Data Center Impacts on Airports
Airports are experiencing increasing electrical demand from airport electrification, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled operations, and future electric aircraft while also facing growing interest in data center development on or near airport property. Data center development may affect airport electrical capacity, utility planning, land use, water use, environmental considerations, and airport operations as a result of cooling-system plumes. Airport operators are increasingly being asked to evaluate proposed data center developments but have limited guidance to help assess potential impacts or respond to developers and local governments. Existing research addresses some aspects of competing utility demands, but airports continue to seek practical information on the broader impacts of data centers. The objective of this research is to develop planning frameworks and guidance that help airports understand and evaluate the impacts of data center development while coordinating with utilities, regulators, developers, and other stakeholders. The project will begin with a First Look to provide timely information for airport operators on issues that should be considered when evaluating proposed data center developments. Based on information gathered during the First Look process, the project will identify potential follow-on research needed to address technical issues associated with data centers and airport operations, including planning, utility coordination, operational impacts, potential mitigation measures, and legal considerations.
- Record URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Proposed
- Funding: $650,000.00
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Contract Numbers:
Project 03-90
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Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC United States 20591 -
Managing Organizations:
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Project Managers:
Murthy, Krishna
- Start Date: 20260831
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: Airport Cooperative Research Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Airports; Data; Energy consumption; Facilities; Impacts; Planning
- Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Energy; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 02001727
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
- Contract Numbers: Project 03-90
- Files: TRB, RIP
- Created Date: Sep 3 2026 8:32AM