No more conflicts: the development of a generic airport model in a sequence-optimization framework

International audienceComponents of the airport airside such as runways, taxiways and aprons, have a significant impact in the total capacity of the airport system, where capacity is usually considered as maximum number of air traffic movements or number of passengers accommodated in a given period of time. Operations on the airside impact in the propagation of delay and consequently in the perceived level of service by passengers the terminal buildings. This paper put the focus on the airside operations at airports. A methodology for modelling operations on the ground and the successive optimization is proposed. The methodology presented in this paper is generic enough in the sense that it can be applied to any airport. The objective of this work is to come up with a generic tool that can be used by air traffic controllers in order to minimize conflicts on the ground and consequently increase the airport capacit

Meet you at the crossroads: the simulation analysis of an airport for identifying potential problems

The aeronautical industry is still under expansion in spite of the problems it is facing due to the increase in oil prices, limited capacity, and novel regulations. For this reason, it is necessary to have tools that help during the process of an expansion project, or during planning phases of new aeronautical infrastructures. For the particular case of a new airport project there are many variables to consider in order to minimize the risk of high costs or even serious problems during the operation of a new airport. The article presents a methodology that combines two simulation approaches that complement each other applied to the problem of the development of a new airport in The Netherlands. The use of the methodology gives light to the future problems that might be faced by the managers of the airport. One model focuses in the operative of the airport from a high-level angle taking into account the configurations that might be in place once the airport is under operation. The second model put focus in other technical aspects of the operation for challenging the feasibility of the proposed configurations and for identifying other issues that cannot be perceived with the first model. With the use of the methodology different problems and performance indicators can be foreseen and act in consequence. The combination of both approaches is a powerful one in which the overlapping of solutions will save a lot of money to the airport operators and/or airport developers.Trabajo publicado en Actas del VI Congreso Internacional de la Red Iberoamericana de Investigación en Transporte Aéreo RIDITA 2017.Grupo de Transporte Aéreo - Grupo de Ingeniería Aplicada a la Industri

Tackling Uncertainty for the Development of Efficient Decision Support System in Air Traffic Management

International audienceAirport capacity has become a constraint in the air transportation networks, due to the growth of air traffic demand and the lack of resources able to accommodate this demand. This paper presents the algorithmic implementations of a decision support system for making a more efficient use of the airspace and ground capacity. The system would be able to provide support for air traffic controllers in handling large amount of flights while reducing to a minimum the potential conflicts. In this framework, airspace together with ground airport operations are considered. Conflicts are defined as separation minima violation between aircraft for what concerns airspace and runways, and as capacity overloads for taxiway network and terminals. The methodology proposed in this work consists of an iterative approach that couples optimization and simulation to find solutions that are resilient to perturbations due to the uncertainty present in different phases of the arrival and departure process. An optimization model was employed to find a (sub)optimal solution while a discrete event-based simulation model evaluated the objective function. By coupling simulation with optimization, we generate more robust solutions resilient to variability in the operations, this is supported by a case study of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Simulation-Based Virtual Cycle for Multi-Level Airport Analysis

The aeronautical industry is expanding after a period of economic turmoil. For this reason, a growing number of airports are facing capacity problems that can sometimes only be resolved by expanding infrastructure, with the inherent risks that such decisions create. In order to deal with uncertainty at different levels, it is necessary to have relevant tools during an expansion project or during the planning phases of new infrastructure. This article presents a methodology that combines simulation approaches with different description levels that complement each other when applied to the development of a new airport. The methodology is illustrated with an example that uses two models for an expansion project of an airport in The Netherlands. One model focuses on the operation of the airport from a high-level position, while the second focuses on other technical aspects of the operation that challenge the feasibility of the proposed configuration of the apron. The results show that by applying the methodology, analytical power is enhanced and the risk of making the wrong decisions is reduced. We identified the limitations that the future facility will have and the impact of the physical characteristics of the traffic that will operate in the airport. The methodology can be used for tackling different problems and studying particular performance indicators to help decision-makers take more informed decisions.Grupo de Transporte Aéreo - Grupo de Ingeniería Aplicada a la Industri

Simulation-Based Virtual Cycle for Multi-Level Airport Analysis

The aeronautical industry is expanding after a period of economic turmoil. For this reason, a growing number of airports are facing capacity problems that can sometimes only be resolved by expanding infrastructure, with the inherent risks that such decisions create. In order to deal with uncertainty at different levels, it is necessary to have relevant tools during an expansion project or during the planning phases of new infrastructure. This article presents a methodology that combines simulation approaches with different description levels that complement each other when applied to the development of a new airport. The methodology is illustrated with an example that uses two models for an expansion project of an airport in The Netherlands. One model focuses on the operation of the airport from a high-level position, while the second focuses on other technical aspects of the operation that challenge the feasibility of the proposed configuration of the apron. The results show that by applying the methodology, analytical power is enhanced and the risk of making the wrong decisions is reduced. We identified the limitations that the future facility will have and the impact of the physical characteristics of the traffic that will operate in the airport. The methodology can be used for tackling different problems and studying particular performance indicators to help decision-makers take more informed decisions.Grupo de Transporte Aéreo - Grupo de Ingeniería Aplicada a la Industri

