Life-cycle cost analysis of a short-haul underground freight transportation system for the DFW Airport
Built Environment Project and Asset Management
ISSN: 2044-124X
Article publication date: 31 May 2019
Issue publication date: 5 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct life-cycle cost analysis of a short-haul underground freight transportation (UFT) system for the Dallas Fort Worth international airport.
Design/methodology/approach
The research approach includes: identifying the cost components of the proposed airport UFT system; estimating life-cycle cost (LCC) of system components using various methods; determining life-cycle cash flows; evaluating the reliability of the results using sensitivity analysis; and assessing the validity of the results using analogues cases.
Findings
Although the capital cost of constructing an airport UFT system seems to be the largest cost of such innovative projects, annual costs for running the system are more significant, taking a life-cycle perspective. System administrative cost, tunnel operation and maintenance, and tunnel construction cost are the principle cost components of the UFT system representing approximately 46, 24 and 19 percent of the total LCC, respectively. The shipping cost is estimated to be $4.14 per ton-mile. Although this cost is more than the cost of transporting cargos by trucks, the implementation of UFT systems could be financially justified considering their numerous benefits.
Originality/value
This paper, for the first time, helps capital planners understand the LCC of an airport UFT system with no or limited past experience, and to consider such innovative solutions to address airport congestion issues.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was conducted under a grant from the North Central Council of Government (NCTCOG) and conducted by the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Texas at Arlington. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, and the contents do not necessarily reflect the official view of NCTCOG. The authors acknowledge and appreciate NCTCOG’s guidance and funding.
Citation
Zahed, S.E., Shahooei, S., Farooghi, F., Shahandashti, M. and Ardekani, S. (2019), "Life-cycle cost analysis of a short-haul underground freight transportation system for the DFW Airport", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 440-456. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2018-0125
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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