In 2012, ACRP published ACRP Report 59: Information Technology Systems at Airports—A Primer. Its primary purpose was to “Provide insights and advice to help airport executives and information technology (IT) professionals plan for and communicate about IT at airports.” As a primer, it attempts to holistically describe the technology landscape of an airport environment, but with the rapid advancements in technology and changes in resources, it has quickly become outdated. A full refresh of this document can act as a great baseline introduction of the technology aspects of our unique industry to new leaders from inside the industry as well as those who are being attracted from outside the industry. Airport leaders need to be equipped to address the integration of IT systems with other airport systems to enable better data sharing, process optimization, and decision-making in the airports they serve.

The objective of this research is to update ACRP Report 59: Information Technology Systems at Airports—A Primer and develop a guidebook and tool set that will aid U.S. airport operators in understanding, planning, communicating, and deploying advanced technologies.