1 Optimal Configuration of Airport Passenger Buildings for Travelers By Richard de Neufville, M. ASCE, Alexandre G. de Barros, and Steven Belin, A.M. ASCE ABSTRACT This paper uses a novel method of analysis to define the optimal configuration of airport passenger buildings for travelers. The approach explicitly recognizes two significant practical facts omitted in previous work: (1) the importance of transfer passengers, who may comprise 50% or more of the travelers; and (2) the way airlines intelligently position aircraft at gates to minimize the walking distances between connecting flights. The analysis breaks the issue of finding the walking distances of travelers into two parts: (1) an "impedance" matrix that defines the distance or level of difficulty in transiting between any gates, and that results from architectural considerations; and (2) a "flow" matrix that defines the number of passengers going between gates. Multiplication of these matrices results in a "passenger-impedance" matrix that defines the distribution of walking distances or travel time for travelers. Comparison of these distributions shows the relative advantage of different configurations. Results suggest that, from the perspective of the travelers, intelligently managed linear mid-field concourses generally provide the best overall configuration for significant airports passenger buildings. Key Words: Airports, Passenger Buildings, Configuration, Design, Walking Distances