ACRP IdeaHub Research Projects

Objective is to develop airport-specific design guidelines and best practices for airport terminals and passenger facilities to make them accessible to all persons.

How can airports set up incubators unit to create a space for innovators to solve airport problems based on challenges placed on them from different departments? Then, using the resulting solution, partner (in terms of equity) with the innovators. Help them form companies that the airport can partner with. Then market to other airports.

Accurate predictions of the noise environment in communities surrounding airports and spaceports from launch and reentry vehicle operations require models that have been validated over a range of vehicle types, operations, and atmospheric conditions. Research is needed to validate the commercial space operations noise models developed under ACRP 02-66 using the community noise measurement database collected under ACRP... more »

Conduct research to update the state-of-the-science regarding the feasibility of reducing or eliminating noise in communities from aircraft departures, specifically behind the start of takeoff roll, with active noise reduction technology.

The proposed research project would evaluate carbon removal strategies that could be deployed at airports to help achieve "Net Zero Emissions" in order to align with global emission reduction targets and to address increasing public scrutiny. Carbon removal strategies include both natural (e.g., tree plantings and agricultural soil management) and technological approaches (e.g., carbon-absorbing concrete and direct air... more »

The objective of the research is to update the Marketing Guide for Small Airports to include business-to-business marketing and digital media thus resulting in a new model for business-to-business marketing for smaller airports.

There are all kinds of animals coming through airports today: service animals, comfort animals, security animals, and pets, not to mention farm animals, zoo animals, circus animals, primates, uninvited wild animals ("pests"), and marine life. How should airports set up protocols, physical spaces, and customer service messaging to coordinate and manage as today's Noah's Arcs of air travel?

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 »

Everyone flies! Today's traveling public is more diverse than ever. U.S. airports are serving people of more countries of origin, age ranges, language groups, nationalities, ethnicities, religious groups, physical/cognitive abilities, and income brackets than ever before.

However, most airports have not done an adequate job of modernizing their communications and facilities to accommodate this diversity. Not only are... more »

A guidebook containing valuable information for airport managers and planners, including case studies and the identification of best practices to assist airport internal and external stakeholders in optimizing the usefulness of the master planning process, and ways in which said process can help airport managers articulate to the external public and stakeholders the need to solve challenges they face:

- Stakeholder involvement... more »

The end result should provide best practices that will enable airports to plan facilities (e.g. Daycare), streamline socioeconomic policies and educational programs.

While there is existing guidance on emergency planning and business continuity for airport operation, the recent storms to hit the gulf and eastern coasts have presented different challenges in airport operations. The project would pull lessons learned from airports effected by the damages of the storms as well as external factors that may not be under airport control. examples:
- Loss of NAVIADS
- The airport has power... more »

To produce a guidance document that presents airports with their options for various environmental certification and accreditation programs and provides detailed yet easy-to-follow methodology on how to obtain them.

The research will characterize the changes in community noise impacts due to the implementation of RNP procedures. It will provide a solid picture of the character and scope of the problem through case studies and noise modeling. Possible mitigation strategies will be explored detailing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach supported by parametric noise analyses.

Airport Emergency Plan requirements do not fully recognize the impact on airport employees and business partners in times of disasters or emergency events. Lessons can be learned from aviation organizations such as Jet Blue who have models for anticipating employee and business partners family needs for emergency support. Essential employees need support for their families in order to assist the airport and community... more »