CALABAR INTERNATIONAL CARGO AIRPORT: ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSE TO MODERN CARGO HANDLING

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Date
1999-09
Authors
UPE, OGBO OBU
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Abstract
Calabar’s rich history and peaceful nature coupled with her good land, sea and aerial communication system Jed to the United Nations Industrial Organisation’s (UNIDO) recommendation of the ancient Nigeria colonial capital for the establishment of the Nigeria premier Export Processing Zone (EPZ). The promulgation of decree 63 of 1991 by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, formalised the birth of the Calabar EPZ project, with the aim of diversifying the monoproduct nature of Nigeria economy (due to its sole dependence on a singular export product - oil) by the encouragement of export oriented industries in the Zone. To facilitate the effective take-off of the scheme, ancillary infrastructures such as uninterrupted electric power supply, pipe born water, effective telecommunication, good road network, a functional rail transport system and an international cargo airport and a modern sea-port are required. A total of 152 hactres of land has been developed and an additional 20 hactres already earmarked for future expansion as the first phase of the project. A good 10km road network and effective communication system and other facilities like banks, power station, police station, customs, fire service have been completed and the dredging of the Calabar seaport is in progress. Studies carried out indicated that the existing calabar international Airport is inadequate to cater for the magnitude of the anticipated EPZ project. This is due to the inadequacy of the existing Cargo handling and warehousing facilities requiring expansion of runway and support facilities. Due to the presence of air navigational obstacles such as ravines along the path of the extendable section of the runway and the Airport being situated in a densely built- up suburb, the siting of a cargo International Airport on a different site became imperative as stated by the Calabar Master plan. An accessible and relatively flat site has been recommended at Akamkpa, 35km North of the EPZ Project location. Though the choice of a site is a step towards problem solving, it is just a chip off the ice berge considering the enormous task of designing a modern cargo airport. The prospect of air cargo transport system is of great concern to both the will be users, airliners and the airport authorities considering the level of security, the dynamic nature of the aviation industry and the level of mechanization and automation required. Cargo terminals design requires future forecast of aviation needs, high level technology involvement in mechanization and Architectural response to this inevitable future technological changes should be accommodated uninhibited.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, as a partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science (M.Sc) in Architecture
Keywords
CALABAR,, INTERNATIONAL,, CARGO,, AIRPORT,, ARCHITECTURAL,, RESPONSE,, MODERN,, CARGO HANDLING
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