Trails of Wind
The architecture of airport runways
Date
May 14th 2019
By
Figures
Tag
#trailsofwind
The lines on the map display the orientation of all airport runways in color gradients from north-south axis (blue) to east-west axis (yellow).
We humans have mastered the ability to adjust to our environments. The mark we leave on earth is more substantial and lingering than that of any other living being. But when we inspect the larger picture, we find an undeniable tendency for natural conditions to guide the human path.
Nature’s influence is reflected in the way we grow food, travel the world and build cities. This truth extends to a point where invisible forces become visible only through their representations.
Airport
DFW
Passengers
69.1m
Runways
7
Air travel has been in existence for over one hundred years, the average calendar day offering flight to roughly eight million passengers worldwide. Since its inception, thousands of airports have been built – each one of them designed site specifically, and according to landscape and natural conditions.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is one of the most frequented airports in the world and has, regarding the prevailing winds, a clear north-south orientation.
Runways generally point in the wind direction, as aircraft take off and land more easily upwind. The designation of these is based on their respective alignment angles.
Global Runway Alignment
The length of each line shows the frequency of runways in the respective angle. Most runways are aligned on the north-south axis.
That rule is not man made, but based on physical laws – the rules apply to a jumbo jet the same way they apply to a propeller plane. They work for a small island airport as well as for multi runway airports.
Winds circulate around the globe, forming patterns of gigantic proportions. These patterns become part of human culture and are reflected in our architecture. They are hidden designs, mapping the complexion of the earth, which we can uncover. By orienting on the direction of general winds, airports recreate wind patterns, forming a representation of a global wind map with steel and stone, thus making the invisible visible.
As much as we like to think of ourselves as the makers of our own world, we maintain a dependence on the laws of physics and nature. Without even knowing it, we inevitably create an image of the world in our culture and ourselves. The beauty and authority of our planet extend farther than we think.
Text
Sascha Collet
Research & Data Analysis
David Elsche, Steffen Hänsch
Design
David Elsche
Development
Steffen Hänsch
Data Sources
http://ourairports.com/data
Figures assumes no liability for the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the data provided.
© Figures CC 2019
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