The operational phase of an airport causes several environmental impacts, especially related to air quality and noise pollution. These effects can reach areas several kilometers away from the site, depending on factors such as weather conditions, topography, the number and frequency of flights, and the type of emission sources, both fixed and mobile, within the airport facilities (ICAO, 2023).

This research focuses on analyzing the technical and digital tools available to assess the environmental impact of airport activities, using the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) as a case study.

According to the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program from the Airports Council International (ACI Europe, 2025), the main sources of emissions in airport operations include both direct emissions—such as energy use in buildings and equipment—and indirect emissions from aircraft operations (takeoff, taxiing, climb, approach, and landing), ground vehicle traffic, cargo activities, ground support equipment (GSE), contracted services, and waste and water management. These sources release pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and they also significantly contribute to noise pollution in nearby areas (ICAO, 2022).

The methodology involved a technical review of literature, regulations, and case studies from both national and international airports. Different tools were identified for evaluating environmental impacts. Among the qualitative methods were checklists, cause-effect diagrams, decision trees, and impact networks. Semi-quantitative and quantitative tools included matrices such as Leopold (Ponce, n.d.), Key Sensitivity Indicators Matrix (KSIM), Geographic Sensitivity Indicators Matrix (GSIM), and the Integrated System for Environmental Impact Review and Regulation (IIASA, 2008), which help prioritize impacts based on their magnitude and importance. Satellite images, aerial photographs, and field inspections were also considered.

A key tool identified in recent studies was the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT), developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, 2025). AEDT allows users to calculate air emissions and simulate the spread of pollutants and noise levels using real operational data, aircraft configurations, and weather conditions. Its results can be integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS), helping visualize the environmental impact across space and overlay it with layers such as infrastructure, land use, vegetation, populated areas, and transportation routes (Esri, n.d.).

For this study, the GIS analysis included geospatial data from AIFA, environmental conditions, land use, vegetation, and population distribution within a 15-kilometer radius. This integration helped identify cumulative, synergistic, direct, and indirect impacts (Aspectum, n.d.).

Therefore, combining AEDT with GIS offers a powerful and specialized approach for environmental assessments in airports. It supports compliance with standards like Annex 16 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, 2023) and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (ACI Europe, 2025) by providing a reliable technical basis for mitigation strategies, urban planning, land management, and environmental protection.

Additionally, guidance documents such as the ICAO Environmental Management Systems for Airports support the implementation of long-term sustainable practices in airport planning and operation (ICAO, n.d.-b). Also, tools like NOAA’s Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps provide complementary spatial information useful for airport-area assessments (NOAA, n.d.).

Referencias

ACI Europe, 2025. Airport Carbon Accreditation Program. Available at: https://www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org

Aspectum, n.d. GIS for Environmental Impact Analysis. Available at: https://aspectum.com/gis-for-environmental-impact-analysis/

Esri, n.d. Aviation Sustainability & Environment Using GIS. Available at: https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/aviation/strategies/environmental

FAA, 2025. Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) Version 2d. Available at: https://aedt.faa.gov

ICAO, 2022. ICAO Environmental Report 2022, Annex 16 Vol. II. International Civil Aviation Organization.

ICAO, 2023. Annex 16: Environmental Protection – Volumes I-III. International Civil Aviation Organization.

ICAO, n.d.-b. Environmental Management Systems for Airports. Available at: https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Documents/EMS_at_Airports.pdf

IIASA, 2008. Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Available at: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/823/

NOAA, n.d. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps and Data. Available at: https://response.restoration.noaa.gov

Ponce, V.M., n.d. The Leopold Matrix. Available at: https://ponce.sdsu.edu/the_leopold_matrix.html

Wang, Y., de Vries, W.T., and Zhao, X., 2017. Mapping environmental sensitivity: A systematic online approach to support environmental assessments. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev., 67, pp. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2017.07.001

Airports Council International, 2025. Airports Responding to Climate Change. Available at: https://www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org