Orlando International Airport Adds Real‑Time Crowd Tracking And Visual Communication

(ORLANDO) Orlando International Airport (MCO) has deployed a suite of new tools in 2025 to manage record passenger numbers, combining a Real-Time Crowd Tracking System with large-scale visual messaging to cut wait times and ease stress. The system monitors density across security checkpoints, gate areas, and concourses and then pushes live updates on where crowds are building and where space is opening, giving travelers and staff the information they need to keep moving.

How the Real-Time Crowd Tracking System works

At the core is a Real-Time Crowd Tracking System that blends Lidar sensors with heat mapping and digital signage. Lidar measures distance and movement with pulsed light, which helps the airport see how people cluster and spread in different areas without collecting personal data.

By tracking hot spots and calmer zones, the technology supports quicker operational decisions, such as:

1. Opening additional screening lanes.
2. Guiding passengers toward less busy checkpoints.
3. Redirecting staff and cleaning crews to high‑need areas.

The system feeds live data to Synect’s Evenflow Crowd Radar and to content engines that drive airport-wide displays. Operations teams use the data to manage staffing, schedule cleanings, and plan responses when slowdowns appear. Seeing pressure points early allows supervisors to act before lines stall. The same data also supports post‑day analysis to inform scheduling throughout the season.

Visual communications and in-terminal experiences

MCO has upgraded visual communication across terminals with large LED video walls and digital signs that display TSA wait times, gate crowding, and cleaning status. Clear color‑coded messages and simple graphics prompt travelers when to proceed, when to pause, and how to shift routes to avoid bottlenecks.

• Displays are designed to reduce confusion during crowd surges.
• Colored prompts and simple graphics help travelers decide when to head to security, wait near ticket counters, or move toward gates.

In June 2025, the airport added “Annie’s Airport Journey,” an immersive 3D experience at the West Checkpoint. Annie the Astronaut — a digital ambassador tied to live data — shares updates, security tips, and wayfinding help inside a virtual replica of MCO.

• This experience is part of the broader Passenger360 platform.
• It aims to make waiting more engaging while delivering practical guidance at the moment it’s needed.

Mobile app and traveler tools

MCO’s mobile app rounds out the system with real-time security wait times, indoor turn‑by‑turn navigation, parking availability, and live crowd updates. Airport officials recommend the app for both Android and iOS users in 2025 as the fastest way to check conditions before leaving home and while inside the terminal.

Security screening programs that speed movement are also promoted alongside the technology:

• TSA PreCheck — for expedited screening (enrollment details at the official TSA page: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck).
• CLEAR — biometric identity verification for faster lines.
• MCO Reserve — a free reservation tool that lets travelers book a screening window in advance.

Frequent flyers who enroll in these programs typically move through checkpoints faster, especially on peak mornings.

Early results and industry response

MCO reports early gains in passenger satisfaction tied to clearer directions and better timing cues. During heavy periods, colored prompts and simple graphics help travelers know when to act and where to go. Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests MCO’s blend of live data and visual prompts is becoming a reference point for other large hubs seeking to keep crowds moving without adding friction.

Quotes from stakeholders:

“By blending placemaking with real-time information, we’re turning a traditionally passive space into an opportunity for engagement, delight, and orientation – all while staying true to the unique spirit of MCO,”
— Karla Carman, Senior Manager of Wayfinding & Signage, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA)

“We’re excited to keep building on this momentum with GOAA. More engaging, guest‑focused experiences are on the horizon,”
— Amanda Thibodeau, Account Manager, Synect

Synect developed Evenflow Crowd Radar and the immersive content experiences that tie into the airport’s displays and mobile app.

Operational benefits behind the scenes

Operational gains extend beyond visible displays:

• Managers can assign staff where lines are forming rather than relying on fixed schedules.
• Cleaning schedules can be adjusted to real use rather than pre-set timetables.
• Emergency planning benefits from live maps of people flow across checkpoints, concourses, and gate hold areas.

The overall aim is a calmer airport where both staff and passengers have a clearer picture of what comes next.

Context and timeline

MCO’s 2025 rollout builds on work that began in late 2020, when the airport first piloted crowd monitoring and visual communication during the pandemic. Those early tests led to airport‑wide deployment and continuous upgrades through 2024 and into 2025. As the system matured, MCO expanded from simple density maps to integrated visual messaging and a mobile app that ties into the same data feeds.

Industry analysts view MCO’s approach — mixing behavioral cues, real‑time metrics, and engaging content — as a practical strategy to keep people moving without adding stress. Passenger feedback indicates:

• Less anxiety.
• Better wayfinding.
• Fewer surprises at chokepoints.
• Improved experience for first‑time or infrequent flyers thanks to steady, color‑based prompts.

What travelers should do now

• Download the MCO app for live security wait times, indoor navigation, parking status, and crowd levels.
• Watch the color‑coded digital signs and LED video walls for prompts on where to move and when to hold.
• Use MCO Reserve to book a screening window in advance — the service is free and helps smooth peak surges.
• Consider TSA PreCheck or CLEAR for faster screening, especially if you fly often or at peak times.
• At the West Checkpoint, follow “Annie’s Airport Journey” for timely tips, reminders, and real‑time updates tied to your next steps.

Scale and upcoming demand

The scale of the challenge is clear. MCO is Florida’s busiest and the United States’ ninth busiest airport, serving nearly 58 million passengers in 2025, up from 57 million in 2024.

• Summer 2025 is projected to be 4% busier than last year.
• More than 50,000 flights per day nationwide are expected during peak periods.
• Heaviest days at MCO are forecasted to be August 5 and August 26.
• Weekends, Mondays, and Fridays consistently draw the largest crowds.

With nearly 58 million travelers passing through MCO in 2025 and a busier‑than‑ever summer, the combination of a Real‑Time Crowd Tracking System, Lidar‑powered sensing, and clear visual messaging is designed to keep lines shorter and spaces safer. While no single tool can remove all delays, allowing passengers to see conditions in real time — and act on that information — can make the experience feel more in control.

Airport officials remind travelers to arrive early during peak days, check the MCO app before leaving home, and watch for on‑site prompts from LED walls and digital signs. Paired with programs such as TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and MCO Reserve, these tools aim to make the busiest stretches of the day more predictable from curb to gate.