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Information Technology Systems at Airports--

Primer (2012)

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97 pages | 8.5 x 11 | PAPERBACK
ISBN 978-0-309-21376-9 | DOI 10.17226/14622

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Airport Cooperative Research Program; Transportation Research Board; National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Information Technology Systems at Airports--A Primer

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM

ACRP REPORT 59
Information Technology
Systems at Airports—A Primer

John Purnell
Ruth Hough
FAITH GROUP, LLC
St. Louis, MO

Robert White
Sandra Gonzalez
Frank Haley
Matt Hyde
HAS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Houston, TX

Jim Willis
Gerard de Grandis
John Walfish
CONVERGENT STRATEGIES CONSULTING, INC.
Chadds Ford, PA

Subscriber Categories
Aviation

Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

WASHINGTON, D.C.
2012
www.TRB.org

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Information Technology Systems at Airports--A Primer

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM ACRP REPORT 59

Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans- Project 01-12
portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter- ISSN 1935-9802
national commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system ISBN 978-0-309-21376-9
connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon- Library of Congress Control Number 2011944294
sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects
with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most © 2012 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems,
to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to
introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera- COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by
Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining
which the airport industry can develop innovative near-term solutions
written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously
to meet demands placed on it. published or copyrighted material used herein.
The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport
Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon- Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this
publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the
sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement
out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the
agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate
research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera- acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of
tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro- the material, request permission from CRP.
gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a
variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte-
nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, NOTICE
and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera-
tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research
Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the
The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision Governing Board of the National Research Council.
100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary partici-
pants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this
report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance.
Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S.
The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to
Department of Transportation with representation from airport oper- procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved
ating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations by the Governing Board of the National Research Council.
such as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA),
The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the
the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation
Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), and the Air Transport Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors.
Association (ATA) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB
The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research
as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse
(3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because
contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. they are considered essential to the object of the report.
The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport
professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials,
equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga-
nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon-
sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort.
Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically
but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the
responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden-
tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and
expected products.
Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel,
appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and
research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro-
fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre-
pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and
provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the
project. The process for developing research problem statements and Published reports of the
selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper- AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM
ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP
are available from:
project panels serve voluntarily without compensation.
Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the Transportation Research Board
Business Office
intended end-users of the research: airport operating agencies, service 500 Fifth Street, NW
providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research Washington, DC 20001
reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other
interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work- and can be ordered through the Internet at
shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore
results are implemented by airport-industry practitioners. Printed in the United States of America

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Information Technology Systems at Airports--A Primer

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific
and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. On the
authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal
government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel
organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the
National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also
sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior
achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members
of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the
responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government
and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the
Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of
science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in
accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the
National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and
the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine.
Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The mission of the Transporta-
tion Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange,
conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about
7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia,
all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal
agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individu-
als interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org

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Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Information Technology Systems at Airports--A Primer

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 59

Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Crawford F. Jencks, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager
Joseph J. Brown-Snell, Program Associate
Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications
Doug English, Editor

ACRP PROJECT 01-12 PANEL

Field of Administration
John Newsome, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Orlando, FL (Chair)
Frank Barich, Barich, Inc., Chandler, AZ
James C. DeLong, Capital Improvement…1904, LLC, Castle Rock, CO
Dominic A. Nessi, Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles, CA
Carl E. Remus, Tulsa Airport Authority, Tulsa, OK
David Ruch, Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis, MN
Paul L. Friedman, FAA Liaison
Matthew J. Griffin, Airports Council International – North America Liaison
Thomas Palmerlee, TRB Liaison

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Information Technology Systems at Airports--A Primer

FOREWORD

By Michael R. Salamone
ACRP Staff Officer
Transportation Research Board

ACRP Report 59: Information Technology Systems at Airports—A Primer provides insights
and advice to help airport executives and information technology (IT) professionals plan
for and communicate about information technology at airports. The report offers techniques
for both groups to identify critical issues and thereby communicate effectively, articulates
sound IT principles for implementing new IT systems using a standard IT system lifecycle
process for their airport, describes the benefits and value of various IT systems when formu-
lating airport strategic goals and making financial investment decisions, and helps clarify
mutual understanding of the fundamental architecture concepts of IT systems as they relate
to airport goals.
This primer is based on the knowledge, expertise, opinions, and recommendations of
airport executives, IT professionals, and other airport industry practitioners collected
through focus group discussions, online surveys, interviews, and case studies. In addition
to proven techniques and tools applied at some airports, the primer provides innovative
solutions for common IT issues.

Occasionally, airport executives do not fully understand how to place a value on infor-
mation systems and technology when making resource allocation decisions, and likewise IT
professionals frequently have a difficult time communicating and justifying the business
benefits of newer technologies to executive management. This creates a dilemma of sorts,
and as a result, airports tend to lag behind private industry in the strategic use of technology
to improve business operations and financial performance.
Today, IT is a core component of nearly all processes at the airport. A change is occur-
ring in business processes at airports, where the airport is becoming a fully involved service
provider in the daily operation of all airport activities, including tenant activities. With IT
applications, airports are offering more comprehensive services to their tenants and cus-
tomers in the normal course of doing business. Notwithstanding, airports do not always
know how to tailor information systems and technology to best support their own opera-
tions, let alone those of their tenants. Airports sometimes experience problems such as cost
overruns, underperformance, implementation delays, internal disputes, poor reliability,
unanticipated collateral impacts, and failure to consider integration when implementing
new IT applications.
Through ACRP Project 01-12, Faith Group, LLC, developed a user-friendly management
tool to facilitate airport executives’ and IT professionals’ mutual understanding and help
them work together more effectively on IT projects, leading to better performance and reli-
ability of IT systems and fewer cost overruns and delays during system implementation.

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Information Technology Systems at Airports--A Primer

CONTENTS

1 Chapter 1 Introduction
1 1.1 Purpose of the Primer
1 1.2 The Communication Triangle
3 1.3 Guiding IT Principles
3 1.4 IT System Lifecycle
3 1.5 Evaluating IT Systems
4 1.6 IT Systems Architecture
4 1.7 Checklists – A Common Management Tool
4 1.8 IT Vocabulary
6 Chapter 2 The IT Communication Triangle—Solving IT Issues
6 2.1 The Challenges of Communicating About IT
6 2.2 CEO–CIO Communication
15 2.3 CIO–Stakeholder Communication
24 2.4 CEO–Stakeholder Communication
29 Chapter 3 The IT System Lifecycle—A Common Process
29 3.1 Introduction
30 3.2 Strategic Planning
32 3.3 System Planning Phase
37 3.4 Implementation Phase
41 3.5 Operations and Maintenance Phase
44 Chapter 4 Guiding IT Principles for Airports—A Common
Framework
44 4.1 Sample IT Principles
49 Chapter 5 Evaluating IT Investments—A Common Decision Tool
49 5.1 A Process for Valuing IT Systems
49 5.2 Documenting System Benefits
50 5.3 Determining Total Lifecycle Costs
50 5.4 Cost–Benefit Analysis
53 5.5 Scoring Systems
55 Chapter 6 IT System Architecture—A Common Understanding
55 6.1 A Layered Architecture
59 Appendix A Example Document Outlines
70 Appendix B Airport Systems
88 Appendix C Airport and IT Acronyms and Abbreviations
97 References
Note: Many of the photographs, figures, and tables in this report have been converted from color to grayscale
for printing. The electronic version of the report (posted on the Web at www.trb.org) retains the color versions.

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.