>> urban turbine << is a new form of research and industry collaboration based at Cranfield University. inspired by the need to accommodate growth within constrained metropolitan areas urban turbine investigates the role of airports and new urban possibilities in relation to growing global mobility. ‘airports are revisited as hybrids of narratives constructing future realities far beyond the airport boundary inviting citizens to engage and participate.’ many airports grew from military background predominantly governed by aspects of aerospace. the more they became associated with civilian commercial aviation their gravity began to shift. the future of airports is more about communication with other cities and regions as multifunctional institutions. increasing passenger volumes will force main hub airports to rethink their startegies and de-congest the airside approach whilst regional airports are to link closer to their cities and regions as to remain attractive for airlines. >> urban turbine << engages with airports, local authorities and third party institutions to create new structural and spatial relationships which will transform airports in the next decade leading to a new cultural definition of airports. Technologies are changing rapidly. Cheaper faster better ... . Instead optimising the current thinking we aim to holistically move towards shared thinking we see digitalisation is a great opportunity to visualise and optimise current airport processes. >> we are deeply connected in our ambition to change the culture of airports and their interaction with people, communities and cities. <<