Research Environment - FAA Lab Onsite The overall purpose of the research environment is to support the R&D on any aspect of the national and global aviation system. R&D may be focused on: Specific research, ideas, products, systems, and services conducted by members; Components of the current aviation infrastructure such as airport, surveillance systems, aircraft, and ATC operations; Concepts and technologies and their applications in aviation; and, Standardizing design and solutions for new aviation strategies and architectures. Inherent considerations in the design of the research environment are expandability and flexibility. In order to maximize its contribution to aviation, the Research Park must evolve with the aviation community and sciences. The ideal research environment contains a combination of operational facilities, services, laboratory systems and simulators that can create the operational environment in a way that any researcher can conduct realistic and relevant research in an effort to gain insight, analyses, or validation of advanced aviation concepts, applications, and services. The research environment will be the result of proactive strategic planning and collaboration of diverse research facilities from the FAA and other domestic and international aviation organizations. It may include both integrated and private research laboratories that are resident or that extend far beyond the physical boundaries of the Research Park, reaching out to remote research facilities at universities, corporate offices, and operational facilities. This environment will change with research priorities and the evolution of advanced technologies and aviation sciences. However, the initial research environment will be a reflection of the research capabilities of the initial members of the Research Park.