The goal of the automated mobility platforms (AMPs) initiative is to raise the bar of service regarding equity and sustainability for public mobility systems that are crucial to large facilities, and doing so using electrified, energy efficient technology. Using airports as an example, the rapid growth in air travel demand has led to facility expansions and congested terminals, which directly impacts equity (e.g., increased challenges for Passengers with Reduced Mobility [PRMs]) and sustainability—both of which are important metrics often overlooked during the engineering design process. Therefore, to evaluate systems and inform critical near- and long-term decisions more effectively, a holistic evaluation framework is proposed focused on four key areas: (1) mobility, with emphasis on travel time and accessibility within an airport, (2) environment, focused on energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with intra-airport mobility, (3) equity, specifically to the PRM community, but with an eye to the whole of society, and (4) built environment, or the fundamental changes in building design enabled by different mobility systems for larger and more flexible, functional, and energy-efficient structures. Below, AMPs are defined, and each metric is discussed further, all with a focus on airport mobility.
Automated Mobility Platform (AMP): AMPs are broadly defined as mobility systems and/or services that leverage automation technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. In addition, advanced sensing and communications technologies are used in parallel with state-of-the-art methods in optimization and analytics to inform real-time decisions in complex operating environments. In the airport context, the AMPs system would consist of a mixed fleet of lightweight, electric vehicles that are centrally controlled and can reposition using automation technologies. At the same time, individual vehicles may also be equipped with a joystick/steering wheel to allow users to independently experience airport amenities – while larger vehicles designed for terminal-to-terminal movement may only operate in completely automated mode. AMPs benefits to equity and sustainability are closely tied to improved mobility (and user autonomy – not fully reliant on airport escorts) for PRMs and reduced energy consumption through the used of right-sized, lightweight electric vehicles that can be optimized to best respond to fluctuations in demand.
Mobility: Mobility benefits were identified and evaluated through engagement with airport facility and disabled community stakeholders with emphasis on discerning requirements for PRMs at airports. As airports continue to expand, creating longer paths to traverse between curb drop-off and boarding gates, as well as between connecting gates, the ability to efficiently convey passengers along these paths without excessive delay is becoming more challenging. While automated vehicles will continue to evolve and at some point, allow people to navigate public roadways without physically driving the vehicle, evidence points toward a need to concurrently enhance mobility systems to serve large facilities in a similar fashion. This report analyzes and quantifies the challenges of transporting people—both ambulatory and PRM—through airports, as well as the fundamental limits that current airport design practice is confronting with respect to acceptable pedestrian travel times and distances.
Environment: The energy and GHG benefits of airport mobility systems follow a near-term and long-term perspective. The near-term benefit assessment compares the energy consumption and GHG emissions for both PRM and non-PRM travelers. Long-term energy and GHG impacts are associated with building and facility design and functionality, enabling not only larger, more efficient tailored structures, but also more efficient regional transport by providing highly effective first-mile/last-mile services, and interfacing seamlessly with emerging electrified and automated roadway mobility services. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of current and future airport mobility options from a systems perspective – from strategic planning and facilities design to daily operations.
Equity: Travel time and ease of pedestrian-related travel is closely associated with equity concerns of the PRM community. It is estimated that 20% or more of the traveling public possesses some type of disability or impairment that prevents them from being fully ambulatory and participating in routine walking, standing, and navigating functions within airports [1]. Some subpopulations can be identified and delineated within this group (such as those in need of daily wheelchair assistance or the legally blind), but the total number of PRMs is more difficult to enumerate, and the delineation is not purely a matter of binary classification. Natural human aging limits the ability to walk long distances, stand for long periods while boarding, or navigate complex terminals to find one’s departure gate. With a growing portion of the aging population (air travel demand increasing at twice the rate compared to the general population [2]) and ever larger airport terminal complexes, more elderly people with physically diminished skills will continue to travel and require improved accommodation to effectively move through such facilities. This report presents findings related to the difficulties faced by vulnerable population groups in the airport setting and presents solutions to address and mitigate these challenges through AMPs technologies.
Built Environment: The fourth dimension focuses on building design, and how different mobility systems and infrastructure impact facility performance. Currently, many different mobility options exist that span from the most rigid (moving walkways) to highly flexible (fleet of single passenger automated vehicles). This study will bring together expert knowledge and related literature to discuss near- and long-term impacts of mobility infrastructure on facilities and potential new designs enabled by various mobility systems.
Overall, this report develops a holistic framework from which to evaluate different mobility systems and technologies in the large facility setting. The primary focus will be airports, however, similar approaches can be used for other large facilities, such as hospitals. AMPs will be the baseline for comparison, as they contain many characteristics (if deployed and managed intelligently) that can directly address issues related to mobility, environment, equity, and the built environment.