1 Contents
The Automated London Exchange: Introduction 5
Current Scenario 6
Trends and Pressures 8
The Current Proposals 11
Our Strategy 13
Rethinking the Airport 17
Existing Automated Technology 19
10 Benefits for london 21
Conclusion 23
about us
Raphael is an Intern at Arup Foresight + Research + Innovation. Having graduated from the Architectural Association, he has always explored pertinent issues within his projects affecting our cities today including transport, housing and declining high streets offering creative solutions and ideas from new angles combining extensive background research and unconventional and innovative design development.
Graduating from the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Sandra joined Fletcher Priest Architects as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant where exposure to projects of varying scales and demographics has inspired her to rethink the logistics of vast cities like London, particularly in conjunction with its transportation systems that have historically existed as drivers of urban development and expansion.
2 3 Stansted Airport
Luton Airport The Automated London Exchange
Southend Airport Arrivals/Departures The Automated London Exchange is a new airport concept that optimises existing Portals terminals and runways. It connects all airports with each other and the city providing flexible options for future required expansion and changes in demand, addressing City Airport the south east airports capacity debate as well as offering further opportunities for regeneration and development in the city. Heathrow Airport
Airports today may serve a city but are isolated from urban centres, partly due to the vast land required for terminals, services and runways. It is time to think of airports as part of the city, integrated into the urban fabric whilst maintaining a healthy and beautiful urban environment. An Airport’s many functions and procedures should not be limited to the one site. We propose to combine existing advanced technology for automated personal transportation such as Pods running underground combined with automated baggage systems. A project of this nature creates opportunities to regenerate numerous disused or underdeveloped sites around London which can operate as arrival and departure points or ‘portals’.
The proposed connectivity between airports (the A.L.E. system) gives London the status of a super Gatwick Airport hub by connecting its seven runways across all six airports and providing flexibility for future runway developments with numerous viable and less expensive options currently unavailable. Compared to the proposed further runways at Heathrow and Gatwick, the ALE allows new runways to be built in less impactful areas connected to the system and reduce the number of people being displaced as well as helping secure London’s strategy for cleaner air and reduced pollution.
Connecting London’s Airports Creating Arrivals/Departures Portals Transforming London into a mega-hub
4 5 at heathrow: 1 plane lands every The current scenario Heathrow 98% 45 seconds London is a highly successful global city attracting both investment and people. As a result, there are numerous pressures being placed on the city which include insufficient aviation capacity capacity, housing shortages, overburdened transport infrastructure and poor air quality. gatwick is the world’s busiest single runway airport London’s population is at its highest in history and is due to hit 10 million people by 2025. In order to cope with the population surge, strategic innovation is key as well as radical and no2 unconventional approaches to problem solving. no2
London is facing an aviation capacity crisis, its principal airports are oversaturated with limited and costly Heathrow is the 5,500 airPlanes options for expansion. Heathrow is Britain’s principal airport, operating at almost full capacity with an london’s airports handles 146 Fly over south east aircraft landing and taking off every 45 seconds, whilst Gatwick is the busiest single runway airport in the 2nd hotspot world - this situation is unsustainable, resulting in significant impacts on the economy, population, comfort million passengers every year for NO2 in London england every day and quality of the built urban environment.
There are Six airports serving the city and region around London, a catchment area of around 8.8 million people. These airports, however, do not operate as a hub and instead have fully isolated management and operations strategies. Other cities around the world have opted to build large airport hubs as a ‘central nervous system’ for airline operation and establishing global connectivity. Examples include, neighbouring european hubs in Amsterdam Schipol, Paris Charles de Gaule and Frankfurt as well as global mega hubs such as Dubai International, Atlanta, Beijing Capital and Istanbul. Unlike these major world cities, London does not have the ability to freely expand into unused or underdeveloped land and build numerous new runways.
