BANDUNG, May 16 (EngineeringDaily) -- In Central Java, it turns out that “going green” is more than just recycling cans and plastic bottles. Plans have been drawn up to expand and upgrade Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central Java province, into a bigger airport that will not only be efficient and energy-saving but also take into account the preservation of the surrounding areas, including the beach, the soil and the water.

The head of the Central Java provincial Transportation, Communication and Informatics Agency, Urip Sihabudin, said the redesign was partly motivated by the airport’s location in the coastal area of Maron Beach in West Semarang district, which is prone to flooding and abrasion. The new design will combat the forces of natural erosion while also reducing the airport’s negative impact on the neighboring environment.

According to Sihabudin, in order to preserve the ecosystem, ponds already in existence around the airport compound will continue to be maintained. Mangroves will be planted along the coastline to deal with abrasion. To help conserve water, the airport will use recycled water rather than groundwater for all of its plumbing needs.

The airport terminals will also use transparent glass roofing to let in as much sunlight as possible and thus conserve the electricity needed to illuminate the indoor areas of the airport during daylight hours. “We’ve designed the airport to be operational for a long time. That’s why we feel that going green is a must,” Sihabudin said.

The project will be jointly conducted by the provincial administration and state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I. This USD 130 million project, Sihabudin explained, has been scheduled to be completed in the next two years.
The present Ahmad Yani Airport was built to accommodate only 800,000 passengers annually, but it currently handles up to 2 million passengers every year. After the planned improvements, the airport could handle up to 4 million passengers annually and will be able to accommodate airplane and cargo until 20-30 years in the future.

There are four planned stages to the building of the new airport. The first stage, which at this time has nearly reached completion, is the preparation of the surrounding land for the new building and the construction of road access for the future site. The total price tag for this phase is around USD 30 million.

The second phase will focus on the development of a new 40,900 square meter terminal, worth USD 65 million. Next will be the development of support facilities and the implementation of the many conservation efforts listed previously. This stage will cost approximately USD 10 million.

Finally, for the last step in the reconstruction, the apron and taxi areas of the airport will be expanded into two sections of 61,344 and 72,522 square meters each. This process will be the most time-consuming and costly, with a projected cost of USD 25 million.

Though the final price may seem a bit steep, it is hoped that the many changes to the airport will ultimately result in long term benefits through both the increased capacity and the reduced environmental impact of the facility. If the gamble should succeed, it seems likely that more “green” buildings will start appearing across the globe.

By Ismail Al Anshori