A Method for Forecasting the Commercial Air Traffic Schedule in the Future

This report presents an integrated set of models that forecasts air carriers' future operations when delays due to limited terminal-area capacity are considered. This report models the industry as a whole, avoiding unnecessary details of competition among the carriers. To develop the schedule outputs, we first present a model to forecast the unconstrained flight schedules in the future, based on the assumption of rational behavior of the carriers. Then we develop a method to modify the unconstrained schedules, accounting for effects of congestion due to limited NAS capacities. Our underlying assumption is that carriers will modify their operations to keep mean delays within certain limits. We estimate values for those limits from changes in planned block times reflected in the OAG. Our method for modifying schedules takes many means of reducing the delays into considerations, albeit some of them indirectly. The direct actions include depeaking, operating in off-hours, and reducing hub airports'operations. Indirect actions include using secondary airports, using larger aircraft, and selecting new hub airports, which, we assume, have already been modeled in the FAA's TAF. Users of our suite of models can substitute an alternative forecast for the TAF

GO-GN Research Methods Handbook

Methodology can be one of the most challenging aspects for doctoral researchers. When we conduct research into education and/or technology, we can be confronted with a potentially confusing array of options. This is true even for those using a well-established approach, but can be especially acute if combining approaches in a mixed-methods study or trying to develop a completely new way of doing research. Choosing the right method for what we are interested in is a key part of high quality research, and this requires us to think about the scientific and philosophical foundations of what we do. In this guide we explore some of these issues with a focus on open research, drawing on insights from researchers within the Global OER Graduate Network (GO-GN). Open practices in research can challenge assumptions about how to create and share new knowledge. In the handbook, we draw on insights from experienced open researchers to build understanding of research in the open. The advice given applies to all research, but is of particular relevance to those interested in open approaches

NASA space station automation: AI-based technology review

Research and Development projects in automation for the Space Station are discussed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based automation technologies are planned to enhance crew safety through reduced need for EVA, increase crew productivity through the reduction of routine operations, increase space station autonomy, and augment space station capability through the use of teleoperation and robotics. AI technology will also be developed for the servicing of satellites at the Space Station, system monitoring and diagnosis, space manufacturing, and the assembly of large space structures

Simulation and analysis of adaptive routing and flow control in wide area communication networks

This thesis presents the development of new simulation and analytic models for the performance analysis of wide area communication networks. The models are used to analyse adaptive routing and flow control in fully connected circuit switched and sparsely connected packet switched networks. In particular the performance of routing algorithms derived from the L(_R-I) linear learning automata model are assessed for both types of network. A novel architecture using the INMOS Transputer is constructed for simulation of both circuit and packet switched networks in a loosely coupled multi- microprocessor environment. The network topology is mapped onto an identically configured array of processing centres to overcome the processing bottleneck of conventional Von Neumann architecture machines. Previous analytic work in circuit switched work is extended to include both asymmetrical networks and adaptive routing policies. In the analysis of packet switched networks analytic models of adaptive routing and flow control are integrated to produce a powerful, integrated environment for performance analysis The work concludes that routing algorithms based on linear learning automata have significant potential in both fully connected circuit switched networks and sparsely connected packet switched networks

Use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in teacher education in Sub-Saharan Africa: case studies of selected African universities

The use of ICT in education in Africa should be discussed with regard to the global goal of providing Education for All and its impact on the demand of teachers on the continent. According to the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2007, Africa needs a 68% increase in teachers so as to realise the second Millennium Development Goal Education for All. Because of the present infrastructure and the prevailing problems that Africa faces, it is unlikely that this demand for teachers can be met to enable Education for All by 2015. Today it is acknowledged that Africa needs new and improved methods in teacher training which will not only ensure that the demand for teachers is met but also provide teachers with quality training. Accordingly, the use of ICTs in teacher education and their potential in supplementing teacher training, especially where the traditional education systems are unable to meet the demand, is increasingly being considered. In this dissertation, efforts have been taken to explore: how ICTs are being used in African universities; what initiatives both local and international are being taken to enable implementation of ICTs in teacher education; how students training for the teaching profession in the Sub-Saharan countries are being prepared in the use of these new technologies; and how students and their trainers view the introduction and influence of these media in their learning and teaching. The literature review of this study shows that although ICTs, especially the computer, are no longer a phenomenon in African universities, they are however, still tools that can be afforded by a few, because of both financial constraints and lack of training. Furthermore, these results show that the use of ICT in teacher education is still at a low level and there are many barriers to its implementation on a large scale. Results from the case studies indicate that although a comparably big percentage (46.8%) of student teachers use ICT applications in preparing their assignments, a high percentage (ranging from 70 - 85%) have never received ICT training in their studies in any of the most common applications such as word processing. Interviews with teacher trainers revealed that there is a general concession that the use of ICT has an added value in teacher training, especially as: ICT facilitates gathering, organising, and finding information; it encourages and enables students to do independent research work and to do course work on their own; ICT widens teachers knowledge horizon; and as most ICT applications are interactive they make learning and teaching very interesting, holding students attention and supplementing learning resources such as textbooks. Teacher trainers, however, also agreed that the successful implementation and use of ICT would require that attitudes towards ICT among stake holders become more positive and that improving the technical infrastructure would make integrating ICT in teacher training much easier. Combined responses of students and teacher trainers show that training in and use of ICT in teacher education in the universities which took part in the survey still is at a relatively low level. Although only half of the students indicate they received training in this at their home institutions and actually make use of it, text processing using WORD is the most widely trained and used ICT application. There is indication that more than half of the students have access to ICT applications in their computer laboratories, while almost 80 % of the students also visit Internet cafes to use ICT applications. Nevertheless, findings indicated evidence of gender equality in use and access of ICT in these institutions with female to male participation of 83:103. This is also reflected in the interviews with lecturers (3:4). Although the ratio of female to male participation is not exactly 50:50, the proportion of female participation is higher than in other statistics on gender inclusion in Africa