Most of London’s air traffic arrives into Heathrow which has symbolically become a passenger aviation hub for London and the UK, nevertheless if it is to compete with the ever increasing global airport hubs, it would need more than just one extra runway. On the other hand, there are a few London airports have still not reached their capacity such as Stansted, Luton and Southend with opportunities for low impact expansion, strengthening local regions economically as well as securing better transport links to the city.
The issues surrounding airport capacity go beyond the mere construction of runways and tap into issues including air quality, housing, connectivity, accessibility, and affordability. The proposed solutions, therefore, need to be integrated, holistic and strategic in their approach, combining, for example, airport expansion, building of homes, reducing airport ‘noise envelopes’ and strengthening regions and local areas economically.
6 7 Trends and pressures
There are numerous trends and pressures being placed on London as a result of global and local trends with a series of implications for the future of the City:
population growth urban regeneration London is currently going through a population boom Cities around the world often contain numerous with over 8.6 million people, the highest it has ever been. opportunity areas where new neighborhoods can emerge This number is expected to reach 10 million by 2025. As from regions of urban decay. These are often abandoned a result, pressure on transport systems and housing has industrial regions and ports. London has successfully been steadily increasing year by year. New projects and regenerated numerous abandoned areas as a result of strategies in London must respond to these changes new infrastructure projects such as High Speed One at with innovative hollistic approaches and combined Kings Cross and Stratford and Crossrail which is creating infrastructure building where, for example, both housing new housing and public spaces in neighborhoods such as and transport are part of the same strategic scheme. Woolwich and Old Oak Common.
increased global mobility automation The global population is more mobile than ever before as Population growth places great demand on public a result of the decreased cost of flying and the growth of services, increasing the need for efficiency in their delivery. a global middle class. It is estimated that around 8 million Automation is an effective way of reaching optimum people fly around the world every day with over 3 billion operation and management of infrastructure, reducing people annualy according to IATA. Airports and aviation human error and enabling 24/7 operations. London already infrastructure around the world has significantly increased has numerous established autonomous systems including its capacity with the emergance of large aviation hubs in the 34km long Docklands Light Railway, the Heathrow POD places such as Dubai and Beijing which are already busier and the future introduction of the Greenwich PRT (Personal than Heathrow airport. Rapid Transit).
global competitiveness air pollution & wellbeing London is often considered a global capital and financial Air pollution is one of the world’s leading causes of centre with a concentration of numerous businesses premature death and decreased quality of life. In London and opportunities. However, this title does not come alone, approximately 9,500 die annualy as a direct result unchallenged with numerous cities around the world such of air pollution according to research by Kings College as New York and Frankfurt constantly offering convenient London. Transport is responsible for over half of air connectivity and attractive incentives for business and pollution with fumes and particulates being released from workers. In order for London to remain a global force, it will ground vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses as well as require constant innovation, increased convenience and from aviation. As a result the two most polluted areas of expansion of its public services and infrastructure. London are the West End and Heathrow.
8 the current proposals Heathrow three-runway proposal Gatwick two-runway proposal We believe none of the proposals put forward are forward-thinking enough. These proposals may address the immediate pressures on our aviation capacity, however, they will not solve our problems in the long term.
The Airports Commission was set up as an independent body to analyse current airport capacity in South East England and propose the most viable solutions to government. In July 2015, the commision was closed having considered numerous options with the conclusion a third runway at Heathrow should be built. Since July 2015, no concrete decision has been taken due to the conflicting nature of the large scale intervention in the city which will have numerous implications for the health and wellbeing of those living close and afar.
Heathrow proposed two alternatives which consisted of the construction of a third runway to the north of the current site or an extended second runway which could operate departing and arriving flights simultaneously. Both these proposals will, however, will have a great impact on the surrounding region with numerous residents being evicted from their homes, a high cost for airlines and government as well as years of disruption as the M25 will have to be tunnelled under the new runway.
