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Advanced air mobility (AAM) is a broad concept enabling consumers access to on-demand air mobility, cargo and package delivery, healthcare applications, and emergency services through an integrated and connected multimodal transportation network. However, a number of challenges could impact AAM's growth potential, such as the public acceptance of autonomous flight, the availability of departure and arrival stations, electric/hydrogen... more »

Using FEMA emergency management core capabilities and CDC's public health preparedness capabilities as models, this ACRP proposed project will help airports across the country expand existing emergency management programs through the development of industry specific capabilities and metrics for increasing resiliency, preparedness, recovery, planning, and more.

Research Field: Special Projects

Allocation: $100,000

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) includes the use of highly automated aircraft to transport passengers and cargo at lower altitudes. Activity will likely include commercial inter-city travel, cargo delivery, public services, and private/recreational use. The initial ecosystem will utilize existing facilities (airports, heliports), but in the future, new, dedicated facilities... more »

Research Field: Operations

Allocation: $100,000

ACRP published Research Report 228: Airport Microgrid Implementation Toolkit in 2021. The toolkit has a suite of reference materials and guidance to help airports consider, plan for, and implement microgrid solutions at their facility. The toolkit itself includes modules covering microgrid basics, airport energy profiles, resilience, stakeholder engagement, energy options,... more »

Research Field: Operations

Allocation: $500,000

Electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles (including robotaxis) are expected to contribute an increasing share of landside activity at airports. The transition will likely impact all components of an airport's landside facilities, including roadways, curbs, parking, and ground transportation centers. Airports must consider these trends in their facility planning, yet little... more »

Research Field: Maintenance

Allocation: $300,000

Budget resources at small airports are typically limited, and are often not be able to support full-time electricians, leaving the maintenance of airfield lighting to other airport staff. A small airfield lighting issue may then result in significant operational impacts if a repair cannot be made quickly.

The objective of this research is to develop basic electrical... more »

Research Field: Design

Allocation: $500,000

ACRP Report 25: Airport Passenger Terminal Planning and Design comprises a guidebook, spreadsheet models, and a user's guide in two volumes and a CD-ROM. These products provide guidance in planning and developing airport passenger terminals. Since its publication in 2010, Report 25 has been the most downloaded ACRP publication. Over the last 10 years, significant changes in... more »

Research Field: Security

Allocation: $600,000

Airports rely on a significant amount of electronic information and technology in their day-to-day operations, and the amount of electronic data airports collect, store, and use continues to grow. Yet the risk of adverse cybersecurity events appears to be increasing at an even more rapid rate. These events can be significant and debilitating to operations, affect numerous... more »

Research Field: Policy & Planning

Allocation: $400,000

Airports can benefit significantly by integrating standard business planning with all aspects of resiliency planning (e.g., business continuity plans, continuity of operations plans, airport emergency plans, recovery plans, and resiliency plans). However, because of limited resources and expertise, small airports often have challenges in plan integration. Recent... more »

Research Field: Policy & Planning

Allocation: $400,000

Peer-to-peer car sharing companies allow individuals to make their personal vehicles available for rent by others through an app. Peer-to-peer car sharing activity continues to grow across the US, but there is little data on how much of this activity occurs at airports. It is a potential concern for airports, as it may result in lost revenue, and may impact airport... more »

Research Field: Policy & Planning

Allocation: $350,000

Decision making in an airport environment is often complex and time consuming. Many decisions involve numerous stakeholders and considerable resources and can include an element of unanticipated adverse impacts if a less-than-optimal decision is made. "Digital twins" are detailed virtual representations of a facility or system that are kept up to date with real-time... more »

Research Field: Policy & Planning

Allocation: $500,000

Since its inception, ACRP has produced hundreds of research reports, tools, databases, and other products. Recognizing the dynamic nature of the airport industry and the need to ensure that the program's products reflect the latest in practice, the program developed a systematic process to identify the products most in need of updating. To date, this process has... more »

Research Field: Environment

Allocation: $400,000

ACRP Report 132: The Role of U.S. Airports in the National Economy (2015) demonstrated that the nation's airport system provides essential transportation services for millions of travelers and shippers of goods. Public use airports also contribute $1.6 trillion to the economy annually when considering direct, indirect, and induced economic effects. Yet as communities... more »

Research Field: Environment

Allocation: $400,000

Airport environmental issues can be complex, occur at airports of all sizes, and are often costly if not managed properly. It is therefore important for airport employees, particularly new employees or those without a technical environmental background, to understand the requirements and environmental programs at the airport. Airport environmental achievement and sustainability... more »

Research Field: Environment

Allocation: $600,000

In the summer of 2021, the members of the Airports Council International committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. ACRP Research Report 220: Guidebook for Developing a Zero- or Low-Emissions Roadmap at Airports provides the information and resources needed for airports to create a zero or low emissions roadmap and addresses making the business case and... more »