Airport access planning, process, and design: An overview

The purpose of this study is to explore the planning procedures that are in use and the ones that are the basis for the airport ground access system planning and development. A detail look at the current prevailing planning theories is followed by a review of the major design and circulation components of the airport access system. Different airport planning levels are discussed to assess the standing of airport ground access system in the overall airport planning process. For the purpose of the thesis multiple research methods were employed. This includes literature review, examination of research report and several advisory circulars, and informal discussions with airport officials.; The crux of the study is based on the elements of the airport planning and in particular, master planning elements which are used in the airport ground access study. The thesis explores possible sources of the data and how it can be used to further help the design and capacity of different airport ground access system components. Different methodologies are discussed for which the data was gained through official and public sources. The overview of the material provided in this thesis helps us in better understanding of airport ground access components and layout. The methodologies discussed can be tailored to assess the needs for specific airports. It is the assertion of this thesis that the current airport ground access planning process can be more flexible, and for better operational needs more components should be added and integrated in to the airport ground access system. Some recommendations are presented to make the system more effective.