Heavy burdens are placed on runways daily; thus, it is necessary to monitor these surfaces regularly. The appearance of distortions can cause difficulties for aircraft when they land or take off, which occurs mainly for lighter planes. This can be seen in reduced grip, uneven use of tires, problems with measurement systems, and unbalanced drive, which can result in damage to or even destruction of the plane or its parts. For that purpose, the model of continuous monitoring of distortions on and under the surface of the runway was created. This model is based on geodetic and geophysical methods. The method for monitoring distortions was developed into a decision-making model in the shape of a geo-information base. The results provide an image of the state of the runway including damage on and under the surface, which are the most common causes of runway distortions. The data are automatically recorded in the newly established information system, which supports the decision making regarding renovations and runway maintenance. The measurement on the runway takes 30 min, which does not lead to a long closure of the airport and, thus, reduces traffic jams and additional costs.

Airport runways are exposed to large traffic loads and other external factors which cause their transformation. Monitoring the state of the unevenness and determining the runway defectiveness is a complex procedure which includes fast and qualitative measurements of the execution of flatness, their evaluation and the determination of the level of runway defectiveness. For this purpose, an improved process of determining airport runway defectiveness is proposed, based on geodetic survey and the management information system prototype, which enables evaluating the results of the executed survey and suggesting the runway maintenance measures. A similar analysis of the considered data on the example of a smaller, regional airport in Maribor, Slovenia, was performed with the help of our own algorithm, which, on various platforms, enables the tabular and graphical display of surface irregularities. The algorithm prototype allows the automated monitoring and evaluating of the unevenness or runway states, determining their defectiveness and advising adequate action. With the help of the suggested method and developed information system prototypes, it is possible to confirm the demand for professionally adequate and on-time planning of necessary maintenance works, with which it is surely possible to prevent an eventual unexpected closing of the runway and related costs. The suggested method is also usable in evaluating the state of other traffic infrastructure.

Runways are exposed to significant burdens and other external factors that cause their deformation. Monitoring runway deformities and determining the resulting damage is a complicated procedure which requires a rapid and accurate assessment of these deformities and evaluation of the damage they cause. In this study, an optimized process to determine this damage based on geodetic measurements was developed. A novelty of our research is a prototype model for the maintenance of smaller airport runways with an emphasis on damage detection. The model is also intended for sustainable development, as it is open source in which we can enter various data. A model and algorithm that enables tabulation and graphical display of surface anomalies were developed for the detailed analysis of the collected data. This model allows monitoring of runway deformities to determine the resulting damage, thus facilitating timely planning of necessary maintenance. As a result, unexpected runway closures and related high costs can be prevented. In this study, we also compared the obtained results with those obtained using the open-source program Quantum GIS (QGIS) to confirm the accuracy and applicability of the algorithm.

The last 20-year announcement predicts a 3.5% increase in the number of yearly passengers which will result in the doubling of the number of passengers in air transport by 2037. Such anticipation indicates the need for efficient monitoring of airport infrastructure as the support of opportune and efficient maintenance works. The novelties of this article are a process model of maintenance and monitoring, suitable for smaller and less burdened airports, and the methodology of monitoring of runways by implementation of the geodetic and geomechanics falling weight deflectometer (FWD) method. In addition, the results confirm the assumption that a specific environment such as an airport allows for sufficiently reliable determination of deformation areas or areas of vertical deviations of runways in a relative short time period available for measurements by using geodetic methods only or by combining other methods; our research model includes the FWD method. With the research, we have also shown there is an interaction between deformations or areas of vertical deviations on the surface and anomalies in the runway lower constructure which will, hereinafter, allow the development of the prediction, creating a vertical deviations or deformation model.

The demand for safety and to provide safety are increasing, parallel with the growth of the need for mobility, transport and logistics. A big part of the demands and recommendations to provide safety in air traffic is related to the safety at and in the surroundings of the runways. The research focused on exploring the airport infrastructure; mainly with the aim of detecting and monitoring the deformations (cracks, displacements, etc.) of the runways which are causally connected with unusual landings or taking offs, with trips from the runways and with loss of control over the aircraft during the landings, taking offs and while moving the runways or taxiways, etc., and researching their effect on providing safety and the efficiency of the airports’ function. The research was executed at the Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport in three phases; the first two were meant for geodetic measurements to determine vertical deformations and the third for supplementary measurements to determine static load capacity. The result of the research is an innovative model for the continuous monitoring of the deformations on the runways. The suggested model enables determination and display of the areas of the vertical deviations which are impossible to detect with a visual check-up, joining the supplementary methods and assessing the condition of the runway based on executed measurements.