ACRP IdeaHub Research Projects

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, airports have created many facilities/amenities inside and outside of the airport terminals in both physical infrastructure and soft technology fields to better cater passengers' demands and needs, with an intend to create more customer-friendly passenger travel experience. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the public travel behaviors and impacted the corporate/business travel policies in 2020,... more »

Develop model airfield lighting maintenance training tools (e.g. videos, guides) for small airports where such maintenance is performed by multi-tasked staff who are not electricians. Develop a model airfield lighting maintenance program for small airports including guidance for contracting out airfield lighting repairs when needed.

Among the case study airports in ACRP-1-42, how did the governance model affect how the airport responded. What recovery goals were achieve. How did measures of performance change if at all. How did G/A airports fare in the recovery compared to commercial service airports.

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 »

Airports parking garages use automated license plate scanning in support or in lieu of paper tickets to establish fee payments. This technology might also be used to identify vehicles that might cause a threat and vehicles that might have civil or criminal enforcement issues.

The airport vehicle monitoring system and parking garages could be linked to local and national law enforcement centers to validate vehicle licenses... more »

Perhaps one of the greatest untapped resources available for understanding the challenges of managing airports can be found among the many senior and retired airport leaders. There needs to be an opportunity to assemble the collective wisdom of these successful leaders and to share their insights and experiences gained during their careers.

The proposed research is designed to collect, organize, and assess the historical and current general demographic characteristics of students enrolled in two- and four-year collegiate aviation management programs as well those of recent graduates. Early and current aviation interests, learning styles, and other influences that led up to enrollment and matriculation in their particular program will be investigated. Key... more »

The proposed research is designed to expand the research of ACRP 06-06 – Cultivating Talent in the Airport Environment, and ACRP 06-07 – Enhancing Academic Programs to Prepare Future Airport Industry Professionals both of which are still in progress. Many collegiate aviation programs examined in ACRP 06-07 offered master's degrees in business administration, public administration, or aeronautical science that included... more »

The Concessions industry has evolved greatly over the past decade. The volume of ACDBE's, Concessionaires, and lines of business have grown significantly. Each Airport has developed programs differently. Understanding the economics of the Concessionaires (living wages, pricing models, operational costs, etc.) as well as Airports (pouring rights, leasing structures, CRDC's, etc.) is critical to Commercial Management.... more »

The research would develop a comprehensive guidance on concession agreement standards and terms. The new guidebook would update existing guidance and provides guidance on economic, operational and administrative issues not previously addressed.

Cold In-place Recycling (CIR) and Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) are two economically and environmentally friendly methods of rehabilitating asphalt pavements. While there is a brief mention of FDR in FAA AC 150/5370-10H and AC 150/5320-6F, it is quite limited and there is no mention of CIR, therefore, this project looks to provide comprehensive guidance as to when CIR and FDR can be used, the materials that can be used,... more »

Most U.S. airports do not have a complete understanding of the range of emotions their travelers experience at the airport. More research needs to be conducted to identify the sentiments expressed by passengers at different journey points and the root causes for why they feel the way they do. Once the root cause is identified, airports then must consider resolving any issues related to a negative emotion experience by... more »

Electric or Hydrogen aircraft could present long-term sustainable solutions for aviation, but will heavily depend on the ability of airports to coordinate and provide the infrastructure required for their operation. This research will look into such challenges and opportunities.

Airports need to understand the best ways to preserve institutional knowledge as large scale industry changes occur and both leaders and experienced employees at all levels of the organization are eligible for retirement and leave the airport. Knowledge management and institutional knowledge transfer should be incorporated into all aspects of airports, including the culture, training delivery platforms, and automated... more »

Medical technology companies are rolling out robots and drones to help fight it and provide services and care to those quarantined or practicing social distancing. The COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked the "testing" of robots and other technologies as officials seek out the most expedient and safe way to grapple with the outbreak and limit contamination and spread of the virus.

The aviation industry needs to assess... more »