Thesis Abstract

ABSTRACT The Makurdi Airport Terminal Building project in Makurdi, Benue State, is a significant infrastructure development aimed at improving air travel services in the region. The project involves the construction of a modern and functional terminal building that will cater to the growing number of passengers using the airport. The new terminal building is designed to enhance passenger experience, increase operational efficiency, and provide a conducive environment for airline operations. The design of the terminal building incorporates state-of-the-art facilities and amenities to meet international standards and ensure passenger comfort and convenience. The layout of the building is carefully planned to optimize passenger flow, minimize congestion, and facilitate smooth operations. The terminal building will house check-in counters, security screening areas, departure lounges, retail outlets, and other essential facilities to meet the needs of passengers and airlines. In addition to the passenger terminal, the project includes the construction of supporting infrastructure such as access roads, parking facilities, and utilities to ensure seamless connectivity and operational efficiency. The airport apron and taxiway will be expanded and upgraded to accommodate a larger number of aircraft and improve turnaround times. The project also includes the installation of modern air navigation and communication systems to enhance safety and efficiency. The construction of the Makurdi Airport Terminal Building is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy by creating job opportunities, attracting investment, and promoting tourism and trade in the region. The improved airport facilities will also enhance connectivity and accessibility, benefiting both passengers and businesses operating in the area. The project aligns with the government's efforts to develop critical infrastructure and support economic growth and development in Benue State. Overall, the Makurdi Airport Terminal Building project represents a significant investment in the aviation sector and is expected to contribute to the growth and development of the region. By providing modern and efficient airport facilities, the project aims to enhance the overall travel experience, attract more airlines and passengers, and support economic activities in Makurdi and the surrounding areas.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTIONThe subject of airport passenger terminal building must involve a discussion of transportation.Transportation has remained one of the most vital factors that influence the development of a nation. The credibility of this statement has been proven over the centuries, that if one decides to take a critical look at earlier civilizations, from the time of early Egyptian civilization to the current civilized world, one will discover that many of the great feats achieved during these civilizations would have been impossible without one form of transportation or the other.By way of definition; transportation (or transport) is the movement of people, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles and operations. Transportation is important since it enables trade between people, which in turn establishes civilizations.Transport infrastructure consists of the fixed installations necessary for transport, including roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals and pipelines and terminals such as airports, railway stations, bus stations, warehouses, trucking terminals, refuelling depots (including fuelling docks and fuel stations) and seaports. Terminals may be used both for interchange of passengers and cargo and for maintenance.Vehicles travelling on these networks may include automobiles, bicycles, buses, trains, trucks, people, helicopters and aircraft. Operations deal with the way the vehicles are operated, and the procedures set for this purpose including financing, legalities and policies. In the transport industry, operations and ownership of infrastructure can be either public or private, depending on the country and mode.Transportation can be broadly classified under three broad groups thus:Land transportation;Water transportation; and Air transportation.Land transportation is the most common and dates back to the beginning of civilization. Land transportation can take various forms, which are dependent on the sophistication, stage of civilization and development, and on the technical stratum of the society in question. It can be by the use of animals (camels, mules, horses, dogs, etc.) or by use of machines such as wheelbarrows, carts, cars etc.Similarly, water transportation dates back a long time as humanity can recall. Water transportation, as land transportation, has also been developed in complexity, technical superiority, and usage.Air transportation has its origin in the 20th century. The superiority of air transport over the rest can be attributed the reason behind its progressive growth and preference as the safest modern mode of transportation.1.1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECTThe airpot terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from the aircraft. Within the terminal, passengers purchase tickets, transfer their luggage, and go through security. The buildings that provide access to the airplanes (via gates) are typically called concoures. However, the terms terminals and concourses are used interchangably, depending on the configuration of the airport.Smaller airports have one terminal while larger airports have several terminals and/or concourses. At small airports, the single terminal building typically serves all of the functions of a terminal and a concourse. Some larger airports have one terminal that is connected to multiple concourses via walkways, sky-bridges, or underground tunnels (such as Denver International Airport). Some larger airports have more than one terminal, each with one or more concourses (such as New York‟s John F. Kennedy Airport). Still other larger airports have multiple terminals each of which incorporate the functions of a concourse (such as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport).According to Frommers, most airport terminals are built in a plain style, with the concrete boxes of the 1960s and ‟70s generally gave way to glass boxes in the ‟90s and ‟00s, with the best terminals making a vague stab at incorporating ideas of light and air. However, some, such asBaghdad International Airport, are monumental in stature, while others are considered architectural masterpieces, such as Terminal 1 at Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris or Terminal 5 at New York‟s John F. Kennedy Airport. A few are designed to reflect the culture of a particular area, some examples being the terminal at Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, which is designed in the Pueblo Revival Style popularized by architect John Gaw Meem, as well as the one at Bahiasde Huatulco International Airport in Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico, which features some palapas that are interconnected to form the airport terminal building.