School of Engineering
E360 Airport Planning & Design (4 Modular Credits)
This document addresses the content related abilities, with reference to the module. Abilities of thinking,
learning, problem solving, teamwork, communication, debating and defending are addressed by the system
wide curricular practices at the institute.
Module Synopsis
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to airport planning and design. The concepts and
methodologies presented follow the guidance material published by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO). This course starts off by covering fundamental airport planning and design concepts. It
then culminates with how planning and design for airports are managed in a typical aviation organization.
FAA: www.faa.gov
ATAG: www.atag.org
IATA: www.iata.org
ICAO: www.icao.int
ACI: www.airports.org
Linkages to Previous Learning
E112 Engineering Design
Engineering design process, Aspects in engineering design such as constraints, specifications,
conceptual designs
E210 Operations Planning I and E211 Operations Planning II
Forecasting & time series analysis and queuing theory
E213 Engineering Cost Decisions
Basics of cost management related to process steps and value-added functions to link system costs
over the life cycles of products and services.
E212 Facilities Planning and Design
Material flow, use of floor space, requirements of site selection, layouts and facility services
Module Learning Outcomes
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To be able to appreciate the importance of aviation forecasting
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School of Engineering
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To apply the process of airport planning and design
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To be able to understand various issues to be considered for an airport planning and design
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To be able to understand the master plan of an airport
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To understand and analyse issues involved in the design of airside part of the airport system (runways,
taxiways etc.)
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To understand and analyse issues involved in the design of land side part of the airport system
(terminal buildings, facilities, etc)
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To apply relevant compliances and controls put in place by relevant authorities for airport planning and
design
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To be able to understand environmental issues to be considered in airport planning and design
Module Learning Areas
Following are the content related abilities strengthened by the curricular processes of the module:
P01: Can You Predict the Traffic?
• Identify important air traffic data and its sources
• Identify the factors affecting air traffic demand
• Explain the need for airport traffic forecasting
• Differentiate the 3 different modes of Forecasting
• Describe the common methods used in airport traffic forecasting
• Apply forecasting methods to calculate the projected air traffic demand
P02: Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas
• Describe the airport operations that have negative impact on the environment
• Describe international environmental initiatives spearheaded by FAA & ICAO
• Identify sources of noise, air and water pollutants in airports
• Describe different approaches that can be used to address pollution
• Apply Environmental Assessment as a method to understand and assess environmental impact
• Explain the importance of airport sustainability and its benefits
• Identify the main areas in which sustainability is considered in airport development
P03: Types and Configurations
• Examine key considerations in Airport Planning
• Understand the users involved in the airport system and their requirement.
• Explain the criteria and planning alternatives for airport terminals
• Compare and contrast the different types of airport terminal concepts
• Compare and contrast the various configurations of terminal buildings
• Understand how to evaluate and assess the configurations
P04: Getting There
• Describe the 2 major segments of ground access
• Describe the modes of ground access to the airport
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Describe the factors influencing on the selection of ground transport modes
Identify the various needs of airport users in terms of ground access to the airport.
Describe the 3 components in ground access planning for the airport boundary
Calculate the frontage required when designing curbfront
Identify Changi Airport’s ground access options
P05: Changi 2036 Steering Comm
• List the objectives of master plan for an airport
• Describe the six components in a master plan
• Explain the factors influencing the capacity of airport
• Employ time-space diagram and mix index to estimate the airfield capacity
• Describe the criteria for terminal area planning
• Evaluate master plan’s airport improvement project using the NPV concept
P06: A380 for Langkawi
• Recognize the development of New Large Aircraft (NLA)
• Explain Airport Reference Code and its relation to airport design
• Identify the elements of airport design affected by aircraft characteristics
• Identify the effects of NLA characteristics on airside and landside design requirements
• Apply ICAO/FAA standards to airport design computations for a given aircraft data
• Describe the modifications to Changi Airport to accommodate A380
P07: Runway Configurations
• Compare and contrast different runway configurations
• Distinguish the different types of parallel runways
• Demonstrate understanding of runway identification
• Interpret the impact of runway configuration on terminal building location
• Describe runway protection zones and surfaces to determine obstruction to air navigation
• Explain the relevance of wind factors in runway orientation
P08: New Airfield in Port Dickson
• Describe the geometric features of runways
• Define and calculate runway declared distances
• Understand how elevation, temperature and gradient affects runway length
• Calculate runway length corrections
• Understand importance in consideration of runway surface features
P09: Runway First, Taxiway Next
• Understand the function of a taxiway
• Understand all its design features
• Understand the differences between runway and taxiway
• Understand the considerations and criteria for taxiway design
• Understand the factors affecting the location of exit taxiways
• Apply ICAO recommendations for designing taxiways
P10: What are these Markings and Lightings?
