3D approach in airport location studies

Abstract

The article presents the use of advanced 3D techniques in airport location studies. Though specific to the airports only, the activities such as runway orientation and control of obstacles, could be supported by CAD tools originally developed for road design and ground remodeling. All these techniques are based on triangulated 3D models: triangulated models of the obstacle limitation surfaces and the TIN terrain model. Terrain protrusions through the obstacle limitation surfaces are tested by using relatively small subset of options used in ground remodeling. The extent of these protrusions is measured by using complex tools for volumetric analyses. “Shadow” terrain profiles in the airport approach zones are created by using modified profiling tools coming from road design. All these procedures are demonstrated on a relatively small and compact airport project located in the mountainous region of the Balkans.