The case for a design-led, end-user focused airport noise management process

Abstract

• There is a lack of guidance on the development of noise management actions. • This paper outlines six requirements of such a framework. • Design Thinking is introduced and its key characteristics highlighted. • A series of propositions are made as to how Design Thinking can aid noise managers. • The paper calls for research to extend these claims in case study settings. Designing and implementing noise management actions is complex, with research showing that airports tend to develop such actions in an inconsistent manner, rather than through robust processes based on a rich evidence base, and that aim to deliver targeted outcomes, through evaluable interventions. This article presents some key airport noise management challenges, and proposes that a framework to guide noise managers in the development of management actions may enhance their capacity to respond to noise management challenges. The paper presents the concept of Design Thinking, a popular user-centric and iterative problem-solving approach. We argue that Design Thinking can play a key role in guiding noise managers through a series of propositions that lay the ground for future research to provide airports with the best possible guidance with which to develop – and implement – effective noise management actions.