Environmental Research under the Airport Technical Research (ATR) Program 

To:	REDAC E&E Subcommittee

By: 	Tom Cuddy, Airport Planning and 	Programming (APP-400)

Date:	March 1, 2017

Federal Aviation

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Airport Technology Research

About Us:

The Airport Technology Research and Development Branch supports the FAA’s mission by conducting the necessary research and development required to enhance the safety of operations at our nation’s airports and to ensure the adequacy of engineering specifications and standards in all areas of the airport systems and, where necessary, develop data to support new standards.

With the implementation of new procedures from the NextGen research, the role of airports will be to accommodate the increased traffic safely.  This is especially critical during aircraft operations in inclement weather.  The increased traffic will necessitate efficient inspection and maintenance of our runways and taxiways.  This will require development of technologies to heat airport pavements, reliable methods to assess the braking performance of aircraft, development of lighting and marking materials providing higher visibility, development of new lighting technologies, such as, developing methods to mitigate wildlife at or near the airport, and developing new and efficient techniques for aircraft rescue and fire fighting.

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Airport Technology Research

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Airport Planning & Design

Airport Safety Data Mining

Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting

Wildlife Hazard Mitigation

Visual Guidance

Runway Surface Safety Technology

Airport Safety & Surveillance Sensors

Noise Programs

Airport Research Taxiway

NAPTF

NAPMRC

Field Instrumentation & Testing

Advanced Materials

Pavement Design & Evaluation

NDT Technology

Software Program Development & Support

Extended Pavement Life

Airport Environmental Research

Report to Airport REDAC Sub-Committee 2x/year

Members review research requests from sponsor prior to start of research

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ATR Funding = $27,400,00

Airport Environmental Research Program Areas

Safety

 Research Program Areas

Pavement Research  Program Areas

Research Program Areas (RPAs)

S8. Airport Noise Programs

Began with the FAA Airport Community Noise survey in FY12.

Follow on projects were needed to address possible policy implications.

E1. Airport Environmental Research

Began with funding request of $1M in FY 2016

Initiated 5 projects in FY16 

Portfolio Lead: Lauren Collins (Tech Center)

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Airport Noise Research
|                                               | FY16   | FY17   | FY18  | FY 19  |
|-----------------------------------------------|--------|--------|-------|--------|
| Aircraft Noise Annoyance & Sleep Research | $0.75M | $0.90M | $1.4M | $1.35M |

Collaborative effort among ARP, AEE and Tech Center

Began with Community Noise Survey in FY12

Details of program were included in Noise Research Update

Will transition program from aircraft noise annoyance to national survey to quantify impacts of aviation noise on sleep

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Federal Aviation

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Airport Environmental Research 	

Collaborative effort among ARP, AEE and Tech Center

Began with 5 projects with FY16 funds

Developing 10-Year research plan to guide efforts

Important funding source to develop environmental solutions to help airports and surrounding communities
|                                | FY16  | FY17  | FY18  | FY19  |
|--------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| Airport Environmental Research | $1.0M | $1.0M | $1.1M | $1.2M |

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Federal Aviation

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Airport Environmental Research

Extends model of airport technology research programs on pavement and airport safety to improve performance of airports in reducing environmental impacts while responding to community needs for transportation services

Follows collaborative model used for community noise survey - coordinated effort among Office of Airports, Tech Center, and Office of Environment and Energy

Initiated with five projects using FY16 funding 

Each project has a technical lead from ARP and AEE

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Framework for Research ProgramIntroduction

ARP is committed to a research program that:

Informs a sustainable, smart growth strategy for US airports 

Enhances incorporation of technology and data synthesis in the interest of efficient airport development 

Prioritizes practical research with results that can be of direct use to the airport industry

Purpose of the Environmental and Planning Research Program:

Ensure concepts and ideas for planning and environment are effectively integrated into the airport community through application of modern tools and processes

Improve the performance of airports in reducing their environmental impacts while responding to community needs for transportation services

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Improve aviation safety

Improve efficiency

Environmental responsibility

FAA Vision

Global Leadership

Airport Environmental Research Topic Areas

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Support environmental goals by pursuing technical aspects of air quality and noise mitigation

Mitigating most airport environmental impacts comes down to interactions and tradeoffs, making it imperative to advance environmental planning within a sustainability framework that balances the lifecycle of cost and effect over time

Effective analytical capabilities will explore how to use technical information and digital tools for maximum benefit in the environmental process

Land use planning is where research is put to work in a decision-making context to improve airport management through better integration of plans, design criteria, and data.

