ACRP IdeaHub Ideas

The objective of this research is to create a database of performance benchmarks for airport facilities. Airport staff need a better understanding of key operational metrics associated with building performance in order to improve efficiency, decrease operating costs, and reduce environmental impacts. A standard system which normalizes for weather, location, carbon intensity of utility supplied energy, and airport specific... more »

The objective of this research is to create a guidebook of Aircraft Characteristics. The first step is a synthesis that summarizes the data sources available for determining Aircraft Characteristics for airport planning, design, construction, and operation. The characteristics would include at a minimum Aircraft Approach Category (AAC), Airplane Design Group (ADG), Taxiway Design Group (TDG), wingspan, tail height, length,... more »

Airports have been using the Internet of Things to become more connected and offer enhanced customer service logistics as smart airports. This synthesis would document the state of the industry with regard to the application of smart airport technologies and lessons learned from current adopters.

Sustainability and environmental mitigation are rapidly being incorporated into construction efforts at airports to mitigate and offset environmental impacts such as air emissions, water quality issues, etc. Naturally, every airport and their associated construction efforts and ability to incorporate sustainability vary on multiple fronts. This effort would provide a synthesis of construction sustainability and environmental... more »

ACRP Synthesis 11-03/Topic S01-21 (The Benefits of Airport Arts Programs) provides an exhaustive analysis of current practices related to airport arts programs; the Synthesis identifies many tools that airports use to govern such programs and to manage them efficiently and economically. It was, however, beyond the scope of Synthesis 11-03/Topic S01-21 to provide an in depth analysis of precisely how these tools are used... more »

ACRP Report 157 (Improving the Airport Customer Experience)(2017) found that airport arts programs play an important role in improving the customer experience at airports and that airports with such arts programs are among the most highly rated airports in the world. ACRP Synthesis 11-03/Topic S01-21 (The Benefits of Airport Arts Programs) surveyed and synthesized the the state of practice of airport rotating visual art... more »

Volunteer programs are a common practice at airports in the United States whereby local residents are engaged to enhance the airport's overall customer experience by welcoming travelers, offering directional assistance, and providing accurate information about the airport's services and amenities. The presence of a dedicated volunteer team creates a positive image of the airport and reflects the friendly hospitality of... more »

New research that identifies and describes the cognitive abilities used in airfield operations, as well as the limitations and potential complications of current practices. The research should identify methods for mitigating risks inherent to human performance and should identify and/or recommend best practices for developing or improving these abilities.

By understanding what other airports are doing in the very wide subject area of sustainability, it may spur airports to try different means of conserving energy, recycling materials, or otherwise improving its sustainability practices. By looking not only at the practices, but the results, the challenges to implementation, and the costs of implementation, airports will be provided with guidance to improve their practices... more »

Provide a synthesis to the airport emergency management community which identifies and assesses best practices across various airport emergency operations centers (EOCs).

This project will provide airport administrators and other stakeholders with a concise resource that applies software solutions, applications, and digital technologies toward a multitude of common tasks, responsibilities, and problems. The project will synthesize existing research and resources on the subject, paying particular attention to off-the-shelf style product categories that can be easily procured, implemented,... more »

To compile data from various airports around the country about practices they use for airport credentialing. This would also include the setup and staffing of an airport credentialing office.

The research would identify the best persuasive strategies, language, and media, supported by behavioral science, for successfully encouraging customers to separate waste materials at the source and reduce contamination. This would reduce the number of costly waste hauls; help rehabilitate international scrap materials markets; reduce the amount of materials being sent to landfills and incinerators; promote composting... more »

This project proposes a look into building design and furniture layout for protection of the general public and airport employees during an active shooter event.

With increasing passenger demands for personalization, accelerated movement towards a truly seamless journey, and airlines providing amenities throughout the passenger journey, airports are challenged to consistently and regularly measure the quality of the experience in their airports. While many other hospitality industries (hotels, airlines, sports) regularly measure their customer satisfaction, airports often lag... more »