Research objectives

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This four-year project is divided into overlapping stages (Figure 1) designed around the following research questions:

• What are the drivers and dynamics of the airport metropolis?
• What are the primary problems within the defined interface areas?
• What are the alternatives for improving the system? What are the tradeoffs?
• How can these be implemented within productive regional partnerships?

       Figure 1 Research Design

Stage One: Spatial Synthesis: Years 1-3: This stage will theoretically develop the concept of the airport metropolis and its changing role in the urban pattern.

Stage Two: Interfaces and Research Foci: Years 1-3: This stage examines the specific areas of the airport metropolis interface. The case study analyses will define the airport metropolis, interfaces, and the drivers and dynamics of the system. The approach will break down each interface study into specific foci. Respectively, these may be: nodal analysis, airport master planning, land use-transport modelling, and public-private sector relationships and partnerships.

Stage Three: Sustainability Criteria and Indicators: Years 1-4: This stage of the framework involves the development of a suite of sustainability performance indicators, by applying each criteria against the research foci, to evaluate the issues within the interface in order to improve management practice.

Stage Four: Policy Analysis: Years 1-4: Designing and building a DSS to evaluate alternative ways of managing the impacts within the interface areas.