Abstract-Motivated by the need to understand and further optimize coordination processes in the socio-technical air transportation system, this paper implements and compares four coordination policies through agent based modelling and simulation (ABMS). Three policies are based on established practices, while a fourth is based on the joint activity coordination theory from the psychology research domain. For each of these four policies, the relation with the literature on coordination is identified. The specific application of the four policies concerns Airline Operations Control (AOC), which core's functionality is one of coordination and taking corrective actions in response to a large variety of airline operational disruptions. In order to evaluate the four policies, an agent based model of the AOC and crew processes has been developed. Subsequently, this agent based model is used to assess the effects of the four AOC policies on a challenging airline disruption scenario. For the specific scenario considered, the joint-activity coordination based AOC policy outperforms the other three policies. More importantly, the simulation results provide novel insight in operational effects of each of the four AOC policies, which demonstrates that ABMS allows to analyze the effectiveness of different coordination policies in the highly complex socio-technical air transportation system.

Abstract:In an effort to allow to increase the number of aircraft and airport operations while mitigating their negative impacts (e.g., noise and pollutant emission) on near-airport communities, the optimal design of new departure routes with less noise and fuel consumption becomes more important. In this paper, a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D), which recently emerged as a potential method for solving multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs), is developed for this kind of problem. First, to minimize aircraft noise for departure routes while taking into account the interests of various stakeholders, bi-objective optimization problems involving noise and fuel consumption are formulated where both the ground track and vertical profile of a departure route are optimized simultaneously. Second, in order to make the design space of vertical profiles feasible during the optimization process, a trajectory parameterization technique recently proposed is employed. Furthermore, some modifications to MOEA/D that are aimed at significantly reducing the computational cost are also introduced. Two different examples of departure routes at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands are shown to demonstrate the applicability and reliability of the proposed method. The simulation results reveal that the proposed method is an effective and efficient approach for solving this kind of problem.

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Abstract:This paper gives insight in the development of a Value Operations Methodology (VOM) that can be used to support Value Driven Design (VDD). The VOM establishes expressions for operational value levers that are incorporated into a weighted value function. This value function is then used to optimize the design variables that are incorporated into it so that the design process is actively driven by value assessments that provide design decision metrics. However, the VOM is generic in nature and has a much wider range of influence to the design process for any engineering product.The methodology is verified by means of a case study, analyzing the value difference between the Boeing 737-200, Boeing 737-800, Embraer ERJ-145 and the Airbus 319 as part of a use-case study. In fact, the fundamental conclusion from the work presented is actually that VDD simply promotes the sustained application of the main utility values that were originally recognised but which, due to the complexity of the product and enterprise, tends to be disaggregated into isolated requirements. Ultimately, this leads to optimisation at a sub-system level and that is especially unacceptable for a complex system (with many sub-systems), whereas the re-focus of VOM helps to significantly shift the design effort back to creatively solving the main goal, rather than simply and somewhat robotically making sure the requirements are satisfied. The verification and validation work presented is recognised as indicative but the authors believe that it is extremely significant in pointing towards the potential gains from sustaining a more holistic appraisal and approach through-out the design process. Notwithstanding, the key message of the paper is the need for value modelling within engineering so that we are in control of the consequences of what we are actualising, where value is realised through operational delivery and excellence! This paper has presented a broad methodology in opening up a significantly different approach to aircraft design that may well still be economically driven but incorporating drivers of a much more holistic cause: proactively rather than reactively!

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