The Effect of Airports on the Environment - Assignment Example

The Effect of Airports on the Environment Introduction In the modern world airport is a very vital thing facilitate flight transportation. Travel and tourism are increasing day by day. So airports are having huge expansion and development. This expansion and development benefits flight transportation and flight operations. But it creates a negative impact on environment. Various issues and problems and issues arise for airport establishment and development which has a negative impact on environment. Different countries are very much concerned about the environment and the factors creating bad impact on it. Various measures are taken by the countries for reducing environmental damages. In this case study many issues of airport are highlighted which have strong impact on environment. Different types of pollution have increased for flight operation in airports. Some major types of pollution like air, noise, water and landscaper are discussed in details in this case. For these types of pollutions human being and animals have to face many environmental challenges. Negative impact of airport on environment can reduce the growth and expansion of airport. Climate change is also an effect of airport. For establishing an airport huge amount of land is required. Therefore deforestation of land is also done for establishing airport. In this case study various advantages and disadvantages of airport are also mentioned. Air pollution Airport operational activities affect the air quality. Emission of harmful gases pollutes surrounding environment of airport. Air pollution from airport is generated from its various sources. Fuel used in aviation produces huge amount of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide etc which are harmful towards environment. Sometimes not burnt kerosene is released in airport form engine of flights. A bad order rises from this which pollutes the air. In many cases the tires of aircrafts get burnt or worn during flight take off and landing. A particular matter is released from it which hampers air balance (Lenzen, Murray, Korte and Dey, 2003). For managing airport operations vehicles needs to travel within airport for operating different ground services. These vehicles release high amount of CO2 and ozone gas. It creates a very negative impact on environment. Airports have many fuel storage tanks which lead to the emission of VOCs. Different training program are conducted within the complex of airport for dealing emergency situation and fire. This training program can also release different harmful gases. Development and construction of airport emits huge amount of dust which pollutes the surrounding atmosphere (Hygge, Evans and Bullinger, 2002). All of these factors pollutes the environment and creates a negative impact on animal, people and plant. Stationary sources of airport like space heaters, emergency generator, boilers. Engine testing of aircraft generates a significant amount of polluting gas. Different types of operational activities in airport increases air pollution. Noise pollution Noise in airport is majorly caused by aircrafts. Huge amount of noise is created by flights. This causes a negative impact on quality of life and surrounding community present near the airport. Authority of airport tried to reduce its noise pollution by implementing different measures. But still then huge amount of noise pollution is caused by airport. The most significant cause of noise pollution in airport is its different flights. Noise from aircraft is generated by its airframe and engines during its landing and take of time (Hui, Chau, Pun and Law, 2007). Other type of noise sources in airport are generated from reverse thrust of aircraft and taxing aircraft, vehicle traffic, engine test etc. A huge amount of noise is also created by construction taking place in airport for its development. There are many negative effects caused by noise pollution of airport. People face loss of concentration for high level of noise pollution. People residing near to airport experience sleeping disturbance for aircrafts sound. Number of aircrafts is increasing day by day. As a result level of noise pollution is increasing in the recent times for airport and its operational activities (Evans, 2003). Different heavy machineries are used in airport which also creates a large amount of noise. Noise pollution of airport also affects the health of the children. Their development process is hampered by this environmental pollution. Noise pollution leads to the rise blood pressure level of people. It also damages different activities of nervous system. Landscape and visual impacts Airport establishment and development has a negative impact on landscape. For establishing airport huge amount of land is required. All the trees and other things present in that land are removed and cleared. Huge buildings for airport are constructed by replacing those tress and hedges. Huge construction works are done for establishing airport which damages the visual beauty of that place. Runways are made in airport for aircrafts landing and take offs. Lights of terminals, runways increase the level of light pollution (Nelson, 2004). Airport’s negative impact on landscape affect the environment is many ways. It damages the geology of a place. Drainage system of that particular area is hampered by airport development. Land used for airport construction gets highly damaged by its construction process. Airport related development sometimes change the overall view of a place. It creates problem in maintaining natural beauty of a place. Change of the landscape view creates an impact people. The developments of airport have a particular visual intrusion (Wiebusch, 2014). The people living closer to airport observe the development or change in landscape much closely. They experience a greater visual impact. Effects of landscape and visual impact changes with time. When the construction of