Simplified dynamic density: A metric for dynamic airspace configuration and NextGen analysis

Abstract

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is expected to bring about major improvements in both airspace design and utilization. One element of NextGen, Dynamic Airspace Configuration (DAC), is proposed as a means to facilitate substantially more efficient airspace capacity management. A new metric or set of metrics is required for analyzing future airspace design concepts like DAC. These metrics are likely to replace the current operational index of workload (i.e., Monitor Alert Parameter, or MAP). The new metric(s) should be able to accommodate various operational concepts and their associated airspace designs. Toward this end, we have developed a multi-component metric, Simplified Dynamic Density (SDD), whose component weightings can be adjusted to the relevant situational characteristics created by various operational concepts. The value of this metric, as evidenced by the current study, is that (a) it can be computed from a single input file containing flight-planned trajectories such as ETMS "FZ" records; (b) in addition to calibration against controller workload in real-time human-in-the-loop simulations, it can be "self-calibrated" using historical data and certain reasonable assumptions on sector workload in today's airspace; and (c) it can be applied successfully to trigger DAC actions, thereby optimizing airspace use. With continued development and use of SDD it should be possible for the research community to better understand NextGen concepts and their impact on the workload of the ATM operational community.

Aircrafts Monitoring and Early Warning Based on Air Traffic Complexity Measure Analysis

“…The methods of traffic intrinsic measure [6,7] is to describe the complexity of traffic situation evolution on the basis of traffic's intrinsic nature, such as aircraft speed and heading. Geometric disorder analysis [8], analysis of topological entropy in dynamic system [9], traffic flow disturbance analysis [10] and traffic flow proximity analysis [11] are typical ways of the traffic intrinsic measure. As the hot spot in air traffic complexity study, such kind of methods makes use of geometric measure model and dynamic system model for measure analysis.…”

A research on formation mechanism of complex air traffic situation

“…The dynamic density [7][8][9] study is designed to actively consider the impact of human factors on the air traffic system, and to guide decision-making by revealing this kind of information. There are also a lot of complexity studies in the cognitive field, revealing the multiple models used by air traffic controllers to make decisions in the structured route network and the resulted air traffic clustering behaviors [1,[10][11].…”

Simplified dynamic density based capacity estimation

“…Simplified dynamic density [6] is a weighted sum of seven traffic components that contribute to the airspace complexity. It measures workload and accounts for traffic pattern, and is suitable for various operational concepts and airspace designs.…”