Heathrow Airport has gone live with Heathrow Explorer, a geospatial platform from Esri UK that provides a real-time, single view of infrastructure and assets, enabling teams to make faster and better decisions.
Using interactive maps and dashboards, the system brings together previously siloed technical and operational information on more than 500,000 assets. The initial launch includes applications for up to 3,000 staff across Heathrow’s engineering, operations, fire service, property and retail departments, as well as airport third parties, including airlines.
Created by Esri UK using its geographic information system (GIS), the new approach replaces outdated legacy software with increased functionality, enhanced security and mobile access.
Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport, and served almost 85 million passengers in 2025, its busiest year on record. Heathrow Explorer is part of the airport’s asset management and compliance programme, focused on renewing and maintaining the airport’s critical infrastructure, including runways, terminals, security and baggage, to improve operational performance and the passenger experience.
Containing almost 300 layers of information, Heathrow Explorer enables the airport’s ‘digital engineer’ strategy. Engineers can now quickly access data about the airport’s asset base from any location, making maintenance planning, inspections and site visits safer and more efficient.
The first application to go live was Winter Resilience, providing airfield teams with real-time updates on airside snow clearance or de-icing activity. Replacing manual workflows that used printed maps, the new tool gives teams a single operational picture on handheld devices. Airfield managers can dispatch the nearest available clearance team and track progress instantly, helping speed up snow clearance activities to avoid flight delays.
Mobile connectivity is key
Improving access to information via mobile devices is a key aspect of the new system. One example is a new application for the fire services team, which shows all water assets with live hydrant and water network availability, including Heathrow’s 72 miles of fire mains. Fire crews can now access maps and graphical information about assets from mobile devices, which helps improve incident response and future scenario planning.
The geospatial system has been extended to major contractors working on Heathrow’s asset management and compliance programme, enhancing collaboration and helping to streamline construction projects. A new tool to manage the airport’s noise and vortex compensation and repairs scheme for neighbouring properties has also gone live.
Future developments include applications for the Heathrow Expansion Programme and the use of Esri Indoor GIS to improve terminal navigation for passengers and staff on smartphones.
Heathrow Explorer was designed and developed by Esri UK’s professional services team, in partnership with Spyrosoft, 1Spatial and GeoJobe. Geospatial data was provided by Esri UK partners Ordnance Survey, BlueSky and LandClan.
Gavin Payne, director of engineering and baggage at Heathrow Airport, said: “Location intelligence is becoming a core capability in how we achieve Heathrow’s asset management and operational goals. Our new Esri platform is making it easier for colleagues to access and use the information they need, improving everyday efficiency, supporting better decision-making and helping build a more resilient airport.”