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FY16 Airport Environmental Research Projects

Evaluating Fixed dB Values used in Determining Noise Level Reduction Requirements [with sound insulation programs]

Noise Dispersion with ELSO PBN departures

Develop Air Quality Screening Criteria for Airport Actions

Review of Airport Guidance for Climate Adaptation and Resiliency

10-Year Plan on Airport Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Measures

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Evaluating Fixed Decibel Values used in Determining Noise Level Reduction Requirements

Issue:   ASTM E966, Standard Guide for Field Measurements of Airborne Sound Insulation of Building Facades and Facade Elements, is used to evaluate a structure’s sound insulation needs by analyzing how much noise penetrates the building envelope. This is called the Noise Level Reduction or NLR. 

ASTM E966 has fixed decibel adjustment values for testing residential sound insulation.  

The values are an approximation in many cases; i.e., in road traffic noise reduction. The values are essentially oriented to these non-aviation noise types of environments.

This research will enhance the effectiveness of residential sound insulation, the public’s confidence in the testing program, and can be used as a basis to revise ASTM standards. 

Deliverables:  

Research, analysis, and validation of fixed decibel adjustment values for testing residential sound insulation around airports. 

Progress to date:  

Task 1. Annotated Literature review completed. 

Published Literature and Data sets.

Summary of Current technology for measurement of Outdoor to Indoor Noise Reduction (OINR)

Task 2. Model Development and Validation currently under review.

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Evaluating Fixed dB Values used in Determining Noise Level Reduction Requirements

The current research being completed is funded through ARP Admin Funds {from Jim Byers} secured last  year to examine two aspects used to determine noise level reduction (how much noise penetrates the building envelope), one being the spectral class used and the other being the modeling methodology.  

Approximations for aircraft noise are challenging for single family homes which are in sound insulation programs.  The acoustic baffle effect is often weak due to a variety of technical and contextual factors.  As a result,  decibel adjustment values can become significantly lower, particularly at low frequencies. 

This research would analyze and validate an appropriate fixed decibel adjustment used for noise level reduction for aircraft as the current values are oriented to non-aviation noise types.

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Noise Dispersion with Equivalent Lateral Spacing Operations (ELSO) PBN Departures

Issue: PBN implementation at airports can result in heightened community noise concerns, as aircraft overflights are concentrated along specific points on the ground.  Prior to PBN, there was more dispersion about the flight track.  Research is needed to better inform conceptual procedure layout.  Instead of dispersion around one heading, multiple PBN tracks can be used to ameliorate noise focusing from departures.

Deliverable:

Guidance for field staff on methods for application of ELSO for abating departure noise impacts due to lateral precision of PBN departures.  Anticipate application of this knowledge during the conduct of PBN work groups and airport Part 150 studies.  

Report of methodology, data results and usable findings

Progress to Date:

Defined operational scenarios to assess

Single heading – How to optimize for noise, subject to constraints?

Multiple headings – Can ELSO provide more access to noise-optimal headings?

Developing process for identifying noise-optimal headings, along with fuel, emissions, and capacity tradeoffs

Plan to have draft of process and initial results by April

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Noise Dispersion with Equivalent Lateral Spacing Operations (ELSO) PBN Departures

AEE research focuses on metrics

This research would use applicable metrics to identify the minimum divergent heading needed between two PBN departure tracks that can provide a quantifiable reduction in community noise perceptions on the ground.  It would also evaluate the safety and efficiency of divergent headings.

For example, a preferred divergent heading could be selected to avoid a noise sensitive area instead of an alternative heading available through ELSO.  Or for a runway with departure noise issues, a single PBN track could be replaced with two PBN tracks in order to reduce noise focusing.

