Modular Construction to Support Airport Sustainability at US Airports

This paper explores how modular construction can enhance airport sustainability, highlighting example applications at US airports. Whereas traditional construction builds sequentially on-site, modular construction (also known as prefabricated, off-site and industrialized construction) utilizes prefabricated modules that are built off-site, transported, and integrated into the final structure on-site. Modular construction shifts activities to the fabrication site, accelerating the construction schedule on-site and reducing disruptions to airport operations. Modular construction also supports airport sustainability, which encompasses operations, economic, environment and community impacts. Modular construction is increasingly utilized at airports due to its significant advantages: (1) minimizing disruption to airport operations, supporting operations; (2) accelerating on-site construction schedules by shifting activities to the fabrication site, supporting economic and operations components; (3) reducing issues with airport security, construction noise and disruption by moving module construction to the fabrication site, supporting all components of sustainability; and (4) increasing safety for construction workers, passengers, and airport workers, supporting the community component of sustainability. Although modular construction is increasingly common at airports, there is little documentation of its use in the scholarly literature, and even less discussion of the benefits of modular construction for airport sustainability. This paper addresses that gap by documenting modular construction activities at US airports and identifying how these projects contribute to airport sustainability.