The W Life Cycle Model - San Francisco Airport Case Study

This chapter addresses the introduction of sustainable life cycle management in aviation, which is a critical gap in current literature. It draws on the critical research gap to build a theoretical framework and qualitative discussion to further its application in aviation operations and to evaluate how systems engineering architectures will help mitigate life cycle emissions. In order to show the general applicability of the W model, the chapter considers the case of one of the world’s most environmentally friendly airports - San Francisco (SFO). SFO International has made significant investments in infrastructure revitalization. This is a crucial step towards meeting industry emission targets, as existing infrastructure will be rendered somewhat inadequate in a carbon-neutral future. The life cycle inventory has been implemented successfully into the W model, highlighting the model’s adaptability to assess both the direct and indirect carbon footprint of a system.