IAU-IdF
Experts identify challenges and good practices developed by international airport areas
On September 20, 2016, the Sustainable Airport Area initiative held its second workshop in Atlanta, USA – almost one year after the October 2015 Paris workshop. Representatives from six international airports participated in the workshop: Atlanta, Paris-CDG, Beijing, Dakar, Vantaa, Barcelona, as well as international experts, consultants and scholars from Paris, Atlanta, Hong-Kong and Vancouver. In total, twenty-five high-level professionals attended the workshop.
During the 2015 Paris workshop, the participants had identified 10 key thematic challenges facing the sustainable planning and development of airport areas.
The main objective of the 2016 workshop was to identify and share good practices related to these 10 key challenges. Participants were invited to split up in thematic work groups, each tackling one of the key challenges. This work method allowed for the collective identification of a number of good practices developed by international airport areas on various fields such as mobility and accessibility, urban planning and development, governance and competitiveness.
The workshop program also included a visit to the Georgia Resource Center - a world-renowned resource center run by Georgia Power and dedicated to attracting and expanding businesses in the State of Georgia.
On September 22, the participants also took part in a business tour in the Atlanta Airport Area organized by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). The business tour, held jointly with the Hubstart International Seminar, included visits to some of the major economic development sites and projects in the Airport Area such as the new Porsche Headquarters, the redevelopment of the former Fort McPherson military base, the City of College Park and the new terminals currently under construction.
The main objective of the Initiative is the publication of a Good Practice Guide on Sustainable Airport Areas, due in June 2017. A third workshop will be held in the beginning of 2017 to finalize the work achieved during the first two workshops.
Read the report here
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