Urban Transformation in Airport Regions

Abstract

Airport development in densely populated regions presents a major challenge to all parties involved. The main issue in airport regions is a trust-building and proactive handling of noise pollution. Spatial planning especially is being called upon to deliver integrative solutions for future spatial and airport development through innovative planning processes. The establishment of a demarcation line that indicates the boundaries of the area of existing and future possible aircraft noise pollution can create a reliable space for future settlement development. Based on the potential noise reduction, the boundary line could shrink and generate so-called delta spaces, which deserve special attention from spatial planning. However, the settlement area in the airport region with a potential for redevelopment must also be known.

Using the development of Zurich Airport as an example, one such process is presented and conclusions concerning future processes are drawn from it. The case study makes it clear that spatial planning is being called upon to proactively engage with the development of high-density traffic airports. In particular, technological advances in aircraft manufacture to reduce noise emissions, as well as innovative landing and take-off procedures, open new perspectives to mitigate the central conflicts in airport and spatial development. The importance of assessing the potential for settlement redevelopment in airport regions is a significant conclusion.

Notes

1 The core idea in test planning is, within the framework of a process that is based on specific principles, to set in motion an exchange of possible solutions, their advantages and disadvantages, and the conclusions to be drawn from them. By testing different kinds of ideas in the interplay of a preliminary design and its critique, a basic agreement about the direction the solution should take and the important argumentation for its implementation will eventually emerge. Test planning processes deliver an organisational and communicative frame-work for exploratory learning. The core of the process involves exploratory searches that take place in a limited timeframe, involve several passes and seek a solution through a competition of ideas. Test planning teams are accompanied by a group of outside experts and cadres of the administrations. For more details about test planning processes, see: Scholl, B. (2006): Test Planning Procedures as a Method for Supporting Decision Making in Complex Planning Projects, City of Milan, 2006; Scholl, B. (2011): Die Methode der Testplanung – Exemplarische Veranschaulichung für die Auswahl und den Einsatz von Methoden in Klärungsprozessen (in: Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung ARL, Grundriss der Raumordnung und Raumentwicklung, Hannover) and Kanton Solothurn, Federal Office of Spatial Development ARE and ETH Zürich (2013): Test Planning – A Method with Future; Bern, Solothurn, Zürich.

2 For detailed information on the method Raum+ see: Nebel, R. (2013): Siedlungsflächenmanagement Schweiz, ETH Zurich; and Scholl, B.; Nebel, R. et al. (2010): Siedlungsflächenpotenziale für eine Siedlungsentwicklung nach innen, Modellvorhaben Raum+ Schwyz, Chair of Spatial Development, IRL, ETH Zurich, March 2010.

Additional information

Bernd Scholl is since 2006 a full professor for Spatial Planning and Development at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. His professorship is part of the Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development at the ETH Zurich. He was director of the institute from 2007 to 2009 and since 2012. Since 2011 he is Director of the NSL at the ETH.

Reto Nebel has been working as a researcher at the Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development at ETH Zurich since 2007. His main research focus is an economical approach to land resources by implementing an active and comprehensive land use management on federal, cantonal and municipal level.