Extreme Climate Impacts on Airport Pavement Infrastructure: A Systematic Review on Deterioration Mechanisms, Operational Risks, and Digital Twin Adaptation Strategies

Extreme heat, rainfall, flooding, freeze–thaw and permafrost thaw are becoming more frequent and severe, creating new risks for airport pavements and aviation operations. This systematic review follows the PRISMA 2020 framework and synthesises 73 studies to examine how these stressors affect asphalt and concrete airfield pavements, runway safety and adaptation practice. The reviewed studies indicate that high temperatures decrease asphalt stiffness and increase rutting risk under heavy, slow-moving aircraft loads, while thermal gradients in concrete cause slab curling, joint and dowel stress, and cracking in overlays. Rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise, and concealed subsurface water weaken support and increase hazards such as hydroplaning; in cold regions, permafrost degradation and freeze–thaw cycling affect foundation stability. Operationally, higher air temperatures reduce air density, which leads to increased take-off distance or forces airlines to reduce payload at runway-limited airports. Current design tools and pavement management systems often rely on historical climate assumptions and may not capture coupled climate–load effects. Therefore, there is a need for more climate-smart materials, drainage, monitoring, LCA, and the use of digital twins as a future approach for decision-making.