Miami International Airport

Wind performance studies for Miami International Airport expansion

Located just eight miles from downtown Miami, Miami International Airport (MIA) is a premier global hub and the leading U.S. gateway for international passengers and freight. Situated within a hurricane-prone region, the airport required a thorough assessment of wind impacts as part of a major expansion program, which included extensive North Terminal upgrades, Concourse J, and the Satellite E extension. Over several years, RWDI conducted comprehensive studies of cladding performance and structural loads across multiple phases of the expansion, as well as the associated Automated People Mover stations and guideways. These wind tunnel studies were integrated with statistical analyses of historical wind data from MIA and advanced computer simulations of hurricane conditions to support the design team and inform resilient infrastructure solutions.