How increasing sophistication in design is shaping ultra-projects that are sustainable as they are smart

A sustainable aviation sector will also contribute to smarter cities and economic growth

In 2022, aviation accounted for two percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions. While this may seem like a comparatively small amount, put in another context it would rank sixth in the world between Japan and Germany if global commercial aviation had been a country in the 2019 national GHG emissions standings.

With the Middle East’s commercial aircraft services market expected to double in value by 2042, the path to a more sustainable industry in this region also demands some key considerations. However, the good news is that a radical new approach will transform not only the way we travel but also contribute to the development of our cities and lifestyles. Our goal now must be to bring onboard the diverse range of systems and stakeholders that contribute to the smooth running of the airport, as part of a considered transformation process.

Aircraft improvements

One of the most exciting prospects for the sector lies in the design of aircraft themselves. Advancements in aerodynamics and materials science are paving the way for aircrafts that are lighter, faster, and more efficient. Alternative Fuels for Sustainable Aviation Sustainable, an industry report by AtkinsRéalis, estimates that 44,000 TWh of energy per year will be required by 2070 to generate the necessary global aircraft fuel demand. Sustainable aviation fuels, including biofuels and eFuels, will further reduce carbon emissions, which will be vital to ensuring the viability of air travel in the event of carbon taxes and pressure on industries to become ever greener. True zero emission flight requires hydrogen or electrical propulsion, technologies which are a few years away from being a commercial reality – although the transition can begin immediately with their application on the ground to vehicles within the airport domain such as buses and ground support equipment.

It is also possible to imagine a future where driverless airplanes are guided by AI systems that allow for precise arrival times, safer route planning, and highly efficient air traffic management. The U.S. military has trialed AI-piloted flights, while Emirates Airlines have floated the idea of AI co-pilots allowing for one-pilot planes as a future possibility. The cost savings could result in cheaper travel for passengers, though an education process to bring the public on board would be required, along with global inter-governmental approvals.

Commercial passenger planes that can take off and land on shorter runways, and further into the future even take-off and land vertically, will reduce the environmental footprint of new airports. There will be an increasing market, created by these changes for on-demand flights in urban areas, stimulating a radical adaptive re-use of a cities’ existing buildings into verti-ports, with inner city car-park rooftops being an obvious choice to enhance urban connectivity.

Airports reimagined

Airport design will likely change in many other ways. Since last year, passengers at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 have been able to pass through check-in, immigration and boarding using their facial print as a single biometric access. The continued integration of biometrics, face recognition and data-driven technologies will result in more efficient operations and much shorter transit times through airport security. It’s easy to see a future where travelers have their bags collected from home and transferred to their destination, utilizing driverless vehicles or mass transit systems to journey to the airport.

Without the need for space-hungry check-in facilities, bag drops, or vast runways for planes, we may see a shift towards smaller, more strategically located hubs within cities. These interconnected urban nodes could cater to the specific needs of passengers, be they for leisure, business, or religious tourism, as well as reflecting their locality in terms of décor, art, and design. Leisure facilities such as shopping centres, along with health and wellness amenities, would be a feature of these new multifunctional spaces. Shopping purchase could be sent directly home, with passengers having time to relax in landscaped indoor and outdoor green areas. For designers, the whole process of imagining these spaces would be more akin to intelligent urban planning, rather than the current exercise of constructing cavernous out-of-town buildings.

In our excitement over future designs, we must not forget that the path to a greener future also entails the continual efficiency improvements of current assets. Implementing frictionless technologies to save time, and releasing existing spaces for new usage, will also allow us to improve facilities and create alternative revenue streams that can contribute to funding improvements.

Managing growth

With these advancements come inherent challenges. The question of who stores and handles passenger data raises concerns about privacy rights, so striking a balance between security, innovation, and safeguarding individual liberties will be paramount. The biggest challenge again, is ensuring inter-country compatibility, which is not something that one company or even country can do alone.

This journey requires a roadmap that builds from today as a phased approach. It starts with an understanding of our current emission sources so that we can work towards a reduction plan. For instance, AtkinsRéalis has designed a digital toolkit that enables airports to better understand and mitigate the impacts of construction-related activities that contribute to carbon emissions. By creating these benchmarks, we can build a roadmap to the future, while considering how we could go even further in paving a sustainable way forward.

The payoff to these advances will extend far beyond the environmental benefits. With their sustainable design, efficient operations, and passenger-centric amenities, these future airports will serve as catalysts for economic growth, community development, and endless possibilities for passenger-centric innovation. It is exciting to think how these spaces could contribute to smarter cities and improved passenger experiences.

This article was first published at Aviator ME in May 2024.