Rather than build new capacity without the intelligence — and plan to add the “brains” later — airport visionaries are recognizing the benefit of terminal facilities that are smart and adaptive from the very start. Harnessing Smart Infrastructure Airports are hungry for innovation. And yet, airports typically struggle to advance their innovation goals. Historically, the…

Initial efforts focused on the carbon footprint of government-owned buildings or set minimum standards for newly constructed buildings. Recent policies now require existing, privately owned commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings take action as well. Non-compliance will result in significant fines. As property owners confront their emission-reduction obligations, it will be important to prepare well in…

Mass Transit Goes Airborne Source: ACRP Research Report 236: Preparing Your Airport for Electric Aircraft and Hydrogen Technologies About 300 firms are currently developing eVTOL technologies. Of these, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) identified 17 companies to participate in readiness exercises, testing passenger- and cargo-carrying technologies within urban environments. Once early prototypes…

CBTC unleashes the intelligence of automatic train control systems, utilizing: High-resolution location-determining telemetry (hardware and software),Bidirectional train-to-wayside data communications, andA combination of train-borne and wayside processors. Together, these systems are capable of implementing automatic train protection (ATP) as well as optional automatic train operation (ATO) and automatic train supervision (ATS). Multiple benefits arise from the ability to constantly evaluate a train’s real-time…

Interactive and personalized media not only help remove stress from air travel. These innovations can also improve convenience, efficiency and safety. Unique travel experiences support tourism efforts by drawing attention to the cultural and natural features of the surrounding region, distinguishing airports at a time when competition among travel options reaches new heights. In the…

To ensure technology system benefits are realized early in the planning stages, a Master Systems Integrator (MSI) can, if scoped correctly, develop a holistic, strategic approach. Consequently, engaging an MSI early in planning and design phases has emerged as a solution to tackle the complexity of technology integration.  Collaborative Systems Integration Multiple definitions of Master…

Successfully electrifying our nation’s bus fleets requires a renewed appreciation for the often-overlooked bus maintenance depot. The Role of Maintenance Depots To keep electrified fleets charged and well-maintained, bus depots will carry an outsized operational role. Bus depots include facilities and equipment for vehicle fueling, tire changes, washing, cleaning and fare collection, as well as…

The Swing Suite is a relatively inexpensive strategy of repurposing existing spaces. The concept may be appealing to healthcare providers given that it does not require relicensing of beds or adding more square footage. Implementation can be quickly instituted when a renovation or expansion of existing infrastructure is already underway. Cost-Effective Approach to Expand Capacity…

A few 5G basics 5G wireless networks are being offered in two basic species. It is important to develop a basic understanding of each. Let’s cut through the jargon and sort out the marketing hype. High Band/mm Wave refers to the area of the electromagnetic spectrum above 24 GHz. Transmitted between microwave and infrared waves,…

As hospitals grew, however, fire protection systems—and sprinkler systems in particular—weren’t retrofitted everywhere.  New spaces built in the last two decades may include sprinkler systems, but older spaces often do not.  And, while the problem isn’t endemic to hospitals and affects all types of buildings, hospitals’ mission-critical, lifesaving operations demand that occupants’ safety is paramount.…