Email Updates RSS
Search
Author Robert Fisher discusses possibilities for improving the manufacturing sector

Aerotropolises and a Renaissance in American Manufacturing

By IGI Global on May 14, 2015
Handbook of Research on Seismic Assessment and Rehabilitation of Historic StructuresContributed by Robert Leslie Fisher (Independent Scholar, USA)

If the United States is to overcome its problems of chronic unemployment, huge trade deficits with such countries as China, and the loss of critical skills in manufacturing, then one of the best ways to accomplish these goals is to improve its competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. One overlooked way to do this is to increase investment in the national transportation infrastructure, and a promising strategy for maximizing the productivity gains through infrastructure improvements is to construct aerotropolises.

Aerotropolises are planned cities surrounding an international hub airport. The key concept is an international hub airport, an airport that can accommodate the largest planes currently flying or on the drawing boards. Such planes when configured for air freight can carry sufficiently large loads that the combination of their speed relative to sea transport and their load capacity in tons permits profitable operation at shipper costs for numerous products comparable to those of shipping by ocean going vessels. For example, instead of relying on "banana boats" to carry fruit, refrigerator ships for fresh fish, or ocean going containerships to send expensive electronics, shippers could rely on huge airplanes to deliver the same goods to distant markets at comparable cost.

Though few airports can now handle the largest freight planes they already exist in China, Korea, and the Netherlands. Further, China and India have ambitious plans to build more of them to strengthen their competitiveness in the manufacturing sector or services sectors of their economies. In the United States we have a few airports that qualify as aerotropolises - Atlanta, Detroit, and Houston for example - but we need more to improve our manufacturing sector's competitiveness, especially in the Northeast and the far West, both of which currently lack any airport that would qualify as an aerotropolis.

Aerotropolises located in the right areas can greatly assist a number of industries to maintain or enhance their competitiveness. According to Kasarda and Lindsay in their seminal book, Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next (2011), high tech industry especially benefits from access to an aerotropolis. I have also urged constructing an aerotropolis in Syracuse, New York in my local daily newspaper as a strong recruiting tool for higher educational institutions in Albany and points west. The group of notable science and engineering universities have a continuous need to recruit scientists and engineers and their work requires them to travel to distant points to "seal the deal" on major research and other projects. Both the Northeast and the West Coast, each of which is a center for research and teaching, would therefore greatly benefit by having an aerotropolis nearby.

Since research presages the development of new forms of industry anything that improves the quality and productivity of researchers is a major key to a renaissance in American manufacturing. Supremacy in the basic industries of steel or car manufacture is not likely to be the driver of a manufacturing renaissance nor of economic supremacy in the future. More likely the growth industries will be in such things as nanoscale products now being created in the laboratories of the Albany, New York based College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering or the new pharmaceuticals that are coming out of laboratories all over the world to combat serious illnesses or prevent these illnesses before they strike down human or other victims. These sorts of industries depend upon aerotropolises. To cite just one graphic example, suppose an outbreak of the Ebola virus appears in Russia or Tanzania. The public health officers of these respective countries have a choice of acquiring the vaccines or therapeutics from two manufacturers, one of whom must first truck their product for several hours to a suitable airport and the other which is located right at a huge international airport. Who will get the nod for producing the necessary medicine (all else being equal)?

Aerotropolises seem on the surface to be such a great idea it is a wonder they have not been built in great numbers. Then why are they still so rare? Diverse reasons exist for this. First, it takes a lot of land for an aerotropolis since these are huge projects both in terms of land requirements and upfront costs in the billions of dollars. Also, political considerations enter as well.

An interesting example of how politics affect locating these projects might be the case of the new international airport for London, England. London already has a number of airports, each of which is clamoring to be the new international airport. Heathrow, already at full capacity, is currently favored to be greatly expanded if the latest government plans are implemented. However, Gatwick, South of London, remains a contender while Stanstead, North of London, also has its fans. And Birmingham, now at least seventy minutes away by fastest train, is a dark horse.

From the standpoint of purely technical criteria, Birmingham has the most going for it. A high speed rail line under construction will bring Birmingham center to within fifty minutes by fastest train from London’s Euston Station. Birmingham sits within one hour's journey time of forty million people in the United Kingdom and land for an aerotropolis there is much cheaper than land closer to London. But would a government beholden to London bankers readily embrace a Birmingham aerotropolis? It does not appear likely at this point, although increasing vocal opposition from residents near Heathrow to any expansion of air service could scuttle the plans to build there.

