Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience of Airport Infrastructure

Entry requirements

Please use this Research Proposal, Personal statement and CV writing guide when preparing an application.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

According to the Airport Council International, more extreme weather- and climate-related events are expected as the climate continues to change. The frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration and timing of events are expected to increase. Many airports may remain vulnerable to these events. Airports need to understand the risks and initiate adaptation measures for both existing and new infrastructure to become more resilient to the changing climate. An airport is a multimodal transport interchange and essential piece of regional and national infrastructure for the communities it serves. The airport infrastructure must have high levels of availability, reliability and resilience. Vulnerabilities from short- and long-term projected climate changes must be identified and mitigated. Compiling potential impacts and consequences of extreme weather events can enable airports to prioritize and better respond to these risks. This may be based on the airport’s exposure to changing climate conditions, its sensitivity to adverse impact, the adaptive capacity when faced with such challenges, or the anticipatory capacities to foresee and prepare for potential future risks or challenges before they occur. Those impacts ranked the highest priority or of prime concern should be addressed first through detailed investigation of mitigation options and assessment of cost-benefits as part of an airport’s resiliency. As a networked infrastructure, disruptions in one airport may have a cascading impact on other airports, the wider economy, and even national resilience. Potential impacts and climate stressors influencing airport infrastructures include sea-level rise, increased intensity of storms and thunderstorms, temperature change, changing precipitation, changing icing conditions, changing wind and gusts, desertification, etc. Elements of airport infrastructure which may be impacted include:

1. Airfield (runways, taxiways and aprons): damage to and deterioration of pavement structure; deterioration of pavement surface; increased contamination of pavement surfaces (snow, ice, water); drainage and run-off systems capability; electrical systems (including lighting and signage).

2. Terminals and landside infrastructure: impeded ground access, circulation, loading and parking; damage to buildings and structures; undermined ground foundations.

3. Support facilities, navigational aids, fuel storage, and other: deteriorated facilities and equipment; increased fire risk, etc.

Many airports around the world have already initiated preparation: from vulnerability assessment to identification of measures, and from design guidelines to reconstruction. These airports include Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Mackay, Hong Kong, Vishakhapatnam, Kansai, Incheon, Changi, Copenhagen, Avinor, Birmingham, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Manchester, Stansted, Toronto Pearson, Boston Logan, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma, etc.

The main purpose of this research is to develop a climate-induced adaptation and resiliency framework for airports based on current and emerging best practices. The research project may focus on a certain region or country (e.g., the UK), on one or several potential climate impacts and stressors, on one or several elements of airport infrastructure.

Fees and funding

This programme is self-funded.

To enquire about University of Salford funding schemes – including the Widening Participation Scholarship – visit this website.