• Identify and describe different types of airport pavement markings
• Identify and describe different types of airport signs
• Identify and describe different types of airfield lighting aids
P11: Designing a Passenger Terminal
For Articulation Purpose Only.
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Describe various facilities within the airport passenger terminal building and their purpose
Learn design considerations and objectives for the airport passenger terminal building
Estimate passenger terminal building size and verification through evaluation criteria
Understand passenger terminal building design options and retails arrangements
Determine number of check-in counters, given the performance standard of an airport
Understand factors involved in design of inbound/ outbound baggage facilities and departure lounge
P12: How to avoid Heathrow hassle?
• Understand the passenger processing system as queuing system
• Application of queuing model to passenger processing activities
• Analyse passenger processing system for measuring performance
• Use the link-and-node diagram to analyse the processing time
• Understand the apron-gate system
• Determine the number of gates using ramp chart
P13: Air Cargo Terminal Design
• Understand the functions performed in an air cargo terminal
• Identify design considerations for air cargo terminal
• Find the data for six design considerations
• Apply ICAO guidelines and calculate the size of an air cargo terminal
• Understand the function of Unit Load Devices (ULDs) used in an air cargo terminal
• Understand the options for level of mechanization
• Develop a notional layout of air cargo terminal
P14: Airport Utilities
• Explain the importance of considering the fuel handling in airport design
• Compare and contrast three types of fuel servicing systems
• Understand the special design requirement of fuel servicing system
• Explain the importance of having a reliable electrical systems and backup systems
• Understand the two types of power distribution systems-parallel & series systems
• Understand different power supply sources and requirements recommended by ICAO for an airport
P15: To upgrade or to re-build
• Explain the importance of phasing strategy for airport development
• Understand the factors that need to be considered for airport development’s strategy
• Understand the social issues to be handled during the airport development
• Understand the importance of decision analysis
• Apply decision analysis method to evaluate the next step in airport development
Module Syllabus
This module aims to provide an understanding of the basic concepts behind the planning and design of
airports. By the end of the course, students should be able to:
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Know the fundamental terms used in airport planning and design
Know the various stakeholders in the airport
Understand how airport master planning is done
Understand how runways and taxiways are designed
Understand the effect of noise in and around the airports
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Understand the need for planning of passenger terminal buildings
Appreciate how air cargo terminal planning and design is done
Appreciate the importance of air traffic control
Appreciate the importance of aviation forecasting
Know planning and design procedures pertaining to the power supply
Know the measures pertaining to environmental control
Module Coverage
Allocated time per day
(One day-One problem PBL pedagogy)
Discussions in Resource gathering Formal Lab
Study Cluster
and team work
Experiment
Module Coverage
P01: Can You Predict the Traffic?
4
2
P02: Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas
4
2
P03: Types and Configurations
4
2
P04: Getting There
4
2
4
2
4
2
4
2
4
2
4
2
P11: Designing a Passenger Terminal
4
2
P12: How to avoid Heathrow hassle?
4
2
P13: Air Cargo Terminal Design
4
2
P14: Airport Utilities
4
2
P15: To upgrade or to re-build
4
2
Total = 15 Problems
= 90 hrs
60
30
P05: Changi 2036 Steering Comm
P06: A380 for Langkawi
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P07: Runway Configurations
P08: New Airfield in Port Dickson
P09: Runway First, Taxiway Next
P10: What are these Markings and Lightings?
For Articulation Purpose Only.
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