ACRP IdeaHub Research Projects

The objective of this research project is to provide U.S. airport operators with guidance regarding the potential roles "virtual" ATCTs and ramp control towers can play at their facilities, and their major components and supporting technologies, and the advantages and disadvantages of these virtual facilities relative to their traditional counterparts.
The project also will provide guidance regarding how airport operators,... more »

Airports are increasingly interested in bringing multi-disciplines together in a common environment to improve collaborative decision making during regular and irregular operations. Guidance on how to plan and design for these centers is needed.

Bring to ready attention both some common utilized apps for typical business purposes as well as specialize apps for other functional purposes.

The USGS will be releasing the Earthquake Early Warning System for public use in 2018. All airports in the west will need to understand how this will directly impact shutdown of critical infrastructure, alerting to the public and changes in the airport safety systems.

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.

The objectives of this research project are to:
• Create an electronic resources library – preferably a website. This searchable electronic library should provide an inventory of available publications including the abstracts and index of ACRP research documents and non-ACRP research documents related to airside planning, design and operations.
• Recommend a process for keeping the website up-to-date.
• Identify which... more »

Develop a primer to introduce airports to blockchain technology, describe potential use cases, and offer guidance to incorporating blockchain into their airport's operations.

 

• What is blockchain?

• History

• Benefits

• Airport use cases

• Survey of airport-specific applications and vendors

• Implementing/converting to blockchain technology

Demonstrate an autonomous system that meets flight requirements for

small airports and commercial operators.

Guidance on holisitic master planning that goes beyond just future

facility and infrastructure that includes the sub categories such as IT,

Operations, Security and Maintenance as examples. It would also provide guidance on how to develop a "plan" for the ancillary operating areas and how important components may be rolled into a true master plan

This Guidebook would detail what it takes to stand up a full IT Security

and Compliance program at an airport.

Develop guidance and best practices that will inform capital asset and new/replacement/renewal project managers on how to ensure that maintenance departments are capable of properly maintaining the assets and immediately assuming responsibility for them after project completion/turnover. These recommendations will focus on the accurate, effective, and timely development and delivery of capital project assets and asset... more »

This is a proposal for a two-day ACRP Insight Event on the Future of Aviation at the Beckman Center. The findings from this event would be used to help develop an ACRP future of aviation research roadmap (please see below for more details). The proposed location is recommended due to its closer proximity to key aviation and technology companies and thought leaders who may be interested in planning and/or participating... more »

Recent research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology (https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13971) suggests that existing infrastructure and weather radar data can be used to help airports anticipate and respond to periods of increased wildlife strike hazards.

More than 17,000 wildlife strikes were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration in 2019. Globally, wildlife strikes have killed more than 287 people... more »

A lot of talent goes through the terminals daily. Airports can solicit targetted feedback on specific projects and initiatives from the travelers. There is no better source or time since the customers are in the right state of mind to provide feedback that affects them.

Virtually building a "digital twin" of an airport is becoming increasingly popular by architects and engineers who need to more efficiently plan, design, and build; staff who need to effectively operate and maintain these complex facilities; and managers who constantly need to make informed decisions. The concepts behind a digital twin (e.g. graphical representation of facilities, recording current status of assets, systems... more »