Gatwick is also shortlisted with plans for a second runway claiming it can deliver the runway in a faster period of time with less disruption with smaller capital investment. It also claims two ‘world class’ airports in competition to each other will benefit the UK better than a dominating hub. Nevertheless, current connections between Heathrow and Gatwick are poor and depend on coaches to make the passenger link. The transfer time between the airports are too great Thames Hub Airport Stanstead four-runway proposal resulting the people choosing to change flights in other european or global hubs.
Other proposals included the Thames Estuary Airport proposals which was critisised for the immense environmental impact as well as its distance to London and the Goodwin sands proposal, which would have the smallest impact on people, but would be challenging in creating convenient and fast transport links to the capital. New runways at Stansted were also considered however, many airlines and carriers do not feel convinced enough to move their operations from Heathrow.
Britannia Floating Estuary Airport Goodwin Sands Airport
10 11 our strategy
The Automated London Exchange is more than just an airport, it is a city wide strategy to transform London into a global mega aviation hub whilst maintaining a beautiful and healthy urban environment.
The Automated London Exchange connects all of London’s six airports using existing automated Pod Technology and baggage handling systems.
All airports would also be connected to numerous arrival and departure points called ‘ALE Portals’ where processes such as check-in, baggage drop off, security scanning, and baggage reclaim would occur allowing arriving and departing passengers to choose the most convenient portal they wish to arrive or depart from, creating the world’s first airport network as opposed Pod Tunnels to the traditional airport site.
The portals would be strategically spread throughout the city giving all areas of london equal accessibility to all airports as well as creating new opportunities for regeneration and housing developments. The automated pods would also allow inter- terminal flight transfers between all airport terminals thus turning all of the currently isolated terminals into a super hub.
Diagram showing airport processes and their location between portals and terminals:
Customs Baggage POD Passport Arriving Reclaim Docking Station Control Flight Automated Baggage Transport < << < < <
Portal Terminal
> > > >
Automated Security Commercial POD Departing Check in Area Docking Station Flight
12 13 Regent Park Euston Portal
The Euston Portal is an example of an ALE Portal in London. It will regenerate the currently derelict Granby Terrace depot creating a new arrival/departure point for A.L.E. In addition to this, it creates a platform for residential units positioned above the exisitng, disused warehouse. Located in a strategic point close to Euston Station in Central London and with over 10,000 metres squared of area, the site presents an enormous potential for sensitive and smart development.
The depot’s Victorian ironwork will be kept as a symbol of an era of great transport Arrivals development. The bridge currently crossing the railway track area will be enlarged to create the main entrance facing Hampstead road in order to preserve the quiet and residential nature of Park Village Road on the other side. The interior space, UK Customs Baggage Pod Arrival currently colonised by trees and plants would feature a large green wall and feel as if it were a large greenhouse, giving a warmer feel than typical airport design. Area Reclaim Zone
Passing through check-in and security commuters enter a small commercial space before the Pod docking stations that take passengers to the relevant airport while checked in baggage is already travelling on automated baggage transport ways, underneath the pod transportation tunnels. Passengers arriving from various airports will arrive at the Pod docking station, collect their luggage and go through customs in the dedicated spaces within the same building.
The roof space represents a vast opportunity for the creation of further use; a small ‘pedestrian residential road’ segregates a series of terraced apartments from the road below, whilst the rooftop gardens echo the previous state of the warehouse below them, simultaneously accounting for much desired public and private outdoor spaces.
Green Wall Feature
Underground Bike Storage
National Rail Platforms New Drop-off Housing Area
Departures
Automated Boarding Automated Pod Boarding Airport Bag Drop Barrier Security Check Zone Portal Euston
14 << 15 An airport serving a city rethinking the airport
Over decades, the airport has developed into a particular typology. Airport buildings were once highly functional designs and have turned into large open span luminous sheds which allows airports operators to have great flexibility in terms of internal layout and terminal expansion. This typology is being replicated throughout the world at enormous scales where land is freely available and inexpensive.
