Although runways are critical components that make up an airport, few studies have examined their orientations and operations. This is further compounded by the fact that runway layout design and/or configuration are so complex yet they play a vital role in the airport's daily operation, capacity, and safety. In this study, I wish to apply GIS techniques, a wind rose model, and a noise distance decay model to achieve two specific objectives: (1) to determine the effectiveness of runways in terms of its orientation, design, and physical layout; and (2) to analyze any socioeconomic and environmental impacts associated with the use and development of O'Hare Chicago International Airport (ORD). The economic impact of this airport that was reviewed includes job employment, annual development, movement of goods and services and tourism. The study highlights the environmental impacts such as noise, lake effects, compatible land use, and other significant factors in relation to the airport and surrounding communities. The noise distance-decay model shows that aircraft noise levels decompose at about 800 feet (243m) from the O'Hare runways. Areas close to the airport have a 70db noise level and there are non-homogenous patterns between the day and night sound levels and the distance from the runways. The wind rose model shows that the wind blowing at O'Hare airport has a southern directional bias only two of the eight runways meet the criteria of a northeast/southwest direction. The directions of the winds are predominantly southerly headings and wind speeds are greater than 7 m/s. The integration of rule-based runway networks and the wind rose model results allowed for a visual analysis and comparison of runway networks. The integration enabled the analysis of the wind direction in relation to the landing or takeoff of aircrafts. The final interpretation of this result requires caution as it suggests that the use of daily wind events would provide a better outcome. Although this study has suggested a GIS-based strategy and wind rose model with key four elements it still requires further refinement. Future work should plan to include more analytical models/optimization methods that accounts for most factors that determine the effectiveness utilization of runways. Keywords: GIS, O'Hare Modernization Program, runways, wind rose, noise, economy

Introduction <p> Aviation delays are on the rise as a consequence of disproportionate growth of the air transportation demand. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in fiscal year 1987, u. S. commercial air carriers enplaned a total of 444.3 million passengers. Of this total, 415.0 millon were counted as domestic enplanements and 29.3 millon as international enplanements [FAA, 1988a]. Over the 12-year forecast period, domestic enplanements are forecast to increase by an average annual rate of 4.6 percent...<p> From the economical point of view, current statistics show that approximately three billion dollars are paid by air travelers due to the delay in U.S. alone( Aviation Week & Space Technology, 1989] â ¢ Therefore, proper actions are required to identify and facilitate a reduction in flight delays and prevent their projected growth... / Master of Science

Master of Engineering

The airport capacity problem has recently received a great deal of attention due to airport congestion and delays. Capacity improvements of airfield and airspace component of an airport are currently being addressed by several researchers and federal and state agencies. The optimal location of runway turnoffs is the focus of this research. Although the current airport capacity limitations are dictated by airspace separation rules, it is expected that runway occupancy time (ROT) will become an important factor In the near future as the interarrival separations between landing aircraft are reduced. The intent of this research is to show that the use of high speed exits on runway contributes to the reduction of ROT, and therefore provides enhancement in runway capacity. However, locating the high speed exits is a complex and dynamic problem stemming from the aircraft landing behavior. The landing behavior of an aircraft is affected by many factors such as approach speed, deceleration rate, design exit speed, airport elevation, wind, temperature, etc .. Some of these factors are probabilistic in nature. A simulation model and an optimization algorithm that take into consideration all above factors developed to address the problem. The simulation model consists of a series of dynamic equations of motion that models the aircraft landing behavior under various airport conditions, and determines the best exit location for that aircraft. The optimization model takes the simulation results as input for various aircraft mix, and finds a given number of exit locations which minimize the average ROT for the total aircraft fleet. / Master of Science

This thesis examines the potential capacity and delay benefits that would result if a "fanway" configuration of runways were utilized for arrival aircraft operations at a major airport. The Federal Aviation Administration's Delay Simulation Model was employed to determine capacity and delay values so that a conventional runway configuration could be compared with the fanway approach. Various aircraft demand schedules were then applied to the configurations for both present and future airport scenarios at Denver's Stapleton International Airport. In addition to the capacity and delay comparisons that were contained in this thesis, the thesis also included a brief summary of the available air traffic control models in. general and a detailed description of the Delay Simulation Model in specific. Furthermore, the thesis also contains a brief description of past, present, and future trends of U. S. aviation and air traffic control systems. / M.S.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 250-267). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Mémoire (M.Eng.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1999. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

The objective of this thesis is to analyze the operational requirements of aircraft during the runway exiting maneuvers and the economic feasibility of high-speed runway exits. The motion of the aircraft is simulated by a computer program based on the appropriate equations of motion and steering inputs. The economic analysis of high-speed runway exits is based on a life cycle cost approach. Historical data of airline operating costs are also used in the cost estimations. The results show that high-speed runway exits are operationally feasible and economically profitable. The results are also presented graphically to show the effect of various steering commands on the vehicle turning maneuvering requirements and the effect of different economic parameters to the evaluation of high-speed exit utilizations. / Master of Science

Wong Ching Yee Danise. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2007-2008, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33). / Chapter 1. --- Background / Chapter 1.1 --- Lack of general aviation facilities / Chapter 1.2 --- Site selection limitations / Chapter 1.3 --- Runway's fundamental / Chapter 2. --- Observation / Chapter 2.1 --- Infrastructure in Hong Kong / Chapter 2.2 --- "Transforming Civil Structure to ""Place""" / Chapter 3. --- Research Part I: Wisdom from the Aircraft / Chapter 3.1 --- Monoplane to biplane / Chapter 3.2 --- "S, M, L" / Chapter 3.3 --- Multi - layered space / Chapter 3.4 --- Composition in manufacture process / Chapter 4. --- Research Part II: Site Selection Criteria and Result / Chapter 4.1 --- Prevailing wind / Chapter 4.2 --- Critical aeroplane / Chapter 4.3 --- Airspace / Chapter 4.4 --- Accessibility / Chapter 4.5 --- Possible Sites / Chapter 4.6 --- Stonecutter's Island / Chapter 5. --- Research Part III: Precedence Study / Chapter 5.1 --- Typical General Aviation Facilities Study / Chapter 5.2 --- A Study of Aircraft Carrier / Chapter 5.3 --- Similar example / Chapter 6. --- Deduction: Issues and Direction / Chapter 7. --- Architectural Proposal: Flight Training Centre / Chapter 8. --- Other Research / Chapter 9. --- Bibliography