Guide on Integrating and Advancing IT throughout the Airport

In 2012, the ACRP published ACRP Report 59: Information Technology Systems at Airports—A Primer. As a primer, it attempts to holistically describe the technology landscape of an airport environment and help airport leaders and information technology (IT) professionals communicate about IT and appropriately plan and implement IT systems. Since it was published, many IT solutions have changed from discrete systems to integral parts of the modern digital ecosystem at many U.S. airports. The role of IT professionals and broader IT business units at airports has also evolved. Building on ACRP Report 59, airports need a deeper discussion around the unique technological aspects of the modern airport industry to educate leaders and IT professionals coming from inside and outside the industry. Additionally, airport executives and IT leaders need guidance to address the integration of IT systems and solutions with other airport functions and business units to enable better data sharing, process optimization, and decision-making. Research is needed to identify effective strategies, frameworks, and examples that can guide airports in achieving this integration and advancing their IT maturity. The objective of this research is to develop: (1) A guide to help airports strategically plan, implement, and maintain IT systems; (2) A primer for non-IT airport executives on the importance of collaboration between the IT unit and other internal stakeholders (e.g., operations, maintenance, planning, engineering) and of integrating IT considerations into key airport processes (e.g., capital planning, budgeting); and (3) A matrix of traditional and airport-specific IT systems and common characteristics, e.g., basic infrastructure requirements, internal and external users, the sizes and types of airports that might use the IT system, and applicable regulatory entities. The guidebook, primer, and matrix must be scalable to all sizes of airports, speak to both IT professionals and airport executives, and address varying levels of maturity in the relationships between IT and internal and external stakeholders.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5944
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $450,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 01-60

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)

  Transportation Research Board, 500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Project Managers:

  Griffin, Matthew

• Start Date: 20260501
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport operations; Airports; Best practices; Information technology; Technology adoption
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01963025
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 01-60
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 12 2025 10:36AM