Zürich Airport Extension Project: Digital Support for Earthwork Construction

Abstract

The expansion of Zurich Airport is one of the major projects to adapt public transport infrastructure in Switzerland to future requirements. Zurich Airport is not among Europe’s biggest airports (currently number 7 in terms of movements and number 10 in terms of passengers), but aims at remaining a leading airport in terms of quality, passenger satisfaction and also concerning environmental aspects. Major facility development will help to overcome existing bottlenecks and to cope with future demands. The latest forecasts for Zurich Airport estimate that the volume of traffic handled at the airport will have risen to 34 million passengers and 380’000 movements in 2010. Compared to traffic numbers in 2000, the growth rate is 50 per cent in terms of passengers. Construction activities for the 5 expansion phase take place over almost the entire airport area. And this will take place at an airport already operating beyond its capacity limit. Due to the delays in the legal and concession procedures, realization of the new facilities has become more and more urgent. A very precise phasing-in, including close coordination with the operating requirements, is essential in this case. For a high speed construction process, the contractors use highly sophisticated, modern technical equipment (e.g. GPS, Global Positioning System, for exact excavation or pavement). Main challenge will be to complete this extension within the tight schedule, without interference between construction activities and the airport operation and last but certainly not least, without fatalities.