Project management remains a difficult and interesting subject of discussion, with a capacity to be completed differently. Construction projects, in particular, are designed with the goal of creating, changing, or improving existing spaces to make them better fulfill their roles. In this effort, it is vital to establish core goals and aims that contribute to the overall effort of advancing the project forward. In order to better understand project management, it is necessary to examine actual examples of construction/improvement projects and compare their practices to each other. For the purposes of this work, two airport improvement projects will be examined, concerning the Heathrow Airport and the Los Angeles Airport. These airport renovation/change projects are a sample of a typical plan, having such characteristic features as outlining specific and minor changes to an airport’s structure.
Project Management Approach
Heathrow Airport Expansion
The expansion of the Heathrow Airport is a project plan introduced around the period of 2019 to 2020. The pandemic has provided airport officials with strong incentives to change. The importance of the location in the UK’s trade routes, as well as expected future demand for air travel, have all been cited as reasons for project planning. Officially, the project has not been put into action yet, however, a number of consultation and discussion documents already exist. Pre-planning and initial construction phases have been initiated, warranting considerable costs and worrying local political forces (Simple Flying, 2019). Due to the effects of the pandemic, the project has been put on hold for 2 years, significantly hindering development.
With the lift of restrictions in the recent months, however, the plans have become relevant once again. The independent Airport Commission has determined that the location requires expansion in order to stay relevant in the global economy. The UK, in today’s world, fulfills the role of the world’s major aviation hub, a position that requires its airports to be sufficiently equipped. As a result, commission experts found it necessary to extend Heathrow’s runway capacity. Many criticize the expansion of the airport, citing its inability to pursue a cost-effective change plan, along with considering expansion to be unnecessary. However, the airport officials seem to be set on the goal of improving the airport infrastructure, a process that is set to be started in 2026 (Heathrow, 2019). According to the preferred master plan, the Heathrow airport has decided to make changes to its airfield, terminals, roads, active travel, water environment, airport supporting development, parking, displaced land, landscape, and utilities (Heathrow, 2019). The expansion is divided into 4 clear phases, from the opening to the successful expansion of the airport. The entire process is tightly controlled, allowing the organizers to better understand the potential costs and expansion process.
The strategic goal of the airport in the medium term is the development of a multimodal transport hub for transfer passenger and cargo transportation on the basis of the airport, integrating air traffic. At the moment, the airport is implementing a long-term development plan until 2020, which provides for the construction of runways and further expansion of the passenger terminal (Heathrow, 2019). Heathrow Airport is planning the reconstruction of the operated facilities and the construction of new ones with the development of a specially reserved territory. To display the production strategy of the airport, a set of goals was assembled. First of all, it is the retrofitting of the airfield complex with new equipment that ensures an improvement in the quality of maintenance of airfield coverings, fire and emergency flight support. Moreover, at Heathrow Airport, the development and implementation of progressive schemes for the operation of the airfield in the autumn-winter period will be carried out.
Automation of production processes in the field of navigation support of flights, monitoring of the condition of artificial airfield coverings are also important points of renovation. The expansion of the airport includes equipping with a modern hardware and software complex for automatic broadcasting of operational flight information in the area of the airfield (Santos, 2021). One of the leading criteria for the renovation of Heathrow Airport is the development of airport infrastructure. The airport infrastructure includes airfield facilities, as well as a set of other airport facilities that provide aircraft, passengers, cargo, baggage, mail and support services.
The Heathrow Airport airfield complex meets high international standards and is considered one of the best in the United States in terms of equipment and infrastructure development. In order to move to a new qualitative and quantitative level of production activity, the existing wireless infrastructure was modernized. This is done in order to provide mobile baggage handling using wireless data collection terminals (Heathrow, 2019). All works were performed taking into account the internal corporate requirements of the customer for the reliability and security of the Wi-Fi network. This technical solution made it possible to significantly increase signal levels and fully implement the principle of redundancy of coverage of working areas. It also guaranteed stable and fast roaming for mobile customers during their movement along the platform at the speed of a car. According to the results of the tests carried out, the system was found to meet the customer’s requirements and ready for commercial operation.
In addition, a major part of planning and project description is devoted to sustainability concerns. A number of potential expansion consequences are named and addressed, including air quality, noise levels, community inconvenience, and the effect on both the nearby and global environment (Heathrow, 2019). Convictions toward minimizing the potential impact on sustainability are made in order to reassure the local population of the project’s benefits. It should be noted, however, that the project attracted widespread attention from climate activists before being put on hold. The protesters remained concerned over the climate implications of increased air traffic, as well as the consequences of the airport’s expansion (Santos, 2021). The document likely seeks to address some concerns held by such groups, and advocate for sustainable development of airport facilities.
