Reducing the Negative Environmental Impact of Winter Airport Maintenance through Its Model Design and Simulation

Abstract

Airports are one of the segments within air transport and their serviceability ensures air transport efficiency. However, airports are among the largest contributors to the negative environmental impact of this kind of transport. Individual activities at airports leave a negative environmental footprint. By optimizing processes, it is possible to reduce the negative environmental impacts of these subjects. Airport winter maintenance is one of the important activities accompanying airports in geographical areas where winter season is expected due to the climate zone and weather conditions. Effective winter maintenance ensures optimal airport operation and has a significant impact on safety. However, the winter maintenance of the airport causes an excessive burden on the environment around the airports, in particular by applying de-icing agents to aircraft and movement areas, or by emissions and noise caused by equipment for snow and ice removal. The aim of the present article is to optimize the winter maintenance of the airport, namely the deployment of winter maintenance equipment with respect to meteorological conditions while maintaining the priorities for winter maintenance between individual airport areas. The aim of optimization is to achieve the saving of maintenance time and reduce the negative environmental impact of winter maintenance by effectively deploying equipment and devices.

The Assessment of the Environmental Performance Management in Ukrainian Airports

“…These factors deteriorate the quality of the living environment for the residents of the surrounding territories. However, the airport activities can have impacts on a regional level due to the intensive pollution of surface and underground waters and soils [5][6][7]. On a local scale, airports are also characterized by certain peculiarities of microclimate due to decreased fluctuation of temperatures, which makes the airport impact area stably warmer compared to the adjoining areas [8].…”

Study of the Percentage of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aviation in the EU-27 Countries by Applying Multiple-Criteria Statistical Methods

“…Koscak et al [19] focused their work on the creation of an algorithm for airport winter maintenance modeling. The purpose of the algorithm is to reduce maintenance times as well as the negative environmental impact of winter maintenance.…”

Improving Aviation Safety through Modeling Accident Risk Assessment of Runway

“…Progress of the aviation industry and airport services is considered essential for economic and social development [ 1 ]. Despite the numerous social and economic benefits, the expansion of air transport is confronted with several public health challenges [ 2 ]. The aviation accident is one of these problems.…”

“…In addition to threatening human lives, accidents are often associated with severe environmental and pollution consequences [ 3 ]. Therefore, the environment and safety have always been of interest to engineers in this industry [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Process optimization can be effective in solving these problems and their impact on public health [ 2 , 5 ].…”

“…Therefore, the environment and safety have always been of interest to engineers in this industry [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Process optimization can be effective in solving these problems and their impact on public health [ 2 , 5 ]. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable airports with minimal environmental impact [ 6 ].…”