airport gets over the hoardings and different other things related to construction are put down. It changes the landscape view. The airport authority is taking different measures to reduce negative impacts on its surrounding landscape. Water pollution Aircraft, airport and developments related to airport have a negative impact on water and maintaining water balance. For constructing airport different building different buildings are developed for which large amount of water is used. The construction process also affects the water bodies which are present close to airport. Water is taken from ponds and streams with the help of machine. Sometimes water is also extracted from under the soil. As a result the water level of that particular area decreases (Graham, 2008). Different chemical and toxic materials are used in the runway of airport. When rainwater falls on runway get mix with these chemical and toxic materials. The rainwater flows to drain or other water bodies which are present nearby airport. As a result the water bodies get polluted by those toxic material and chemicals. Different pollutant like not burnt fuel, painting chemical and other materials mixes with rainwater which creates environmental damages. Ground water of airport also gets contaminated by different polluting elements released from airport. Water waste of airport is disposed into sewage treatment plant. Sometimes these plants do not have the capacity to accumulate such large amount of water. Then the water is disposed on an empty land which creates environmental damages. Airport authority has implemented different measures to reduce water pollutions by expanding its infiltration system, improving its water disposal system etc. Biodiversity impact Airport has a strong impact on animals and plants. Construction and development of airport plays a vital role in reducing number of birds and animals. Different forest and trees are cut down for airport development and construction. Therefore airports are built by destroying habitats of animals and plants. For this reason animals face difficulties in getting their food and shelter. A large number of animals are forced to move in different areas for airport development. Habitants’ degradation occurs for this purpose. It hampers the balance of nature. This creates a negative impact on environment. Many types of vegetations are cleared for establishing airport. As a result soil quality is damaged and much vegetation becomes extinct. The animals residing near airport are often hit by aircrafts and cars (Stansfeld and Matheson, 2003). Birds flying near airport often strike with aircrafts during its landing and take of time and dies. This reduces the number of birds. Sometimes bird becomes a very problematic factor for airport to perform its different functions. Gas and chemicals released from airport also affects the life and health of many animals. They are affected by different types of pollutions caused by airport. To control death of birds airport authority of many countries has creates a zone to safeguard birds. Airport authority faces a major problem protecting animals and bird population and safeguarding aircrafts. Climate change To some extent airport is also responsible for climate change. Different activities and function of airport releases a large amount of CO2, NOx, methane etc. All of these gases influence a rise in temperature. Sunlight heats up the surface of the earth. Heat of the earth surface partly gets radiated and absorbed in atmosphere. Rest amount of heat is accumulated in atmosphere. Higher amount of heat concentrated in atmosphere leads to higher temperature. Climate change affects activities of airport. It creates problem in aircrafts arrival and departures. Greenhouse gases of airport are released by three main sources. One of the main sources of it is flights. Huge amount of gases are released by flights. Airport and its surrounding area get polluted by these gases. It creates a huge impact on global warming. Fuel combustion process also releases water vapor for which climate changes takes place. Large amount of deforestation takes place for constructing airport. As a result an adverse effect is established on environment. Trees help to prevent climate change by absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen. But cutting off of trees leads to damaging environmental balance of maintaining different levels of gases in air. This is a vital cause of climate change. For availing flight services large number of vehicles comes to airport which releases greenhouse gases. Inside the airport many vehicles are used to for providing different service to the passengers. These vehicles also cause pollution which is responsible for climate change. Heritage Heritage is a cultural asset of a place. Sometimes for developing airport different cultural assets of a country is hampered. Heritage site includes different famous or old buildings, parks, old village, cemeteries, canals and bridge etc which have historical or some other importance. Airport creates a bad impact on different cultural sites. Sometime airport is constructed over an historical place for facilitating passengers. If a historical place is located adjacent to airport then it loses its charm for high traffic and other issues related to airport. Different types of pollution causes by airport damages the beauty of heritage places. Structure of heritage building is affected by the vibration caused by aircrafts. Road traffic of airport also affects nearby heritage places very badly. Air pollution caused by airport damages the building materials of historical places at a faster rate. It also cause damages to landscape and plantation associated with these places. Erosion process of cultural buildings and places becomes faster for environmental damages caused by airport. Heritage sites are very important for a country for depicting its cultural richness. Different measures are taken by government and also the airport authority for