AI-Enabled Airport Capital Program Delivery

U.S. airports are undertaking increasingly complex capital programs that require the coordinated delivery of multiple interdependent projects while maintaining continuous airport operations. These programs often face challenges related to fragmented systems, manual and document-driven processes, coordination across multiple stakeholders, and limited integration of cost, schedule, documentation, and operational information. Although artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve efficiency and decision-making, airports currently lack practical, implementation-ready guidance for applying AI across the full capital program delivery lifecycle, including planning, design, construction, and integration with ongoing airport operations. The objective of this research is to develop practical, implementation-focused guidance for applying AI to airport capital program delivery. The research will produce frameworks, use cases, and implementation pathways to help airports improve coordination, project documentation, and integrated decision-making across capital programs while supporting scalable, vendor-neutral AI adoption within existing program information management and digital delivery systems. Research products may include an AI implementation guidebook, program-level coordination and document management frameworks, scenario-based implementation playbooks, an AI use case library, and guidance for transitioning AI applications from pilot projects to broader capital program implementation. The research should also address quality assurance considerations associated with AI-generated information.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6110
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

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

  Project 08-06

• 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:

  Picciano, Tara

• Start Date: 20260831
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Airport Cooperative Research Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Artificial intelligence; Capital investments; Construction projects; Implementation; Project delivery
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Construction; Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 02001723
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 08-06
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 2 2026 5:24PM