Risks And Resilience in Automated, Connected, and Electrified Airport Environment

Abstract: Automated, connected, and electrified airport environment includes considerations of electric vehicles (EVs), connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs), mobility on demand/ mobility as a service (MOD/MaaS), and advanced air mobility (AAM). Automated technologies, connected infrastructure, and electrification aim to improve airport efficiency, safety, and sustainability, yet they also introduce new vulnerabilities and dependencies. Understanding these risks and fostering resilience in each area is essential for airport operators to ensure robust, secure, and uninterrupted operations. The risks associated with automation include system failure and downtime, cybersecurity threats, and dependence on specialized maintenance. Connected infrastructure risks would be related to data privacy and security, network failures, and inter-system dependencies. Power supply and grid dependence, battery storage and safety, and infrastructure upgrades and cost are among electrification risks. These risks need to be addressed with a combination of appropriate resilience strategies such as redundant systems and fail-safes, regular cybersecurity assessments, modular system designs, manual backups, data encryption, redundant connectivity networks, reali-time monitoring and incident response, microgrids and renewable energy sources, energy storage safety measures, flexible charging infrastructure, backup power systems, integrated risk management, cross-functional training and communication, redundant interoperable systems, weather-resilient infrastructure, climate-resilient batteries, and disaster preparedness and redundant operations. Considerations of these risks and resilience strategies would shape roadmap, policy, plans, programs, and projects within automated, connected, and electrified airport environment.