Denver Airport Digitizes Signage Management to Aid
Denver International Airport is using digital software to catalog its thousands of signs, aiming to improve wayfinding and cut annual management costs by
Denver International Airport (DEN) is implementing a new digital system to manage its thousands of wayfinding signs. The airport, which handles over 80 million passengers a year, aims to simplify operations and enhance the traveler experience.
Facing a major terminal renovation, DEN needed a better method to document and plan its signage. The airport had previously relied on multiple manual tools, making updates slow and collaboration difficult. Each sign change was a separate task.
Adopting a Digital Platform
In 2022, design firm Selbert Perkins Design recommended the airport adopt software called SignAgent. According to the source article from SignAgent, the platform was chosen to centralize sign data and improve control. The implementation began with a pilot project in the main Jeppesen Terminal.
Over three days, teams used a mobile app to catalog roughly 4,000 signs across six floors. The survey covered key passenger areas including ticketing lobbies, security pathways, baggage claim, and parking garage entries.
Gains in Efficiency and Control
The shift to a digital database has provided immediate benefits. DEN's wayfinding team now has instant, searchable access to sign locations, photos, and messaging details. Work that once required days of on-site verification can now be done in minutes.
"A process that once required several days of on-site verification can now be completed in minutes," the source states. This allows work orders and information to be compiled and shared rapidly with internal teams and external vendors.
Long-Term Plans and Savings
The pilot is just the first step. Denver International Airport has over 10,000 signs in its terminal complex. As more are added to the system, the airport expects to better evaluate existing signage, manage future projects, and improve the passenger journey.
The financial projection is significant. DEN estimates that once its sign information is fully captured in SignAgent, the airport will save 70% on annual sign management costs. These freed-up resources could then be redirected to other operational needs.
The effort ties directly to the airport's ongoing renovations and its status as one of the world's busiest hubs. Simplify this foundational element of passenger navigation is a core operational priority.
