SEISMEC Workshop at Zagreb Airport: Advancing AI-Driven FOD Inspection
From 29 to 30 October, SEISMEC partners from Zagreb Airport, InfraPlan, CERTH, Technische Universität Berlin, DFAI, and Erasmus University Rotterdam gathered at Zagreb Airport to review progress and collaboratively plan the next steps for the automated Foreign Object Debris (FOD) inspection. The event focused on integrating AI, wearable sensing, and human-centric design to enhance safety, efficiency, and user experience in airport operations.
Day 1
The first day involved introductions and a project overview, starting with presentations from Zagreb Airport on their current FOD inspection programme, pilot plan and long-term vision within the SEISMEC project. Their presentation also covered questions from the consortium about airport operations and the overall FOD collection process on the runway.
InfraPlan, CERTH, and Technische Universität Berlin then provided updates on the technical progress of the FOD detection system. Technische Universität Berlin demonstrated how the eye-tracking glasses work, showing how eye data are gathered and can be used to analyse worker attention and enhance user interface design. CERTH introduced their wearable devices and explained how explainable AI models support transparency and trust in automated decision-making.
The first day concluded with a demonstration of the FOD app, group feedback and plans for the following day.
Day 2
The second day was dedicated to hands-on field testing. In total, four test runs were performed. One test involved a worker driving a vehicle during inspection while CERTH measured physiological stress levels. The other three tests were conducted while walking, with participants carrying both the wearable device and the eye-tracking glasses. Multiple FOD items were placed along the testing area, and workers were tasked with locating and recording each item using the FOD mobile app. After the tests, TUB collected individual feedback from each worker on their experience with the app’s usability and workflow.
To conclude the session, the SEISMEC team observed a real FOD inspection procedure, during which airport staff drove along the runway to identify and collect actual FOD, providing valuable context for future system refinement and validation.
At the end of the workshop, Zagreb Airport team and the SEISMEC partners held a brief closing discussion to reflect on the successful outcomes of the two days. All partners expressed enthusiasm for the next phase of development, particularly the upcoming integration of AI-based capabilities into the FOD app, which will mark a major milestone toward smarter and safer runway inspection operations.
