“Seeing underground”: How PHL is reimagining field access with FME Realize
Serving nearly 31 million passengers annually, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is exploring how infrastructure data can be accessed and visualized in the field in fundamentally new ways. As part of a proof-of-concept initiative aligned with their FME Realize roadmap, PHL has been investigating how buried utility lines could be transformed into interactive, touchable information—with the potential to empower field teams with instant insights that previously took hours or days to gather.
“Seeing 2D GIS data come to life on a tablet—that’s the wow factor,” says Posh Supupramai, a GIS professional and consultant for PHL.
A new vision for utility data
PHL previously grappled with siloed systems and outdated utility maps, a challenge made even more complex by the airport’s vast infrastructure. In his role overseeing BIM, CAD, GIS, and data integration, Posh introduced FME to tackle these issues—initially for linking GIS to PHL’s asset management platform, Maximo. That project opened the door to broader applications: automating CAD validation, converting BIM and CAD data into GIS, and improving naming conventions across datasets.
The proof-of-concept focused on PHL’s Master Utility Drawings (MUD) project. The team used FME to convert 3D pipe network data from AutoCAD Civil 3D into GIS-friendly formats—exposing rich CAD attributes that would otherwise be lost. This information is viewable in both the airport’s ArcGIS Hub and FME Realize, which turns static data into interactive 3D visuals accessible on shared iPads in the field. The POC demonstrates that staff performing site inspections could locate pipes, cables, and other underground utilities instantly—without digging or returning to the office.
While traditional methods require paper plans or flipping through PDFs to locate the utility, the POC findings show the potential for FME Realize to deliver high-confidence data directly to field personnel, boosting efficiency and reducing risk. “It’s not just about saving time,” says Posh. “It’s about being able to see exactly where something is before you ever put a shovel in the ground.”
Scaling innovation across the airport
Building on the POC findings, PHL is evaluating expanded use of FME Realize, including for use with their Airport Facilities BIM models. This capability could enable virtual walkthroughs of planned renovations—such as restrooms or police and fire stations—before construction begins. This interactive planning approach has the potential to help secure stakeholder buy-in for high-traffic, critical areas and prevent costly rework.
By turning complex infrastructure data into clear, interactive experiences, FME Realize is pointing the way toward the future of airport planning innovation at PHL—and the proof-of-concept findings are laying the groundwork for what comes next.