It is time to rethink the airport ‘concept’ and ‘typology’, one which does not simply serve a city but is fully integrated with it. Britain has always led the world in combining transport infrastructure development with numerous other aspects such as regeneration and minimised visual and environmental impact. High Speed 1 from St Pancras International is one such example where the chosen route allowed areas such as King’s Cross, Stratford and Ebbsfleet to become new urban centres, demolishing very few buildings, as well as creating the future possibility of High Speed railway being extended to the north of England.
We propose to break down the airport’s functions and free them from being contained to a particular site close to London. This allows the airport to operate in numerous terminals and portals throughout and outside the city connected by high speed pods together with an automated baggage handling system with numerous benefits for the capital and South East England.
An airport network part of the city
Runway Terminal Portal
16 17 Existing automated technology
Automation is a concept which has existed for a number of years. Londoners have riding the DLR since 1987 where all trains are remotely guided by a computer, the concept and reality of automation has been spreading throughout the world with numerous benefits enhancing efficiency on public transit systems, reducing private vehicle ridership and carbon emissions. The technology is expected to move into the realm of cars and vehicles in the next few years with the possible result of London becoming a fully automated city in the next decade.
Automated baggage handling was first introduced in the UK at Heathrow Terminal 5 with a troubled beginning. Nevertheless, since then, such systems have become standard components of airport design worldwide with enough developed technology and knowledge for them to be expanded to the scale of cities. Indeed, there are numerous underground logistics proposals being put forward in countries such as Switzerland with its 70km long Cargo Sous Terrain project to carry freight between Härkingen / Niederbipp and Zurich eliminating road freight between multiple swiss cities and reducing congestion.
The Automated London Exchange pushes automation further in order to match the population demands and foreseen usage of the system in London. Over 140 million passengers use all of London’s airports together, thus each portal and the multiple terminals must operate at peak efficiency and have the ability to expand with further population growth. Examples of automation include an automated security check where people drop off their hand luggage on a tray which automatically goes through an x ray machine and appears after the ‘personal check’ either ready for collection or to be further reviewed by on site staff. Such applications of automation help to take people through from baggage drop to their airport gate as quickly as possible maximising the portal’s capacity.
Automated baggage System:
Hand baggage drop off bays Hand baggage pick up bays
x-ray check manual baggage check
18 19 10 benefits for london
1 Creating a fully integrated and accessible airport network 2 Eliminating the need for high-impact runway development 3 opening up options for future airport capacity expansion 4 optimising the use of london’s existing airports and assets 5 reducing vehicular traffic to and from terminals 6 reducing noise pollution over london 7 improving London’s poor air quality 8 regenerating pooly developed areas in london 9 increasing the capital’s housing supply 10 establishing london as the world’s leading super-hub
20 21 Conclusions
We believe in making London a better and more convenient place to live, work and travel to. We believe if London is to continue being a successful global city, it will need to innovate and re-think the way it approaches designing and building infrastructure.
Our airport proposal is more than just a solution to South East England’s Aviation debate, it is a holistic and integrated approach to infrastructural development, questioning the status quo of current airport terminals and systems, breaking down its functions into component parts and spreading them throughout the city and combining with other essential needs such as housing, climate resilience and air quality.
All of the current proposals being considered by central government are not ambitious enough due to their corporate limitations and their individualistic and ‘non-system’ approach. By optimising existing assets, the ALE offers an opportunity to question the airport typology and fully integrate it into the city, possibly making the world’s most accessible airport where people could arrive on foot or by bike in strategically located urban portals.
This proposal challenges all of the solutions put forward and turns the approach to airport planning on its head. It is a vision of a future airport network for London which addresses current demands and allows for future developments and projections.
22 23 Written and developed by
Raphael Iruzun Martins & Sandra Kolacz
Contact:
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