airport Living Lab, which gives technology companies the chance to test solutions in a live airport environment.

Selected businesses receive up to £30,000 in funding, commercial support, access to airport facilities, and direct engagement with industry stakeholders.

Gavin Birch-Williams, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "Glasgow Airport has become a proving ground for innovative technologies that can solve real operational challenges while improving the passenger experience.

"The success of previous cohorts has demonstrated the value of giving SMEs access to a live airport environment, allowing them to test and refine their solutions in real-world conditions."

Createc employs around 70 people across offices in Cumbria, Oxford, Tokyo, and Oslo.

The company develops robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced sensing technologies for use in complex environments globally.

Its technology supports sectors including nuclear, defence, infrastructure, and public safety.