How Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is improving efficiency and sustainability with ECHO Robotics®.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Europe's third largest airport, with six runways and over 60 million passengers a year, faces a unique challenge: maintaining the 11 km² of grass around its runways without harming operations or the environment. Conventional mowing solutions have their limitations, including disruption to flight operations, excessive grass height and a significant environmental footprint. To meet these challenges, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport turned to advanced robotic mowers from ECHO Robotics®.
The ECHO Robotics® Solution
In 2022, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport began using two ECHO Robotics® mowers powered by solar panels to evaluate their efficiency and adaptability. These robots, parked at solar charging hubs, were tasked with automated mowing maintenance to see how effectively they would meet the airport's needs. Following the success of the initial trial, Schiphol introduced a third robot in 2024.
Results: Sustainable and secure vegetation management
The benefits of using ECHO Robotics® robotic mowers at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport have been considerable:
- Uninterrupted operations: The robotic mowers operate without the need to close runways, allowing air traffic to continue uninterrupted.
- Reducing the carbon footprint: The solar-powered robots contribute to Schiphol's sustainable development objectives by reducing emissions compared with conventional fuel-powered mowers.
- Optimum grass height: The robots maintain an ideal grass height even in adverse weather conditions, such as rain or limited visibility.
- Better bird management: Keeping the grass shorter improves visibility for the bird patrol teams, reducing the risk of collision between birds and aircraft.
- Reduction in nesting: Research carried out by Dokkadeltaet Våtmarkssenter AS at Norway's Stavanger Airport has shown that birds stop nesting in areas maintained by robotic mowers, an effect that could also benefit Schiphol.
- Increased safety: Automated mowing minimises the need for human intervention, reducing the risk to personnel near active runways. Conclusion The adoption of ECHO Robotics® robotic mowers marks the beginning of a strategic shift for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport towards safer, greener and more efficient grounds maintenance. As the tests continue, the airport aims to extend this innovative solution to optimise its grounds maintenance from 2026, setting a new standard for sustainable airport management.
Conclusion
The adoption of ECHO Robotics® robotic mowers marks the beginning of a strategic shift for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport towards safer, greener and more efficient grounds maintenance. As the tests continue, the airport aims to extend this innovative solution to optimise its grounds maintenance from 2026, setting a new standard for sustainable airport management.