ACRP IdeaHub Synthesis Topics

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 »

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 »

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 »

The proposed work will provide a synthesis on the experiences of airport operators so far with integrating the alternative jet fuels into the airport fuel setting.

Runways routinely require the removal of rubber to maintain adequate surface friction. According to FAA AC 150/5320-12C, rubber can be removed by High-Pressure Water, Chemical, High-Velocity Impact, and Mechanical removal. Survey experiences with various airports in different climates to assess the cost, time required, benefits, and tradeoffs with various methods of rubber removal.

Perform economic, environmental and social benefits analysis of using plant based diet in airports and flights.
Industrial meat, poultry, and dairy production has a huge footprint of resource consumption--energy, water, and land. As a result the practice produces air, water and land pollution. The practice also causes human health related deceases.

A triple Bottom Line analysis of low carbon plant based food usage... more »

In recent years, there has been an a growing concern regarding emissions of aviation related ultrafine particles (UFPs). This effort would consolidate relevant research regarding aviation and UFP emissions in order to provide useful insight to airports, stakeholders, and the public.

The proposed work will be a synthesis of current and previous experiences of airports that have been utilized the federal grants to reduce the emissions levels at their respective areas.

To synthesize information on ground transportation fee structures and best practices at other airports, with an emphasis on carbon reduction. This information could be used to support innovative ground transportation fees to reduce carbon, while considering changes in travel patterns, non-aeronautical revenue, and potential social equity issues.

About 15% of American adults suffer some level of fear (aviophobia). While some of them avoid flying almost totally, there are 15% that are passengers* passing through a US airport and experiencing aviophobia from boarding their upcoming flight. This fear, exacerbated to some extent by various factors within the airport's control, impacts passenger experience, their behavior before, during, and after boarding their plane.... more »

Examination of airports that are tracking and reporting sustainability metrics and whether their insurance rates, insurance payouts, or options for access to capital are different from those of airports that do not track and report these metrics