protecting these places from negative effects of airport. Land takes Land takes mean new land required or used of developing a project. For establishing airport huge amount of land is required. As a result loss of land takes place. The lands which are used to develop airport can be effectively used for developing housing community, different facilities which could have helped local people. Many agricultural lands are used for establishing airport which hampers the vegetation of that that area. Therefore loss of agricultural land lowers food supply. Different rural issues develop for this purpose. Sometimes for establishing airport many rural communities have to move to different places and had to leave their original residence. Loss of local communities damages the cultural balance of a place. Traffic Establishing airport often leads to increase traffic congestion of surrounding area of airport. It also increases pollution of that region. While constructing airport works involved in constructing airport have to go to the construction site regularly which increases traffic congestion. Other types of vehicles like cargo or freight service are also involved in airport operations. Before the arrival and departure of flights these vehicles come to the airport which increases traffic of surrounding area. Travelers also arrive in airport by cars or buses. It leads to increase traffic pressure of that particular area. Additional traffic is created in airport region by fuel Lorries, buses, tugs etc. This huge traffic pressure causes many types of environmental problem. Many accidents are also caused in surrounding area of airport for traffic pressure. Huge amount of traffic congestion increases pollution level of that region for which people and animals life get hampered. Benefits Airport is very beneficial to the people who travel different places of the world. Airport provides the services of aircrafts which help the passengers to go to various places within a short span of time. Airport provides economic and employment benefits to a large number of people. For developing an airport huge amount of people is required for performing different functions. Employment generated in airport creates a good impact on economic condition of a country. Every year a large number of jobs are created in airport. Economic development of a country leads to its industrial development. As a result the standard of living of the people rises. A huge number of travelers or foreigners come to different countries which increases foreign currency stock of countries. Establishing airport influences the growth and development of that particular place. People working in airport reside near to it. As a result residential area developed near airport. This residential area is characterized with people of different community and religion. It helps to create communal harmony. Resident of a country is benefited by easy and improved access to different overseas countries. Airport helps to provide effective transportation service. Many airlines company are also benefited by airport. Large and developed airport provides them the facilities of operating their flight operations efficiently. Development of airport brings many wealthy people to the countries which influences growth of countries. Conclusion Airport is a major platform which facilitates aircraft services. But construction and development of airport creates huge environmental damages. With the increase of globalization large number of people travel to different places by flights which influences growth and development of airport. As a result negative effects of airport increase with increase of flights services. Huge amount of air pollution is caused by different functions and activities of airport. Various environmental problems and issues arise from this. Many greenhouse gases are released from airport which pollutes the nature. Chemical and toxic products are also disposed from airport. These materials pollute water and soil of the region nearby of airport. Some other major types of pollution are caused by airport which endangers the life of different animals and plants. Establishment of airport is done by deforesting lands. Its leads to cause climate change. Release of various greenhouse gases also causes climate change. Environment is negatively impacted by this. Huge noise pollution is caused by airport during flight landing and takeoff. It hampers the life and health of people residing near airport. Different vehicles are used within the airport premise which also causes pollution. Different heritage and cultural sites are also damaged for airport. Landscape and natural beauty of a place get hamper by negative effects of airport. References Evans, G. W. (2003). The built environment and mental health. Journal of Urban Health. pp. 80(4), 536-555. Graham, A. (2008). Managing Airports. New York: Routledge. Hui, E. C., Chau, C. K., Pun, L., and Law, M. Y. (2007). Measuring the neighboring and environmental effects on residential property value: Using spatial weighting matrix. Building and environment. 42(6). pp. 2333-2343. Hygge, S., Evans, G. W., and Bullinger, M. (2002). A prospective study of some effects of aircraft noise on cognitive performance in schoolchildren. Psychological Science. 13(5). pp.469-474. Lenzen, M., Murray, S. A., Korte, B., and Dey, C. J. (2003). Environmental impact assessment including indirect effects—a case study using input–output analysis. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 23(3). pp. 263-282. Nelson, J. P. (2004). Meta-analysis of airport noise and hedonic property values. Journal of Transport Economics and Policy. 38(1). pp. 1-27. Stansfeld, S. A., and Matheson, M. P. (2003). Noise pollution: non-auditory effects on health. British medical bulletin. 68(1). pp. 243-257. Wiebusch, T. (2014). Effects of Airports on the Society: How Frankfurt Airport can meet its Regional Social Responsibility and yet Promote core Interests. Munchi: GRIN Verlag. Read More