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CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY
Auckland Airport Cuts Biosecurity Data Processing by 50% and GIS Hours by 97% with FME
By combining Esri field tools with automated FME workflows, Auckland International Airport completely overhauled its mosquito inspection reporting process cutting manual data processing by more than 50%, reducing annual GIS processing time from over 300 hours to under 10, and delivering stakeholder reports within hours of field capture rather than days.
50%+ reduction in manual processing
FME and Esri automation eliminates the majority of manual biosecurity data processing
300+ hours → less than 10 hours/year
Annual GIS processing time reduced by 97% — from hundreds of hours to single digits
Reports within hours of field capture
Stakeholders receive published reports including maps within hours of data being captured in the field
New Zealand’s largest international gateway
Over 70% of international visitors enter or leave NZ via Auckland Airport; 92% of all airfreight by weight passes through the precinct
All other potential process improvements involved some level of manual data processing, meaning less efficiency. FME delivered the most efficient solution — by a long shot.”
– Michael Prior, GIS Manager, Auckland Airport
The Challenge
Manual, Time-Consuming Biosecurity Inspection Reporting at a Critical International Gateway
Auckland International Airport is New Zealand’s largest. Over 70% of visitors enter or leave New Zealand via Auckland Airport, and 92% of all airfreight by weight passes through the precinct. Pre-Covid, the airport handled over 18 million passenger movements a year.
New Zealand has strict biosecurity measures and, as an international transport hub, Auckland Airport has a requirement to manage possible biosecurity threats of public health concern and exotic mosquitos are one such threat. The airport wanted processes that would be less manual and time consuming, and would provide greater accuracy in location data. The existing inspection process required GIS team members to perform manual, time-intensive tasks, consuming hundreds of hours of processing time annually and creating delays in stakeholder reporting.
The Solution
Integrated FME and Esri Automation Across the Full Inspection Workflow
Using a combination of FME and Esri tools, Auckland Airport built a solution that completely overhauled the mosquito inspection processes. Esri tools were used by inspectors to gather field data, and FME workbenches were employed to transform, publish, and archive that data automating the full journey from field capture through to stakeholder report delivery.
The new workflow generates standardised reports and published maps automatically, archives results for auditability, and eliminates the manual GIS processing that had previously consumed the team’s time and capacity.
The Results
Faster Reporting, Richer Data, and a GIS Team Freed for Strategic Work
The new mosquito inspection process delivered notable operational gains including a significant improvement in data quality, over 50% reduction in manual data processing, and GIS processing reduced from over 300 to less than 10 hours per annum. Stakeholders now receive reports, including published maps within hours of data being captured in the field. The solution also delivered enriched data that helps identify trends and improve decision making, more accessible data improving stakeholder satisfaction, and improved confidence in the integrity and accuracy of the data.
Why it Matters
For international airports and transport hubs operating under strict biosecurity obligations, the ability to process, report, and act on inspection data quickly isn’t just an operational efficiency it’s a public health requirement. When that process is manual, the lag between field capture and stakeholder visibility creates a window of risk.
By utilising FME to automate the full biosecurity inspection workflow from field data capture through transformation, publication, and archiving airports and border facilities can meet their regulatory obligations faster, with greater accuracy, and with far less demand on skilled GIS staff. The result is better data, better decisions, and a team that can focus on the work that truly matters.
Success Stories
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FME Reduces Manual Data Processing in Biosecurity Inspection Practices at Auckland Airport
Using a combination of FME and ESRI tools, Auckland Airport built a solution that completely overhauled the biosecurity mosquito inspection processes, significantly reducing manual data processing and improving data accuracy.