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 »

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 »

New U.S. Department of Defense programs offer funding for resilience upgrades in communities that neighbor military installations. This project would review resilience partnership strategies for the more than 70 civilian airports that are co-located with Air National Guard units.

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 »

Progressive design-build (PDB) has proven to generate both time and cost savings on a number of major airport projects because its qualifications-based selection of the DB team, combined with a negotiated construction price reduces the time it takes airports to procure the DB contractor and reduces the contingencies buried in a typical DB lump sum price. An assembly of PDB best practices would provide the foundation for... 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.

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 »

This synthesis would analyze the current state, feasibility, and interest of airports and the FAA to use recycled concrete aggregates as constituents in a concrete mix design of new airfield rigid concrete pavements.

Compilation of case studies and lab research door concrete that reaches 30,000 psi compressive, 4,000 psi flexural strength. Allow Airport industry to benefit from lessons learned in highway applications. Look at rapid placement, plastic failure mode instead of rigid, lower cost, thinner overall pavement section due to ability to spread loads to a wider subgrade area, possible reduced labor and equipment cost and potential... more »

The objective of this research is to identify how airports can assist Federal and state law enforcement in combatting human trafficking. By supporting investigation and interdiction of human trafficking occurring in and around their facilities, airports can improve their security posture and the safety of the traveling public, as well as the diverse victims of this under-reported crime. Potential research products would... 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.

Effects of and opportunities for public–private partnership funding of social programs

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.

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