ANIMA intervention: Cluj

The nature of this case study was formulated to identify QoL (Quality of Life) dimensions and indicators that have the potential to be influenced by Cluj Airport in a positive manner in the future, in order to increase the wellbeing of the surrounding community. As a consequence, an improved understanding of two individual perspectives (airport, residents) related to QoL can become useful in planning, designing and developing future airport activities, such that a positive impact on QoL could be achieved. Exposure to noise and annoyance were integrated within the study as relevant factors.

Drawing upon existing knowledge from ANIMA regarding QoL around airports, a set of QoL dimensions and indicators was developed and tailored according to the local airport context. Furthermore, different types of questions were developed in parallel (for the airport and for residents) for each selected indicator, together with possible answering options.

^{Figure 1. QoL dimensions used within the design of the airport interview and population survey}

Nine QoL dimensions were selected, including health, economic and physical safety, natural and living environment, followed by corresponding indicators such as annoyance, impact on water/ soil quality, emissions etc. As a result, a questionnaire for the airport was developed, having a final version containing 29 questions. Similarly, the second questionnaire for residents included 47 questions. For assessing the individual QoL perspectives, the study was focused on understanding the airport’s point of view and the perspective of residents from communities close to the airport. In this respect, the airport feedback was collected through an interview approach and the responses of residents through a survey.

^{Figure 2. Quality-of-life study outline}

The perspective of residents was important for understanding the priority of QoL elements, while the perspective of the airport was relevant for identifying which past/ present actions influence QoL and what could be the future opportunities to support an increase in the wellbeing of residents, through their future strategic planned activities. Consequently, the comparison of the two points of view has resulted in identifying if QoL elements that the airport was focused on were also the priorities of residents. The study outline is depicted in the above figure.

Both the interview and the survey were conducted online, through the use of various communication tools. The interview and the survey were formulated in English and translated into the local language (Romanian). Therefore, feedback was collected in Romanian and translated back into English for data analysis. A total of 256 responses of residents were collected. Some were excluded from the analysis, based on different criteria of non-compliance with the study (e.g. from people living/ working in cities that are located at distances over 30 km from the airport). Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed.

Health, living conditions and education were rated by respondents as having the most influence on QoL.  Participants were especially annoyed by road and construction noise and expressed, on average, low aircraft noise annoyance. At the same time, sleep quality was rated as being moderate. The airport performed one health study in 2020 to forecast the impact of future infrastructure developments and there is no study performed on noise annoyance, neither on sleep quality.

Living conditions were evaluated within the survey through the use of many indicators (e.g. impact on air/ soil/ water quality). Important to mention is that aircraft noise was rated as being among the top three noise sources (44%) and 16% of participants are highly annoyed by aircraft noise (%HA). From the total number of responses, it was observed that 5.6% of respondents rated aviation as a main source of water pollution, 4.4% for soil pollution and 22% in the case of air pollution. Based on interview findings, the airport is also actively involved in different actions related to these areas (e.g. noise maps/ monitoring and Action Plans, containment/ protection areas, waste management, electrification of ground vehicles).

Education was rated as the third most important influence on QoL from survey results and also as one of the main priorities of the airport, which organises and is engaged in different types of activities (e.g. traineeship opportunities for students, open-day events, exhibitions of drawings/ paintings for children and adults).

A brief overview of aforementioned findings shows the opportunity for the airport to focus on activities connected to understanding and improving health, together with a more in-depth analysis of each component belonging to ‘living conditions’ and continue with efforts in support of education.

The questions used for performing this study are not standardized, therefore the interpretation of results could be different in future studies and this can be highlighted as an important research need for future research.