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Air Quality Screening Criteria for Airport Actions

Issue:   With the implementation of AEDT 2b, and changes to the FAA Air Quality Handbook, some of the prior methods and procedures regarding how to scope and implement airport air quality analyses to adequately comply with the Clean Air Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have become obsolete. There is a need for methods and procedures to easily screen, scope, and conduct air quality analyses for airport actions. There is a particular need for screening small and medium scale airport projects for which the cost and time involved in use of AEDT 2b is likely unwarranted. 

Deliverables:  

Recommend new processes and/or methods of air quality analysis for airport projects that will ensure consistency and accuracy nationwide. 

Provide the technical support documents that validate the procedures, and coordinate with EPA as necessary. 

Progress to Date:

Researching regulations, Acts, and other agency methods

The PSD 250 TPY threshold, as well as the PSD SER’s (significant emission rates) both have potential for comparison to aircraft operational levels and existing de minimis thresholds

Also reviewing presumed to conform (PTC) list for potential additions/revisions

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Airport Air Quality Screening Methods

AEE develops the FAA Air Quality Handbook, which does not include a screening method for airport air quality analysis.

This research would develop a screening method to be used by airports, which could be incorporated into the Handbook and other airport guidance.

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Airport Climate Resiliency

Issue:  Consideration of climate changes and future conditions is built into several ARP programs.  However, many questions remain about airports and effects of climate change. 

The goal of this project is to better understand how ARP can use its programs to strengthen airport resilience and climate preparedness. 

Deliverables:  

Identify updates to programs, Orders, Advisory Circulars, and program guidance, or recommend follow up research, that will facilitate FAA’s role in ensuring airport climate resilience. 

Progress to Date:

Conducted literature review and research into federal directives on climate and resilience

Identified some recommendations for implementing resilience measures

Developed outreach plan to assess current airport responses to resilience/preparedness issues

Ready to begin outreach to airports to gather input

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Review of Airport Standards, AC/Orders, Design Criteria for Climate Adaptation and Resiliency

AEE research focuses on scientific understanding of climate change and aviation impacts to inform adaptation and resiliency decisions by FAA (e.g., ATO Tech Ops decisions regarding navigational infrastructure) and airports.

This research would use scientific understanding to identify climate change impacts on existing infrastructure and how to update advisory circulars/Orders, standards, design criteria, etc. to ensure that an adequate level of resiliency is built into future standards.  

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Airport Planning and Environmental 10-Year Framework

Issue: To derive the greatest benefit from the Airport Technology Research Program it is important to develop an overarching plan that looks at gaps in knowledge and guidance and develop goals and objectives for future research. This task will develop the rationale and needs to guide a research program through the next 10 years.  

Deliverables:

Coordinate with internal – AEE, AGC – and external – AAAE, ACI, NASAO, and others – for input on current and emerging issues affecting airport sustainability.

Provide a prioritized list of research areas.

Develop rationale and criteria for selecting future year topics for ATR research.

Progress to Date : 

Conducted series of webinars with FAA staff representatives on issues they have experienced in airport planning and environmental work

Planning similar webinars with aviation industry organizations

Began developing initial draft plan

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Research on Airport Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Measures

AEE research focuses on aircraft technology, operational and policy measures to mitigate environmental impacts.

This research would be a focused synthesis and analysis of environmental issues and community concerns regarding airport actions and a prioritized list of solutions that can help airports and the FAA to engage with the community to address their concerns.

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NLR Review of Test Methods (300k)

Understand differences between Noise Level Reduction (NLR) measurement procedures that rely on aircraft flyovers and artificial noise source

Noise Abatement Procedure Usage and Effectiveness (250k)

Examine existing noise abatement procedures 

Steeper Noise Abatement Approach Operational Feasibility (200k)

Evaluate feasibility of steeper approaches in terms of performance, terminal instrument procedures, and Flight Management System (FMS) dependencies

Geospatial data library scoping/requirements (150K)

Want to develop tools to better link environmental data with planning

Severe Weather [Climate] Resiliency – Phase 2 (TBD)

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FY17 Airport Environmental Research Projects

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Anticipated distribution of E1 Environmental research funding FY16 – FY19

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Questions?

	Lauren Collins			Jim Hileman	

	ANG-E261ANG-E261		AEE-3			Lauren.Collins@faa.govJames.Hileman@faa.gov

	Tom Cuddy

	APP-400

Thomas.Cuddy@faa.gov

Airport Environmental Research

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