On November 4th 2024 SusAir participated in the Almaty Urban Futures Forum delivering a keynote presentation on the future of airport infrastructure as part of sustainable urban planning. The forum brought together over 500 delegates including urbanists architects mobility planners and infrastructure researchers from across Central Asia.

SusAir’s presentation focused on how next-generation airports can integrate into evolving urban systems not as isolated transport nodes but as dynamic infrastructure hubs. The session was led by senior members of the Design Systems Lab who introduced the concept of distributed terminal networks and their role in decentralizing air mobility.

Key Insights Shared

In the talk titled “Airports as Adaptive Infrastructure” the SusAir team addressed:

• The shift from centralized mega-airports to modular regional nodes
• The importance of climate-responsive design in airport masterplanning
• How airport edges can support multimodal connections and urban value
• The role of simulation-based planning in shaping adaptive frameworks

The presentation sparked strong interest from urban planners in Almaty and Bishkek who noted the relevance of SusAir’s approach to their own regional mobility strategies.

Continuing Regional Dialogue

Following the session SusAir held a private roundtable with selected city infrastructure officials to explore research collaboration opportunities in 2025. These early conversations are expected to evolve into technical exchanges in Q1 2025 through the Research Exchange Program.

The Almaty Urban Futures Forum has become one of the most important regional platforms for rethinking infrastructure in a post-carbon world. SusAir’s involvement reflects its expanding research agenda and desire to contribute actively to interdisciplinary conversations beyond aviation.