Changi Airports International (CAI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airport Group, has established the Airport Pavement Centre of Excellence (APEX) in Singapore. The initiative brings together airport operators, universities and pavement specialists to improve the planning, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of runways, taxiways and aircraft stands, helping reduce disruptive closures and the capacity losses they can cause.
APEX will address infrastructure pressures linked to climate change, rising air-traffic demand and heavier aircraft. Its work is intended to improve pavement safety, reliability and sustainability by converting research and operational experience into solutions that airports can apply across different environments.
Planned research includes more resilient asphalt mixtures using polymer-modified bitumen tailored to varied climatic conditions. Participants include Changi Airport Group, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. Cooperation with the US Federal Aviation Administration is also envisaged as part of efforts to advance regional pavement standards.
The centre will provide a platform for research collaboration, technical exchange and industry implementation rather than a single runway or taxiway construction programme. Pavement deterioration can trigger unplanned closures, restrict airport capacity and disrupt airline operations, making maintenance and rehabilitation a growing operational priority as aircraft weights and traffic volumes increase.