Conceptual design for an airport facility (e.g. terminal) covers all relevant parts of that particular facility. As a comprehensive planning approach it also considers all restrictions and limitations. The development is based on the ultimate vision – i.e. the airport’s maximum development stage at the end of the development period – which it reflects in individual development phases (phased concept). This ensures the right capacity and efficient functionality (e.g. in terms of passenger flows) at the lowest possible investment costs for each specific development phase.

Scope

• Demand analysis
• Detailed traffic volume analysis (passengers, aircraft movements, cargo volumes, catering, fuel tons, etc.)
• Peak hour analysis of passengers, aircraft movements, etc.
• Constraints analysis
• Definition of quality standards
• Elaboration of a design parameter catalogue
• Capacity calculation – top-down approach – based on quality standards, benchmarks and AIRPORT COMPETENCE’s international experience
• Elaboration of a comprehensive capacity model, rough space and allocation programme
• Conceptual planning
• Phasing concept – ultimate vision
• Functional layout
• Rough cost estimation per phase/development step
• Elaboration of rough technical specifications

Benefits

• Secures the right capacity over the course of the entire development period
• Establishes and maintains the “balance of systems”
• Avoids capacity bottlenecks – especially when certain parts are temporarily not in operation
• Avoids unnecessary overcapacity, prevents excessive and premature investments
• Transparent visualisation of space and equipment requirements over the entire development period
• Avoids stranded investments
• Avoids inefficient layouts
• Lays the foundation for further detailed planning steps

Conceptual Design Projects