Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has earned its reputation as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative airports in the U.S. Located within a two-hour flight of 60% of the U.S. population, CVG has become not only a passenger hub but also a logistics powerhouse. The airport is home to Amazon Air’s first and largest global hub, as well as DHL Express’s North American superhub, making it the only airport in the U.S. with two major international cargo carriers.

The first part of this series explored how CVG transformed itself into a center for innovation and improved the passenger security experience.

In this second installment, Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer at CVG, speaks with Robert Daniel, Chief Revenue Officer at Data Society Group, about the airport’s approach to data talent, partnerships, digital twins, and preparing for the future of air cargo growth.

Rethinking data talent: Partnerships and upskilling

Speaking about the challenges of attracting top data talent at a regional airport, Cobb admits the answer might surprise people: “We do not officially have data scientists. We might have an analyst in departments, but no one’s geared specifically towards looking at the sheer amounts of data that we have.”

Rather than hiring large teams of data scientists, CVG has turned to a different model. Cobb explains how the organization worked with local development shops to create their SaaS platform EASE (Enterprise Awareness and Situational Exceptions). “Find the talent that can also build the technology you’re looking for,” he emphasizes.

From SaaS to digital twin: Balancing operational and strategic needs

Moving forward, Cobb describes CVG’s internally developed SaaS product as the foundation of a “relatively inexpensive digital twin” of the airport, minus the 3D visualization layer. This tool allowed CVG to start small but build credibility with frontline staff by showing immediate value.

“Crawl, walk, run. Don’t move terribly fast. If you do, you stand a very good chance of losing your audience.”

With dashboards now providing real-time operational insights across the campus, CVG began using the platform to anticipate growth challenges — especially in cargo.

A dual cargo hub: Protecting growth with data

CVG holds the rare distinction of being the only North American airport hub for both Amazon Air and DHL. This strategic advantage, however, comes with operational complexity, says Cobb.

“We are no longer just an airport. We’re actually a port with ground logistics trucks coming in and out all day, all night,” Cobb says.

By combining data with forecasting tools, CVG has been able to plan proactively for infrastructure needs, like roadway expansions, to prevent bottlenecks for its cargo partners.

“It was really important for folks to recognize that again, we’ve dynamically pivoted our business. We have a community that we’re responsible for. How do we make sure that we are not creating traffic jams and we’re not creating bottlenecks for our cargo companies?”

While innovation plays a role in CVG’s growth, Cobb candidly says that geography remains the deciding factor.

“The really dynamic shift that we heard loud and clear from both partners is the location,” he says. CVG’s uncongested airspace and central location often outperform larger, busier airports.

“It’s actually faster to fly into CVG, offload vehicles, and truck them into Chicago than it is to fly directly into Chicago,” Cobb recounts from one cargo partner.

This geographic advantage positions CVG alongside Louisville (UPS) and Memphis (FedEx) as one of three critical hubs powering America’s air cargo backbone, he adds.

Emerging tech: From digital twins to smart robots

When asked about the emerging technologies that excite him most, Cobb points to one standout: a Silicon Valley startup called Rescan. “We were very fortunate to bring them in early on and demonstrate to our staff that you can actually scan a massive facility — infrastructure, customers, and vehicles — in under half a day. And that’s using LIDAR and SLAM technology,” he explains.

This capability gave CVG a baseline 3D build of its facilities, which the team began linking to building management systems (BMS). The goal, Cobb says, was to understand if new facilities were living up to promises of efficiency in HVAC, electricity, and other utilities — while also preparing for future construction and day-to-day operational needs.

From there, the airport extended the technology into security and customer experience. Robots equipped with LIDAR sensors now roam CVG, originally deployed to maintain cleanliness and even deliver concessions. But their role quickly expanded.

“We learned very early on that LIDAR technology was the only way to go, as opposed to pure camera vision,” Cobb notes.

Those same floor-scrubbing robots now act as mobile security units, mapping devices, and data collectors, feeding their information into Rescan’s constantly updated 3D environment.

CDO Magazine appreciates Brian Cobb for sharing his insights with our global community.