Air Traffic Flow Control Systems: Modelling and Evaluation

Abstract

Some mathematical models for supporting the development of semi/ fully automated air traffic control systems are discussed. Particularly, the flow control problem is approached as a constrained optimization problem on a multicommodity network. The proposed mathematical model, by means of a suitable time discretization, is initially changed into a “static” one. Then a multicommodity algorithm, based on the resource directive decomposition method, is used for the actual computation of the optimal flow in the network. The method is evaluated from the point of view of its practical implementation and its capability to take into account the peculiar aspects of the problem. An application, relative to the Rome air traffic control region, is discussed.