Three-dimensional display of world’s air traffic at Arlanda

In an effort to visualize the growing number of destinations that can be reached directly from the airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport today unveils Open Sky, an installation where data from the world’s air traffic is projected onto a two-meter diameter globe. The data is delivered from Flightradar24 and is projected using three-dimensional projection mapping technique.

Flightradar24 is an Internet-based flight tracking service that collects signals from aircraft to receive data regarding position, altitude, heading and speed from more than 150 000 flights everyday. The application has been downloaded by more than 30 million people and is available in 150 countries. Through data from Flightradar24 travellers can track every aircraft departing and arriving at Stockholm Arlanda or are en route to any of the destinations you can reach directly from the airport.

"We’re excited to be a part of this project. Flightradar24 is a complex service with thousands of different systems, functions and of course people have to collaborate, much like the logistics of an airport. Through a network of so called ADS-B receivers covering large parts of the planet we are able to pick up signals from aircrafts and basically track the entire world’s air traffic live", says Fredrik Lindahl, CEO of Flightradar24.

Since the founding of Swedavia in 2010, the number of travellers passing through Stockholm Arlanda has increased by 30% and the airport also set a new passenger record with more than 24,7 million passengers in 2016. Currently, the airport operates more than 160 direct routes and the list of new destinations keeps getting longer — last year alone 47 new destinations were established.

"Open Sky makes our 160 direct destinations worldwide visible and it’s a way for us to display our goal of becoming the leading airport in Scandinavia by 2020. The installation clearly shows how Stockholm Arlanda brings the world closer", says Kjell-Åke Westin, Airport Director at Stockholm Arlanda Airport.

Projection mapping is used to project images or videos onto irregularly shaped objects, in this case a miniature globe. This is the first time that projection-mapping technique is used in a public airport. Open Sky is located inside the departure hall at Terminal 5 and will be a permanent installation at Stockholm Arlanda.

See the film about Open Sky here.

Swedavia is a State-owned group that owns, operates and develops ten airports acrossSweden. Swedavia also ownsGöteborg City Airport and is a minority owner in the company that operates the airport. Our role is to create the access Sweden needs to facilitate travel, business and meetings – inSweden, in Europe and around the world. Safe, satisfied passengers are the foundation of our business. Swedavia is a world leader in developing airports with the least possible environmental impact. The Group has revenue of almost 5.5 billion Swedish kronor and some 2,500 employees.