In an exclusive interview with Southeast Asia Infrastructure magazine, Caspar Baum, Executive Director Terminals Asia, Surbana Jurong, shared insights into the challenges and opportunities in developing world-class terminal facilities in the ASEAN region, highlighting the role of funding, political regulation, and sustainability considerations. He also discussed the evolving role of multimodal transport hubs, the integration of AI and automation in terminal operations, and best practices for elevating port and airport infrastructure in the region. Excerpts…

  • Southeast Asia’s rapid economic growth is fueling demand for more efficient and resilient transport infrastructure. What are the biggest challenges in developing world-class terminal facilities in the region, and how is Surbana Jurong addressing them?

Key to the development of future-proof transport infrastructure is funding and political regulation. Often border agreements must be made to achieve integrated and user-friendly solutions.
The significant growth in travel demand and logistics has resulted in extensive aircraft orders, which need to be accommodated in suitable infrastructure. Operating staff needs to be recruited and skilled to be available when equipment and infrastructure are commissioned.
Sustainability poses a key concern: Mega infrastructure needs to be sustainable, integrated and connected without a major impact on resources and residential environments. Flexibility for future technologies and potential regulatory changes needs to be considered at the early stages of development.

  • Given the increasing pressures of urbanisation and trade expansion, how can ports and airports balance short-term capacity needs with long-term scalability and resilience?

Short-term developments such as upgrades of existing brownfield facilities can reduce the pressure for larger developments, e.g. port- and airport expansions. Outdated and inefficient terminals can be upgraded and redeveloped to meet short-term and mid-term requirements.
Many current airports were developed two to three decades ago and require upgrade for various reasons: e.g. system upgrades of BHS, cooling or heating upgrades as well as integration of systems for automation and other technologies. These upgrades often pose an opportunity for capacity enhancements and partial expansions to accommodate more capacity and even better customer service and commercialisation.
Technology and automation currently are key drivers for capacity enhancements. Self-service check-ins and off-airport baggage processing are just some of the examples of transformation to generate more efficient port and airport operations. Furthermore, monitoring and surveillance technologies have increased efficiency while reducing the need for workforce-intensive services.

  • With rising environmental concerns and regulatory pressures, how can terminal developments in Asia incorporate sustainable practices without compromising economic feasibility?

The requirements for infrastructure in Asia are like those in other regions of the earth. Climate change and an increasing number of extreme weather events unfortunately pose a significant threat to airports. These threats need to be mitigated through preventive measures such as sufficient water drainage utilities, lightning protection and sheltering of sensitive systems to mention just a few examples.
There are active and passive ways to optimise the sustainable performance of infrastructure. Active ways are the way how we utilise and operate facilities and passive ways are usually building assets.
Faster and more efficient means of processing passengers give the opportunity to serve more customers better within the same or even less managed facilities. This is an opportunity to reduce resources for energy and maintenance of facilities.
In terms of facilities, there has been made significant progress in building materials, such as insulation, reflective surfaces and glass for openings so that temperature inside buildings can be controlled in a far more efficient way. Active systems such as heating and cooling systems have become state of the art and the business case for replacement of those systems is convincing due to reduced energy costs and efficient operation. I look forward to discussing these pressing issues further during the ‘Sustainable Airports: How Terminals are Shaping a Net Zero Future’ panel at Inter Airport Southeast Asia, where we will explore innovative solutions to become greener and reduce emissions.

  • As global trade and logistics become more integrated, how do you see the role of multimodal transport hubs evolving in Asia? What are the biggest design and operational considerations for ensuring seamless connectivity between sea, air, and land transport?

Efficient land transport is key to the integration of different modes of transport and processing. The reduction of transport ways through congested urban areas is one of those measures, which need to be taken. Urban planning, where possible, needs to consider the co-location of interconnected modes of transportation.
Airports have advanced significantly in the accommodation of sophisticated processing and sorting facilities for different means of logistics. These include the provision of smart staging for trucks, and containers and the integration of rail, where available.
Bonded and unbonded, customs-coordinated facilities such as warehouses and sorting facilities are currently under development in most of the key airports in Asia. Time-critical, as well as high-value (often air cargo) shipments, are handled with more efficient and user-friendly facilities in many regions in Asia.
Furthermore, extensive landside ground transport facilities are being developed for passengers to enhance customer service and to achieve a smooth transition between different modes of transport.

  • The integration of AI, automation, and digital twins is transforming the efficiency and security of transport hubs. How is Surbana Jurong utilising these innovations to enhance terminal design and operations?

SJ and SJ’s technology specialists are constantly working together to design and test various innovative systems into the entire lifecycle of developments. These include AI and other means of data analytics to plan from a regional scale, such as urban regeneration, into smaller scales, such as buildings, to improve the performance and outcomes of these designs.
Building design technologies such as BIM and digital twins are at the forefront of SJ’s DNA to simulate scenarios for user optimisation of built assets.
The downstream work for project delivery has changed significantly as well. Digital applications for the design and management of facilities have evolved dramatically over the last decade and are increasingly utilised to plan and execute projects with better budget and time controls.

  • Having worked on major terminal developments worldwide, what best practices or innovative approaches can Southeast Asia adopt to elevate its port and airport infrastructure?

 The most important task is to engage with all stakeholders throughout the entire project definition and development process. Misunderstanding and wrong interpretation of stakeholder requirements typically leads to failure of projects or parts of those.
As some of the developments have long timelines until they are commissioned sufficient flexibility and adaptability need to be built into the designs, e.g. to allow for late adjustments for functional and systems requirements. Modularity is key for flexibility.

  • With your extensive experience in infrastructure and terminal design, what are some of the most transformative or challenging projects you have worked on, and what key takeaways have shaped your approach to infrastructure development?

I started my career with the development of Athens International Airport, one of the first public-private airport developments. Shortly after opening, we managed the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2004 in Athens. This was a life-changing event for me as I and my teams learned much about difficult operational processes.
Another major development was the 2nd airport in Beijing in Daxing. The Daxing Airport is a very innovative and future-proof development, which had to address multiple complex airline requirements.
Over almost the last decade I have been involved in different aspects of the Changi East and Terminal 5 development. This has given me a very new perspective on development aspects and airport design for the future. Working with the different Changi departments and teams and their demand for customer-focused design and future-proof is unique and I have learned a lot.

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