Patent ID: 7469859

Claim:
Integrated transportation apparatus, comprising: a substantially fixed structure disposed within a low-depth, substantially land-enclosed body of water proximate to at least one local population center, said structure being constructed using dredging operations within said low-depth body of water; a plurality of runways disposed on said structure in a substantially parallel disposition, said runways being adapted for simultaneous take off and landing of aircraft; a plurality of taxiways operatively associated with said runways; and at least one passenger terminal or cargo terminal disposed proximate to at least one of said taxiways; wherein said structure is disposed at a predetermined orientation with respect to local prevailing winds, at least one military aviation facility, and at least some local residential areas, and disposed proximate at least one local waterborne traffic channel and said at least one military facility; and wherein said predetermined orientation is selected to at least (i) mitigate interference with said military aviation facility; and (ii) mitigate noise for said residential areas.