A Methodology for Evaluating the Capacity of Air Traffic Control Systems.
Abstract
The report describes results obtained in a project to develop a methodology for evaluating the capacity of air traffic control systems. The meaning of capacity in an ATC system and the relationship of capacities of functional and geographical system elements to system capacity measures is qualitatively analyzed. Capacity is defined in terms of aircraft movement numbers and rates as limited by a number of factors, including safety and performance. The need for a family of computer-based capacity-evaluation models is identified, to balance the fidelity required in modeling the ATC process for capacity assessment, against the heavy computational requirements of such modeling. A decomposition concept is applied to achieve this balance. The conceptual design of members of the family, and some preliminary algorithm development, are reported. Members of the family of models are designed to measure each of the capacity limitations associated with system operating strategies, scheduling, and routing, with delays resulting from congestion, with flow-control techniques, with separation minima, control procedures, and other safety aspects as they affect aircraft flight paths, and to measure the delays and aircraft movement limitations associated with high-workload models. The results are reported of a fast-time flight-path simulation of a future Chicago terminal area, demonstrating the use of one member of the family of models. Also reported are the experimental results of a congestion propagation simulation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0716625
Entities
People
- Myron B. Glaser
- Paul Holden
- R. S. Ratner
- Robert Burford
- Waheed Siddiquee
Organizations
- SRI International