A Sectoral Study on Energy Production from Human Movement at The Airport

Throughout the history of civil aviation, developing technology, changing demands and needs of passengers, expectations of stakeholders, and increasing awareness about sustainability have changed the structure of airports and the opportunities they offer. Increasing awareness about sustainability has directed humanity towards non-conventional energy sources. Human energy, which is among the non-conventional energy sources and whose source is concentrated in airport terminals, constitutes the focus of the study. The main purpose of the research is to determine the conversion methods of kinetic energy arising from passenger mobility into electrical energy at airports, to create environments in which passengers participate in energy production in terminal areas, to evaluate the perspectives of aviation professionals on post-modern energy production in the context of passenger mobility and to create the first step in raising awareness on the subject. The data that forms the basis of the research was obtained through interviews with aviation professionals through vignettes prepared for this purpose. In the light of the literature and global current practices, two separate vignettes were created about the methods of generating electricity by pedalling a bicycle and applying pressure to the ground in children's playgrounds in the terminal buildings, both to raise awareness about sustainability and to strengthen the image of the airport operation. The data obtained from the interviews using these vignettes were evaluated with an inductive approach and content analysis. As a result of the research, postmodern electricity generation methods were discussed with the help of professionals' observations and experiences, the themes of muscle strength and piezoelectric principle application evaluation were found and it was revealed that the advantages of these themes came to the fore.