Airports play a vital role in connectivity and trade but are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change effects. The World Economic Forum highlights the need for resilience through strategies like designing new structures to withstand extreme conditions, retrofitting existing assets, and utilizing data and technology. Given their susceptibility to flooding and temperature fluctuations, airports must adopt a holistic, city-wide approach to resilience. Examples include upgrading New York’s JFK Airport to manage flooding and employing green infrastructure at Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport. As climate predictions improve, airports must proactively plan for future challenges, taking advantage of opportunities to build new resilient infrastructures for the long term.
| name | description | change | 10-year | driving-force | relevancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increasing Operational Challenges for Airports | Airports face rising operational difficulties due to escalating extreme weather events. | Operational resilience is shifting from reactive to proactive strategies in airport management. | Airports may evolve to implement advanced resilience protocols, minimizing disruptions caused by climate events. | Urgent need to adapt to climate change accelerates infrastructure innovation at airports. | 4 |
| Integration of Green Infrastructure | Airports are increasingly integrating green spaces and natural capital into designs. | Transitioning from conventional designs to more ecological and sustainable infrastructure solutions. | Future airports may prioritize biodiversity and environmental benefits in their designs. | Growing recognition of climate impacts heightens focus on sustainable architecture in aviation. | 4 |
| Proactive Climate Planning | Airports are beginning to adopt proactive measures for climate resilience in their planning. | Shifting from reactive management of disruptions to anticipatory climate risk assessments. | Airports will be better equipped to forecast climate challenges and adapt operations. | Advancements in climate data analytics empower future planning for unpredictable weather scenarios. | 5 |
| Data Utilization in Decision-Making | Airports increasingly use data and technology for climate resilience decisions. | From minimal data use to advanced analytics guiding infrastructure enhancements. | Data-driven approaches will revolutionize airport management, enhancing climate adaptation strategies. | The digital transformation in aviation fuels better decision-making through comprehensive data insights. | 5 |
| Shift towards Resilient Design Standards | Airport infrastructure design standards are evolving to incorporate climate resilience. | Moving from traditional design standards to those that account for climate projections. | Future airports may utilize comprehensive design protocols that factor in climate variability extensively. | Recognition of climate change urgency propels airports to adopt new engineering benchmarks. | 5 |
| Holistic Approach to Asset Management | Airports are adopting a broader view of resilience across their infrastructure. | Transitioning from isolated asset management to integrated resilience planning at urban levels. | Expect a unified approach in airport asset management that incorporates city-wide climate strategies. | Collaboration between airport and city planners enhances comprehensive resilience solutions. | 4 |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure Vulnerability to Climate Change | Airports face operational challenges due to infrastructure not designed to withstand extreme weather events caused by climate change. |
| Increased Frequency of Extreme Weather Events | The growing intensity and frequency of storms, flooding, and heatwaves pose significant operational challenges for airports. |
| Retrofitting Challenges for Older Airports | Many airports built before climate change awareness lack resilience measures, complicating retrofit and renewal efforts. |
| Impact on Passenger Experience from Climate Variability | Changing temperatures and weather conditions can negatively affect passenger comfort and experience within airport terminals. |
| Data-Driven Decision Making | Utilising machine learning and big data to enhance resilience and manage climate impacts is crucial but poses implementation challenges. |
| City-Level Resilience Planning | Airports cannot solve climate resilience issues in isolation; integration with city-level planning is essential, impacting overall effectiveness. |
| Future Climate Projections Uncertainty | Predicting future climate scenarios remains complex, presenting challenges for airports in planning and infrastructure investment. |
| Balancing Cost with Climate Resilience Solutions | Finding the optimal balance between funding limitations and the benefits of climate resilience measures can hinder effective implementation. |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Building Climate Resilience into Infrastructure Design | Airports are integrating climate resilience into both new and existing designs to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events. |
| Data Utilization for Decision-Making | Airports are leveraging years of data and machine learning to make informed decisions about infrastructure and climate resilience measures. |
| Holistic Asset Management Approach | Airports are considering the broader environment and city-level infrastructure in their resilience planning to ensure smooth operations. |
| Integration of Green Infrastructure | Airports are incorporating green spaces and natural stormwater management solutions to improve climate resilience and passenger experience. |
| Adaptation to Temperature Variability | Airports are employing design adjustments and passive measures to cope with increasing temperature variations and their impact on infrastructure. |
| Proactive Future Climate Planning | Airports are beginning to anticipate future climate scenarios and designing infrastructure to withstand those projected changes. |
| Softening Environmental Transitions | Airports are creating transition spaces to mitigate temperature shocks for passengers moving between outdoor and indoor environments. |
| Collaboration for Integrated Solutions | Airports are seeking collaborations with broader systems like city infrastructure for cohesive and effective climate resilience strategies. |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Climate Resilient Airport Infrastructure | Innovative designs and retrofitting methods to enhance airport resilience against climate change impacts like flooding and extreme weather events. |
| Machine Learning for Operational Decision-Making | Utilizing machine learning frameworks to analyze data for improved decision-making regarding airport infrastructure and operations. |
| Nature-Based Solutions | Integration of natural capital solutions, like lagoons for storm water management, to enhance passenger experience while addressing climate challenges. |
| Passive Design Measures | Adopting architectural strategies such as high-performance facades and environmental transition spaces to improve thermal comfort and energy efficiency. |
| Predictive Climate Analytics | Using predictive models to anticipate climate conditions and effectively plan for potential weather impact on airport operations. |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Climate Resilience in Airport Infrastructure | Increasing operational challenges for airports due to extreme weather events necessitate the development of resilient infrastructure. |
| Integration of Climate Resilience into Long-term Planning | Future airport designs must consider climate resilience as a core component in long-term planning and infrastructure development. |
| Data-driven Decision Making for Resilience | Utilizing machine learning and big data to enhance decision-making processes regarding climate resilience at airports. |
| Urban Resilience Planning for Airports | Recognition that airport resilience is interconnected with broader urban infrastructure and emergency management plans. |
| Natural Capital Solutions in Airport Design | Implementation of nature-based solutions in airport designs to enhance climate resilience while improving passenger experience. |
| Predictive Analytics for Climate Management | Improving prediction capabilities for climate events that impact airport operations to aid proactive planning. |
| Adaptive Retrofit of Existing Infrastructure | Challenges and opportunities inherent in retrofitting older airports to meet current climate resilience standards. |