The politics impeding development of aerotroplises in the northeastern United States and western United States differ from that in the United Kingdom. To begin with, London badly needs new airport capacity right now and that will increase even more in the near future. Neither the northeastern United States nor the western United States has such a dire immediate need. This does not diminish the benefits of such aerotropolises but the daunting prospect of bearing enormous costs and the accompanying sacrifices to be endured elsewhere fosters a tendency to defer any decision until the last minute. Keep in mind not only must the aerotropolises compete with other transportation projects in their respective regions - e.g., bridge and road projects that are essential in New York City's suburbs - but they must compete with strident demands coming from powerful voices within Congress. The aerotropolises projects are also easy targets because their benefits are mostly indirect for the country at large and many people see no reason to invest in a hugely expensive airport project now when the benefits will not be apparent for years, perhaps a decade or more.


Mr. Fisher has published extensively on the subjects of sociology of science and medicine including "Making Science Fair" (2007); Invisible Student Scientists (2014); and chapters (with J. Fisher) on medical diagnosis in John Wang’s publication, Encyclopedia of Business Analytics and Optimization (5 Volumes). Before retiring in 2003, he was a criminal justice planner for New York State where he worked on transportation issues for the New York State Department of Correctional Services including a management information system for its bus fleet and other issues related to efficient operation of its transportation vehicles. Mr. Fisher has a graduate degree in Sociology from Columbia University as well as a bachelor's degree from City College of New York (cum laude).

The Encyclopedia of Business Analytics and Optimization confronts the challenges of information retrieval in the age of Big Data by exploring recent advances in the areas of knowledge management, data visualization, interdisciplinary communication, and others. Through its critical approach and practical application, this book will be a must-have reference for any professional, leader, analyst, or manager interested in making the most of the knowledge resources at their disposal. For more information on this comprehensive reference source, visit the Encyclopedia of Business Analytics and Optimization web site.
Browse for more posts in:
Business and ManagementBusiness Information SystemsBusiness IntelligenceBusiness Process ManagementBooks & E-BooksNorth AmericaAuthor NewsResources for InstructorsResources for LibrariansResources for Researchers

No comments Comments

Log in or sign up to comment.
Be the first to comment!

More from IGI Global

Apr 18, 2024 Uniting Nations with Multinational Electronic Health Records to Stop Lassa Fever's Pandemic Threat!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for containment measures.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesHealthcare Information SystemsBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 16, 2024 IGI Global Announces the 2024 Journal Reviewers Award Winners
IGI Global congratulates the winners of this year's Journal Reviewer Award
IGI GlobalRead More
JournalsAwards & RecognitionOpen Access
Apr 15, 2024 What Defines Authorship and Who Should Be Included in a Manuscript’s Byline?
For decades, academic publishing has been plagued with discrepancies surrounding authorship of scholarly research...
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAcquisitions
Apr 15, 2024 Doody’s Selects IGI Global Books for Special Topics List
Two IGI Global publications have been recognized by Doody's for their excellence and niche topic focus.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesMedia and CommunicationsBooks & E-BooksAwards & Recognition
Apr 11, 2024 Technology is Making Disparities Worse
Digital Inclusion Week underscored the urgent need for a national digital equity plan in the US due to disparities in internet access and digital skills.
IGI GlobalRead More
Apr 8, 2024 Nearly 90% of IGI Global’s Frontlist Books Now Indexed in Scopus
The majority of IGI Global's books Frontlist is now indexed by Scopus. Learn what this prestigious recognition means for the publisher and the experts behind these books.
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAwards & RecognitionReviews & Indexing
Apr 4, 2024 Navigating Neglected Maintenance and Safety Risks of Flight Travel
A United Airlines Flight 837 bound for Tokyo from San Francisco could not take off due to a mechanical issue.
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologyScience & EngineeringHospitality, Travel & Tourism ManagementAerospace EngineeringBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 3, 2024 Introducing the New IGI Book Topic Brochures
IGI Global is excited to introduce a new initiative to provide detailed insights into various fascinating subjects. Our brochures offer a comprehensive overview of timely publications covering the latest research topics...
IGI GlobalRead More
EducationBusiness and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologySocial Sciences and HumanitiesBooks & E-Books
Apr 3, 2024 Interview with a Global Guru in Education
Hear from Dr. Velliaris, who was voted as a Top 30 Global Guru in Education.
EducationBooks & E-BooksInterviewAuthor News
Mar 29, 2024 Cocoa Prices Skyrocket
Cocoa prices surging to $10,000 per metric ton challenge chocolate manufacturers and consumers, risking supply chain stability and higher retail prices...
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementEnvironmental, Agricultural, and Physical SciencesSustainable DevelopmentBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  ... Next Last