Airports in India have evolved from mere points of transit to mega structures that integrate seamless operations, enhanced efficiency and a holistic passenger experience. Enhanced construction processes and the integration of technology in various stages of planning and design have accelerated project delivery. Terminals are placing special emphasis on passenger-centric designs, integrating elements of local culture and elevating the look and feel of the airport. Non-aero revenue is gaining focus, as evidenced by the requirement for more commercial spaces at airports. Sustainability remains a key element across the airport life cycle, from the integration of advanced materials in construction to the use of renewable energy to power operations. At a recent India Infrastructure conference, key industry leaders highlighted the best practices and emerging requirements in airport design and construction, efforts to fast-track projects, and sustainability initiatives. Edited excerpts…
Accelerating construction
Modern airport construction is increasingly placing emphasis on speed. One of the key enablers of faster construction is advance project planning. Construction methodologies have also advanced over the years to improve efficiency and expedite project delivery.
Precast and modular construction is gaining traction for airport projects, with their applications steadily evolving. Earlier, elements like drains were designed in segments for precasting and grouped to achieve economies of scale and faster execution. Today, however, there is a clear shift towards modular terminals and structures. While initial functional compromises exist, a focus on modern planning and designing in alignment with future technology and passenger flows will ensure that these structures demonstrate resilience from the functional perspective.
Moreover, construction techniques have benefited from modern equipment and machinery. The use of advanced lifting techniques in place of traditional cranes is simplifying processes and increasing efficiency. The use of digital ultrasound testing for welding is another notable example.
Further, the emphasis on accelerating construction must be supported by a disciplined and well-coordinated approach. Automations in the design process are also expediting processes. In this regard, a strong focus is being placed on the use of building information modelling (BIM). It enables better project delivery by minimising repetitive errors through detailed clash analysis. It also supports the entire asset life maintenance by tagging all assets in the airport. BIM also facilitates the integration of all multidisciplinary designers and stakeholders, right from the project inception stage. Early stakeholder involvement, including security requirements and inputs from airlines, government agencies, customs and immigration, must be taken into consideration in the initial stages to avoid future rework and delays.
While designs are in place to a large extent, challenges such as the selection of the right contractors and awarding projects on a lowest-bidder basis for government projects could impact the overall performance. Moreover, adopting an integrated partnership delivery and seamlessly connecting all stakeholders are key requirements.
Spotlight on sustainability
Sustainability continues to play a central role in airport construction and operations. This is seen in the use of advanced materials and innovative solutions, and the adoption of environmentally aligned practices to enhance efficiency. Higher grades of steel are being used to optimise designs, while lightweight concrete is being deployed as per compatibility to reduce the load on the system. Further, reusable and waste materials are being used, especially in airfield pavements.
Accelerated construction is also contributing towards enhancing sustainability at airports. Additionally, efficient drainage systems and large-scale rainwater harvesting ponds are being implemented.
Enabling horizontal infrastructure to generate energy, such as through solar installations, is an opportunity that could be explored. Vertical solar solutions can be integrated into building facades, contributing to energy production without additional footprint. These would help airports move towards net zero infrastructure, harnessing renewable energy directly through the built environment.
Alignment with climatic conditions
One of the key emerging requirements in airport design and construction is aligning components of airport infrastructure, especially drainage systems, with changing climatic conditions. The increasing intensity and frequency of storms place significant pressure on airport infrastructure, making drainage design a key determinant in overall planning. For example, Navi Mumbai Airport in Maharashtra was planned with a hundred-year storm design. Bhogapuram airport, located on the east coast in Andhra Pradesh, is vulnerable to cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. Planners took this into consideration as a mandatory design parameter. An additional percentage was incorporated over and above the design estimates for rainfall to account for anticipated extreme events.
Passenger experience central to planning
Passenger experience is becoming a central requirement in airport planning. It is increasingly being integrated into the designing stage, including retail and experiential elements. A passenger-centric approach is becoming increasingly important, with airports evolving into hospitality-like environments. Hence, enhancing passenger comfort and overall experience is essential, especially given the inherently high-stress nature of airports. Biophilic design elements, including indoor greenery and waterbodies, are also gaining traction, given that they enhance passenger experience within the terminal building.
Airports are also placing emphasis on local heritage and structures. For example, Guwahati airport has incorporated elements of the local Assam culture, and Navi Mumbai airport features lotus-inspired designs.
On the technology front, initiatives such as Digi Yatra, self-baggage drops and self-check-in kiosks have increased throughput, improved efficiency and enhanced security. These initiatives, which have been implemented across all major airports, must now be undertaken at smaller and regional airports as well.
Technology integration
Digital and contactless airports are emerging as a key design priority, necessitating a proactive approach to technology integration. Smart airport systems are now being incorporated into both existing and future airports. While integrating such systems into existing infrastructure presents challenges, the benefits of automation are numerous. An emerging trend is the implementation of BIM in airport planning and design.
Emerging requirements and the way forward
Several efforts have been made to improve the design, planning and construction of airports in India. However, requirements continue to emerge on various fronts. An integrated partnership delivery is the need of the hour. Internationally, this method has proven to reduce costs by around 30 per cent. A careful integration of all stakeholders, including architects, design consultants and contractors, will provide notable benefits. A stepping stone in this regard would be the adoption of the construction manager-at-risk (CMR) approach. Moreover, projects that involve complex infrastructure or require extensive design and construction input can benefit from early contractor involvement or the CMR procurement method. This would ensure that critical inputs on constructability and material selection are taken into consideration during the design stage, leading to enhanced outcomes.
Standardisation is also emerging as a key focus area to ensure optimal infrastructure and avoid overbuild. Once an airport’s requirements are defined, design metrics like terminal sizes are already established. Such well-prepared designs can accelerate project execution. This is especially required as pre-construction planning and preparation form a central part of the approach.
Moreover, brownfield expansion is inherently more complicated than greenfield projects. Based on previous experiences, one of the major pain points is the need to minimise the Notice to Airmen period during brownfield expansions, which require temporarily shutting off the runway, limiting airport operations. Design solutions must therefore balance capital expenditure with operational continuity, ensuring that investments do not result in disproportionate revenue loss due to airport downtime.
There is a growing demand to create additional commercial space within terminals, allowing airports to generate increased non-aeronautical revenue alongside their functional operations. Private airports, for example, are aiming to raise non-aeronautical revenue to global standards. Apart from commercial spaces within the terminal, land-side development and areas outside terminals, including hotel spaces, also contribute to non-aeronautical revenues. Designers are also faced with the challenge of ensuring that efforts towards maximising non-aero revenue and commercial spaces do not compromise passenger experience.
Looking ahead, airport planning must adopt a long-term perspective for master planning. This would involve considering a horizon of 50-60 years rather than just the next 5-10 years. In addition to accounting for airport infrastructure, plans must integrate with the surrounding city, including future connectivity and external road systems.