Los Angeles World Airports Redesign
The redesign is part of a 15$ billion program aimed at modernizing the airport. Starting at least a decade ago, the project has been in development ever since, slowly addressing the core concerns of the Los Angeles World Airports. It is expected that the project will be completed around 2028, in time for the Olympic Games. There are many individual construction and renovation projects within the redesign effort, each of which has to be approved manually and conducted at its own pace. Significant improvements have already been made on terminals 1 and 7/8, receiving investments of $980 and $546 million, respectively.
It is reported that the money went to changing both the interior and the exterior of the terminals, improving accessibility, and enforcing stricter security measures. Comparatively, the modernization of terminals 7 and 8 focuses more on customer convenience, giving people a more comfortable space to occupy. Screening systems, security systems, runways, and automatic people movers will all receive improvements as well, bringing improving the quality of customer experience at the airport. In order to introduce many of the desired changes, LAWA uses assistance from other companies. Organizations such as LRS program delivery help the airport in structuring the improvement process, developing relevant KPI, and developing necessary progress templates (LRS Program Delivery, Inc., 2022).
One of the most interesting innovations of Los Angeles World Airports was the opening of the ground floor and the entrance to it for public transport. The ground floor itself, a significant part of which is occupied by baggage services, is currently accessible to passengers only in part of toilets and storage rooms. Among other transport innovations is a change in the traffic pattern on the forecourt. In addition, the parking lot to the left of the terminal will be expanded by several thousand places. It is also planned to update the parking and ticket equipment.
The new machines will be protected from the possibility of failures due to bad weather, will be able to accept and issue more different bills and coins of different denominations. Closer to the peak of the season, it is planned to open about 50 more registration sections (LAWA, 2017a). A sector was allocated in the right pier for passengers who, under the terms of the Customs Union, pass only passport control, but not customs control. At the same time, the opening of such a sector means that there is only one opportunity left for passengers of domestic lines to get into the clean zone – through the lower level. There is no longer an option to bypass the queues at the upper level. Special attention in the company’s activities is paid to the formation of a single recognizable style in the interiors of the premises and the ensemble of buildings and structures of Los Angeles World Airports.
Los Angeles World Airports pays special attention to aviation security measures, the purpose of which is to protect the life and health of passengers and visitors to the airport, airport facilities. An important role is also assigned to the prevention and suppression of illegal trafficking in weapons, explosives and other dangerous items. To solve these problems, a special company Los Angeles World Airports Security was created during the redesign (Smith, 2021). The company’s activities are carried out in such areas as ensuring aviation security at the airport and inspection of aircraft, passengers, crew members of aircraft, service personnel, baggage and hand luggage.
Additional points have been opened for cargo, mail, on-board supplies, and access control, aircraft security, airport territory and civil aviation facilities located on it. To increase the level of aviation security, Los Angeles World Airports plans to introduce automation tools and specialized information systems, including equipping security control zones with scanners of transportation documents that allow them to automatically verify their authenticity (LRS Program Delivery, Inc., 2022). However, it is important to state that the improvement efforts were not supported universally, with some social groups expressing concerns over the proposed changes. Local residents of Los Angeles have expressed vocal concern over the project, and there have also been instances of protesting. Many people living in the area are worried about a change in traffic flow and increased pollution that will come from an expanded airport (Smith, 2021). The board of Airport Commissioners has approved the project regardless and actively ignored the public concern arising from the project. City officials, similarly, did not come forward to comment on the subject.
According to the airport’s sustainability documents, the buildings and renovations committed after 2017 have all been completed in accordance with the sustainability practices approved by LAWA. This includes recycling of demolition debris and a reduction in the use of natural resources such as water and electricity (LAWA, 2017b). It can be said that the construction efforts are proceeding with the best intention practices of security, safety, and sustainability. The project planning and completion process involves the work of many professionals, including construction companies, transportation companies, and other types of highly specialized organizations, all of whom work on their own parts of the modernization effort. The fragmented nature of the project allows the LAWA to engage each part of the entire modernization effort at a reasonable pace, divide funds depending on urgency and complete a variety of project goals.
