A Review of Green Airport Rating Systems and Indicators with the Introduction of the IGARS Framework for Sustainability Assessment of Iranian Airports

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Pooyan Ayar 1
Hossein Tavakoli 2
Sadra Saghaei 2
Sepehr Abdipour Vosta 3
1 Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran.
2 M.Sc., Student, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran.
3 Ph.D., Student, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran
10.22034/road.2025.525113.2402
Abstract
In recent years, increasing attention to the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of airport operations has led to the emergence and evolution of the “Green Airport” concept at the international level. This article presents a comprehensive literature review on green airports and provides a critical analysis of major sustainability rating systems, including LEED, BREEAM, CASBEE, ACA, GAGCC, and SBTool. The evaluation methodologies, scoring frameworks, indicator scopes, advantages, limitations, and localization potentials of each system are thoroughly examined. The study further analyzes key sustainability indicators across four main pillars—environmental, economic, social, and technical/operational—and outlines the requirements for adapting these indicators to Iran’s specific climatic, institutional, and infrastructural conditions. Building on this foundation, a localized framework entitled IGARS (Iranian Green Airport Rating System) is developed. Drawing on international best practices and tailored to national contexts, IGARS offers a robust and multidimensional scoring system for assessing the sustainability performance of airports. The IGARS model includes a set of core scores derived from diverse indicators across all sustainability dimensions, as well as bonus points awarded for innovation and regional adaptability. This research not only fills a critical gap in Persian-language studies on green airports but also proposes a practical, context-sensitive, and strategic model for advancing sustainable aviation infrastructure in Iran. The framework serves as a scientific foundation for evidence-based decision-making by airport authorities, policymakers, and researchers in the field.
Keywords
Green Airport
Sustainability Rating Systems
Airport Sustainability Indicators
IGARS
Environmental Assessment
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