AEROTROPOLIS: AN AIRPORT AS A DRIVER OF ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

In previous centuries, major transportation infrastructure has fostered economic and urban development in places where they were established. This was seen with seaports in the 18th century, Railways in the 19th century, and highways in the 20th century. An emergence of a similar pattern is being witnessed this century as airports have evolved from being just transportation hubs, to drivers of business location and commercial development within and outside its boundaries. Traditionally airports have been located in the outskirts of cities where real estate is cheap and is close enough not to be a tedious commute, but far enough from urban centers to mitigate noise pollution. However, the paradigm has shifted and the “Aerotropolis” urban format has emerged. An Aerotropolis is a type of city where an airport is its central node, and its land use, road network, and economy are planned around this airport. Today, speed and accessibility are the new benchmark and airports are a nexus to a global stream of commerce and trade. Does this make it an ideal incentive for new urban development?