Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in transportation of people and goods and in regional, national, and international commerce. They are where the nation's aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal responsibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most 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 Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Cooperative Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Program. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport operators can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), and the Air Transport Association (ATA) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. 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 organizations. Each of these participants has different interests and responsibilities, 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 identifying the highest prior...
I am grateful to my advisor, Prof. Karla Hoffman, for her guidance without which I would never have made it to the end of my PhD studies. She was patient with my unconventional working style and identified my skills despite my occasional complacency. Her expertise in operations research and insight into market-based pricing mechanisms molded this dissertation in unexpected ways. Prof. Lance Sherry provided helpful insights for this research. His expert domain knowledge in the air transportation helped me shape the results of my research. His availability and receptiveness to discussions at any time removed many hurdles in achieving my goal. Prof. George Donohue, despite retirement, contributed through his experience as a policy maker at the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and identified multiple beneficiaries of this research. His comments helped me identify and capture the broader implications of my work. Prof. Richards gave an outsider's viewpoint on this research. His knowledge of algorithms was instrumental in clarifying the overall methodology of this research. His concerns assisted in writing a better description of the problem. Discussion with him helped me look at the problem from a computer scientist's perspective. A special note of thanks to Frank Berardino who steered me in the right direction at the very beginning of this research. Without his guidance, this journey would have been much longer. Several others have contributed to this research, Vivek, Jianfeng, Guillermo; foremost among them is John Ferguson. Starting our research journey together at the Center for Air Transportation Research (CATSR) lab, he has been a true friend to me, giving me a helping hand whenever required. I have learned most of my analytical techniques and Excel tricks from him and I thank him for that. I would like to thank my parents Mohammad Iqbal Kara and Zohra Hajiani who supported me at every stage of my life and encouraged me to go further and reach higher ground, even when it required sending me away from them. Their moral support has always lifted my spirits whenever I was down. My sister, Sadia, despite being younger, has always supported and encouraged me, and prayed for me. One of the cornerstones in my academic life is Dr. Abbas Zaidi. He has been my ideal since our first encounter during my undergraduate studies. Over the years, he has guided me, not only in my academic, but also in my personal life. Without his mentorship, I would never have found my goal in life, i.e., to become an academic. His support at all stages in my academic career has been vital to my current standing. My gratitude goes out to my friends. Aamir and Khalid in Pakistan who never let me down and have always been there to support me.
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