Comparing Project Development
Both projects have been designed to expand and improve the functionality of airports. The convenience of the end-user and a desire to enhance public security remain among the top concerns. Additionally, both projects faced strong opposition from the public, including concerns about cost, sustainability, and social impact. In terms of project planning, the Los Angeles airport redesign program largely focuses on the various tasks that are included in its 15$ billion plan, while the Heathrow airport expansion provides a clear pathway toward change.
Between the two, Heathrow makes its intentions, timeframes, and specific operations more transparent, giving the public a better understanding of the change strategy. In concerns of change sustainability, Heathrow also seems to have a significant advantage by already using renewable energy, recycled material, and other practices in its work (Heathrow Airport, n.d.). Los Angeles, on the other hand, currently works toward this goal. The former also makes it clear that the concerns of the public are heard, offering residents of Heathrow explanations on how the expansion effort will work to counteract its potential environmental risks. To give credit to the Los Angeles airport improvement, it has clearly been able to meet most of its set goals at the present time, slowly moving toward a full overhaul of the airport since 2009. In comparison, many of the major plans for Heathrow still remain in a theoretical stage of planning and pre-construction, making it difficult to see the actual, real-world costs of the improvement effort.
Pros and Cons of Projects
Heathrow
Pros:
- Clear and transparent planning efforts, with a 4-step change process
- Existing sustainability measures decrease the environmental impact of change
- Sustainability concerns of all kinds are addressed further, displaying care for the needs of the public
- Consultation offers room for feedback and further improvement
- Small scale project is easier to manage and fund
- Likely to improve UK’S position as a trade hub nation
Cons:
- No tangible progress has been made thus far
- Estimated costs are expected to balloon and affect the wellness of local residents
- Likely to produce noise and pollution for the local community, despite compensatory efforts (Peters, 2022)
Los Angeles
Pros:
- Project has been in development since 2009, making steady progress and improving
- The planning is divided into separate smaller projects, each of which is managed separately
- Many different experts are employed to assist in the modernization
- Contributes to national security with new and emergent technology
- Provides better business opportunities and travel options
Cons:
- Does not currently include all of the potential sustainability concerns
- Improvement is stretched over a large period of time, draining the budget and requiring extensive coordination to keep separate parts of the project as a unified project with specific goals
Best Practices
By examining both projects critically, it is possible to understand the issues and successes of their organization and formulate best practices for airport improvement projects. First, it is necessary to address the issue both projects ran into – public backlash. Despite having a well-established structure and a justification for change, both initiatives have been largely criticized for their effect on the local community or their potential to waste the customer’s money. In order to avoid public controversy and potentially protest, it is vital to have a strong reason for change, one that can be demonstrated to the public and backed up by research. In addition, it is necessary to help people understand that the change strategy takes environmental concerns into account and provides a working solution toward enforcing sustainability.
Sustainability plays a vital role in construction, allowing organizations to address the core concerns connected with developing new areas or producing value for their companies, including their influence on the surrounding area (Stanitsas, Kirytopoulos and Leopoulos, 2021). Such actions are capable of addressing backlash and helping organizations establish a better relationship with the public. In addition, the value of a master plan and clear improvement strategy should not be understated. Large-scale improvement must be planned in advance in order to properly allocate funds, design approaches, and start pre-construction, leaving no room for agile methods of management. Similar to the approach of the Heathrow airport, it is necessary to separate improvement into distinct phases. In order to evaluate the success of the expansion, then, specific metrics must be developed, with their own KPIs and other mechanisms for evaluating change.
Reference List
Heathrow Airport. (n.d.). Addressing carbon on the ground | Heathrow. Web.
Heathrow. (2019). Heathrow Expansion Consultation Document. Web.
LAWA (2017a). Facts About Modernizing LAX. LAWA. Web.
LAWA. (2017b). Sustainable Design & Construction Requirements. Web.
LRS Program Delivery, Inc. (2022). Program/Project Management Support Services to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). Web.
Peters, L. (2022). What’s The Latest With London Heathrow Airport’s Third Runway? Simple Flying. Web.
Santos, E. (2021). Analysis | Climate activists held the largest anti-airport protest in British history. Expect more worldwide. Washington Post. Web.
Simple Flying. (2019). IAG Continues Strong Criticism Of Heathrow Expansion. Web.
Smith, K. (2021). Airport workers, residents rally against LAX modernization plan. Daily News. Web.
Stanitsas, M., Kirytopoulos, K. and Leopoulos, V. (2021). Integrating sustainability indicators into project management: The case of construction industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, p.123774.