“The Taoyuan Aerotropolis Project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Taoyuan City Government, with each party responsible for specific areas of work. Our Aerotropolis Engineering Office is part of the Department of Public Works under the Taoyuan City Government, functioning as a professional engineering unit. Our duties include appraisal, planning, design, and construction within the land acquisition and development zones of the Aerotropolis project,” explained Lan Shih-Yao, Deputy Director of the Aerotropolis Engineering Office, as he introduced the project and the office’s responsibilities.
As Taiwan’s gateway city, Taoyuan boasts strategic advantages in international logistics and transportation with the presence of Taoyuan International Airport. The city also serves as a core hub for connections across the Asia-Pacific region. Located near Taipei Port, the airport benefits from extensive maritime resources and is supported by a comprehensive transportation network, including highways, high-speed rail, and the Taoyuan Airport MRT.
To meet the demands of constructing a third runway and developing surrounding areas, the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Project utilizes urban planning to reallocate land use around the airport. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of Taoyuan International Airport, promote overall development in Taoyuan, and drive industrial transformation and internationalization in Taiwan.
Looking forward, the Taoyuan Aerotropolis will leverage the airport’s prime location, integrate the MRT system and newly constructed roads, and attract industries associated with and supporting airport operations. This will meet commercial and residential development needs, improve urban functionality, and create a new city model centered on Taoyuan International Airport.
The Aerotropolis Engineering Office’s responsibilities include developing approximately 197 kilometers of planned roads, constructing multiple bridges over rivers and highways, implementing land leveling projects, creating parks and green spaces, and carrying out flood control, drainage, sewage, and utility conduit projects.
A Highly Challenging Mission
“The difficulty lies in the sheer scale of the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Project. The first phase covers approximately 1,756 hectares, with a construction budget exceeding NT$50 billion and a timeline of just 8–9 years. This is a massive area with a very tight schedule, compounded by external challenges such as labor and material shortages,” explained Deputy Director Lan Shih-Yao.
The project is not only vast but also involves complex interfaces requiring extensive coordination. The short construction period and limited workforce further add to the challenges. Within the development area, there are scattered exclusion and preservation zones, along with a significant amount of time-consuming utility relocation work. Throughout construction, the project must ensure uninterrupted access to essential services for residents, including water, electricity, telecommunications, transportation, drainage, and safety.
Given its scope and significance as a national development endeavor, the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Project represents an extraordinarily demanding challenge.
Overcoming Challenges
“To address the challenges of the expansive development area, no single domestic construction company could undertake such a large-scale project alone. Therefore, during the planning phase, we divided the project into ten contracts based on factors such as terrain, rivers, and the locations of highways. Anticipating labor shortages, we submitted a special request to the Executive Yuan to increase the proportion of foreign workers, allowing it to rise to 40%. This preparation was completed before construction commenced,” explained Deputy Director Lan Shih-Yao, detailing the solutions to issues like the vast construction area, complex interfaces, and labor shortages.
Regarding the basic living infrastructure for the more than 300 households within the exclusion and retention zones, the Aerotropolis Engineering Office convened meetings with utility companies such as Taiwan Power Company, Taiwan Water Corporation, Chunghwa Telecom, and cable television providers before construction. Each case was assigned a number for management, with design and construction progress reviewed individually to ensure residents' daily lives were not disrupted.
Visionary Engineering Planning and Application of Smart Technology
“When it comes to integrating public systems with technology, the first thing we tackled was the consolidation of mapping and information systems. From planning and design drawings to on-site construction measurements and final outcomes, everything is integrated into a unified mapping system. This is especially critical for underground pipelines and conduits, which are invisible from the surface once completed. While this work may be arduous, it is essential for the long-term development of a city,” explained Deputy Director Lan Shih-Yao. In recent years, the city government has focused on applying 3D-BIM technology for mapping underground pipelines. This system integrates power lines, telecom conduits, water pipes, gas pipelines, drainage culverts, sewer systems, streetlights, and shared ducts into a cohesive framework, providing a clear visualization of underground infrastructure. This precise data is fundamental for building a smart city, as it enhances the quality and efficiency of future maintenance and management efforts.
“Upon completion of a project, we hand over both the construction work and the mapping data to maintenance units such as the Office of Road and Accessory Maintenance and district offices. Even the data format for archiving is prearranged with these future maintenance units to meet their needs. This means that, upon completion, we deliver not just the physical infrastructure but also accurate as-built mapping data of underground pipelines. This is the hallmark of a responsible engineering team,” Lan confidently stated.
Green Economy and the Vision for Aerotropolis
The Taoyuan City Government envisions the future development of the Aerotropolis Project as a “Green Economy-Based Aerotropolis,” incorporating the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project’s engineering design integrates concepts and practices such as resilient disaster prevention, circular economy, energy efficiency and low carbon, and smart city planning to create a comprehensive development framework.
During the planning process, considerations were also given to cultural heritage, natural ecology, and local characteristics, aiming to embed green and sustainable thinking into the Aerotropolis lifestyle while fostering economic growth.