Creating the future airport passenger experience: IMHOTEP

As the airport of the future is expected to become a multimodal connection platform, one of the main challenges is to create the conditions for travelers to reach their destination by the most efficient and sustainable combination of modes. This will, furthermore, allow the airport and its surrounding region to make a better use of their resources. In this context, the H2020-SESAR-2019-2 funded project IMHOTEP, aims at developing a concept of operations and a set of data analysis methods, predictive models and decision support tools that allow information sharing, common situational awareness and real-time collaborative decision-making between airports and ground transport stakeholders. In this paper, the IMHOTEP concepts are presented. The focus is on the project proposed objectives and methodologies applied. Finally, the project expected results and limitations will be discussed

Simulation-Based Virtual Cycle for Multi-Level Airport Analysis

The aeronautical industry is expanding after a period of economic turmoil. For this reason, a growing number of airports are facing capacity problems that can sometimes only be resolved by expanding infrastructure, with the inherent risks that such decisions create. In order to deal with uncertainty at different levels, it is necessary to have relevant tools during an expansion project or during the planning phases of new infrastructure. This article presents a methodology that combines simulation approaches with different description levels that complement each other when applied to the development of a new airport. The methodology is illustrated with an example that uses two models for an expansion project of an airport in The Netherlands. One model focuses on the operation of the airport from a high-level position, while the second focuses on other technical aspects of the operation that challenge the feasibility of the proposed configuration of the apron. The results show that by applying the methodology, analytical power is enhanced and the risk of making the wrong decisions is reduced. We identified the limitations that the future facility will have and the impact of the physical characteristics of the traffic that will operate in the airport. The methodology can be used for tackling different problems and studying particular performance indicators to help decision-makers take more informed decisions.Grupo de Transporte Aéreo - Grupo de Ingeniería Aplicada a la Industri

Extended ATM for Seamless Travel (X-TEAM D2D)

In the future (up to 2050), physical infrastructure, transport systems, traffic management, operational processes and information systems will be seamlessly integrated. The combination of new emerging transport modes such as extended urban and regional air transport forms (SAT, PATS, UAM), electric and autonomous mobility (road, rail, water) with a passenger-centric view will revolutionize future mobility. A key enabler for this is integrating ATM into overall multimodal transport systems that will provide airports, authorities, transport companies and passengers with common and comprehensive information of the door-to-door (D2D) travel flows. The X-TEAM D2D project explores and analyzes the integration of ATM into the overall multimodal transport system, considering currently available transportation modalities and the emerging transport and mobility forms envisaged for the next decades. Moreover, the X-TEAM D2D focuses on the detailed consideration of Concept of Operations (ConOps) for seamless D2D mobility in urban and extended urban areas (up to regional), understanding the risks and opportunities impacting strategic policy directions. Three time horizons are considered: baseline (2025), intermediate (2035) and final (2050). The developed ConOps will be validated and evaluated against applicable Key Performance Areas (KPA) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI), using a simulation-based platform that considers the most relevant transport elements in the future, such as interfaces mode-mode, high-level network model, passenger-centric paradigm. Furthermore, specific use cases of the D2D journey under different scenarios will be identified. These use cases will be analyzed in depth to validate the ConOps and enable decision support tools

Integrating ATM and air transport into multimodal transport system for Door-to-Door travel: the X-TEAM D2D project proposed approach

The project designed ConOps has been finally validated by the construction of a simulation model of a high-level D2D case study, with the aim of assessing the performances, feasibility and limitations of the ConOps and identifying the areas of improvement between ATM and the different modes of transport. The simulation model included two parts: the regional airport and related addressed surrounding area (namely Brunswick, served by Hannover airport) and the hub airport and relatedaddressed surrounding area (namely Haarlem, served by Schiphol airport). The simulation model maintained the same structure but included different transport options in 2025, 2035 and 2050. The model implemented both the different existing transport options and perspective transfer possibilities compliant with the X-TEAM D2D designed ConOps, using real-life distances (GIS-Based) and reallife travel times (GIS-based) for the existing possibilities. It included moving objects (carrying info), such as passenger groups and transport entities, and static elements (Capacitated nodes), such as transport network and transfer stations

Integrating ATM and air transport into multimodal transport system for Door-to-Door travel: the X-TEAM D2D project proposed approach

The X-TEAM D2D project activities have been successfully concluded in 2022 and delivered several relevant results. First, the project provided the definition of future scenarios and use cases for the integration of the vertical transport with the surface transport towards integrated intermodal transport system and the identification of the resulting barriers. Based on that, the project carried out the design of the ConOps for integration of ATM and aviation, as well as UTM and UAM, in intermodal transport infrastructure and the parallel and cooperative design of the ConOps for the integration of ATM and UTM into overall intermodal service to passengers. The resulting overall ConOps for the seamless integration of ATM and air transport into an overall intermodal network, including other available transportation means (surface, water), to support the door-to-door connectivity has been finally successfully validated by means of dedicated simulation environment setup by the project as well as external experts assessment. The validation results indicated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed ConOps in achieving its target as well as allowed providing suggestions for its future development and improvement, beyond the project scope