Project Description

San Francisco International Airport

Client: Gensler

L&B was involved in the study of the expansion, reconfiguration, and simulation of the existing F3 and F1-F2 security screening checkpoints (SSCP) for Terminal 3 (T3) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The existing F3 checkpoint at T3 was expanded to increase passenger-processing capacity and reduce passenger wait times. New queuing arrangements were developed, allowing the SSCP to simultaneously process TSA Pre✓™, regular, and specialty passenger types, such as CLEAR, a third-party priority program at SFO.

L&B commenced the study by administering field observations of current passenger activity at the F3 SSCP aimed at understanding the behavior of passengers utilizing the existing facilities. The observations were used to calibrate the simulation model by closely replicating existing conditions so the model would yield reliable results when applied to anticipated future demand.

With limited available space for lane configurations and passenger queues, a plan showing the exact location of screening equipment, specialty passenger processing lanes, and the layout of passenger queues was essential. The focus of the study was to provide the most optimal SSCP layout while ensuring adequate pre-security passenger circulation, adequate queue capacity, as well as a high level of service (LOS) to passengers processing through the F3 checkpoint.

L&B utilized computer simulation software (ARCport) to analyze the movement and LOS of passengers processing through the existing and preferred SSCP configuration, including different impacts that changes in TSA staffing will have on passenger throughput, queue lengths, and wait times.