Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An approach to support controller work-place design in a multi-airport environment using fast and real-time simulations

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
CEAS Aeronautical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The DLR Institute of Flight Guidance is one of the leading establishments in the field of air traffic management research worldwide. Research is conducted using different simulation models. The fast time simulation tools (e.g. Simmod, AirTOp, etc.) offer the possibility to examine various aspects of the air traffic in short evaluation cycles. Especially long lasting, complex traffic flows can be well analysed with the help of these tools. In contrast to the fast time simulation tools, the real time simulation facilities operated by the Institute allow the so-called human-in-the-loop research. For instance, the Apron- and Tower Simulator (ATS) emulates the air traffic controller’s working environment at the airport. Within this environment, the impact of new concepts on the controllers can be examined. The influence of different traffic scenarios, additional assistant systems, work organization and the design of workplaces on controllers’ task- and workload can be researched in this way. Inside the “Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt” (DLR) project Remote Airport Traffic Control Center (RAiCe), an approach was developed to combine both types of the described simulation models. Therefore, the fast time simulation was enhanced with elements representing typical tasks of a controller (e.g. separation keeping or radio communication). By this approach, it was possible to preselect appropriate traffic scenarios and to determine special traffic events. At the ATS, air traffic controllers were confronted with the selected scenarios and events. Based on their performance, conclusions concerning different remote tower operation concepts were made. Within this paper, the cooperative use of fast and real time simulation is reviewed. A five step cooperative strategy is suggested to allow for efficient scenario design that enables the validation expert to design scenarios with specific traffic situations using a fast time simulation tool. Furthermore, harmonizing fast and real time simulation offers the possibility to use data of the fast time simulation as scenarios for real time simulations, and real time simulations can be used for the validation of fast time simulation models. Data of the simulations within RAiCe are introduced. The application of the cooperative use of fast and real time simulation for validation of future ATM concepts is indicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ATAC Corporation, HNTB Corporation. SIMMOD Simulation Airfield and Airspace Simulation Report—Oakland International Airport Master Plan Preparation Report, Produced for: Port of Oakland under Contract Number 04118 (2006)

  2. Biella, M., Jakobi, J., Ludwig, T., Werner, K., Morlang, F., Schier, S., Wehrstedt, C., Lebbink, A., Gilbert, A., Duda, A.: Validation Test Plan PRG. Project report. EMMA2 2-D6.1.3 (2010)

  3. Dorighi, N.S., Sullivan, B.T.: Future Flight Central: A Revolutionary Air Traffic Control Tower Simulation Facility. AIAA, Texas, Austin (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Foyle D.C., Hooey B.L.: Human Performance Modeling in Aviation. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, West Palm Beach/ USA (2008)

  5. Fürstenau, N., Schmidt, M., et al.: Steps Towards the Virtual Tower: Remote Airport Traffic Control Center (RAiCe). In: Paper presented at the ENRI International Workshop on ATM/CNS, Tokyo, Japan (2009)

  6. ten Have, JM. The development of the NLR ATC Research Simulator (Narsim): Design philosophy and potential for ATM research, published in Simulation Practice and Theory, vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 31–39 (1993). ISSN 0928-4869. doi:10.1016/0928-4869(93)90009-F

  7. Hudgell, A.J., Gingell, R.M.: Assessing the Capacity of Novel ATM Systems. In: 4th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management R&D Seminar, Santa Fe, 3–7 December 2001

  8. Junker, O., Strauss, V., Majer, R., Link, N.: Real-time video analysis of pedestrians to support agent simulation of people behaviour. In: 5th International Conference on Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD, 8–10 Mar 2010

  9. Kaltenhaeuser, S.: Tower and airport simulation: flexibility as a premise for successful research published in simulation. Modell Pract Theory 11(3-4), 187–196 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kaltenhaeuser, S., Morlang, F., Biella, M., Ludwig, T., Rambau, T.: Use of distributed real-time simulations in ATM validation: examples based on the analysis of controller-pilot interactions. In: Paper presented at the CEAS European Air & Space Conference. Manchester, UK (2009)

  11. Loft, S., Sanderson, P., Neal, A., Mooij, M.: Modeling and predicting mental workload in en route air traffic control: critical review and broader implications. Hum Fact 49(3), 376–399 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Madson, M.D.: Air traffic controllers and real-time simulation: a powerful combination. J ATC 46(1), 24–27 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Manning, C.A., Mills, S.H., Fox, C.M., Pfleiderer, E.M., Mogilka, H.J.: Using Air Traffic Control Taskload Measures and Communication Events to Predict Subjective Workload. Federal Aviation Administration [DOT/FAA/AM-02/4] (2002)

  14. Moehlenbrink C., Papenfuss A., Jakobi J.: The Role of Workload for Work Organisation in a Remote Tower Control Center. In: Paper presented at the ATM-Seminar 2011, Berlin (2011)

  15. Nuic, A.: Base of Aircraft Data—Product Management Document. EUROCONTROL, EEC Technical/Scientific Report [2009-008] (2009)

  16. Schmidt, M., Rudolph, M., Papenfuss, A., Friedrich, M., Moehlenbrink, C., Kaltenhäuser, S., et al.: Remote Airport Traffic Control Center with Augmented Vision Video Panorama. In: Paper presented at the 28th Digital Avionics Systems Conference, Orlando, 2009

  17. Stanton, N.A., Salmon, P.M., Walker, G.H., Baber, C., Jenkins, D.P: Human Factors Methods—A Practical Guide for Engineering and Design. Ashgate, London (2005)

  18. Teutsch, J., Mollwitz, V.: Virtual Block Control and Separation Bubbles in ATC Low Visibiltiy Operations. Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Conference ICNS, pp. 1–17. Arlington, VA (2009)

  19. Walther, J.: Implementierung eines Prozessmodells zur simulativen Bewertung der Towerlotsen Arbeitsbelastung bei zeitgleicher Ausübung von Kontrollfunktionen an zwei Flugplätzen. DLR-internal report [DLR-IB 112-2010/31] (2010)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ATM-Simulation Department, Institute of Flight Guidance, German Aerospace Center, Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108, Braunschweig, Germany

    Sebastian Schier

  2. Human Factors Department, Institute of Flight Guidance, German Aerospace Center, Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108, Braunschweig, Germany

    Anne Papenfuss

  3. Air Transportation Department, Institute of Flight Guidance, German Aerospace Center, Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108, Braunschweig, Germany

    Sandro Lorenz

  4. Institute of Logistics and Aviation of TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Jan Walther

  5. Human Factors Department, Institute of Flight Guidance, German Aerospace Center, Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108, Braunschweig, Germany

    Christoph Moehlenbrink

Authors
  1. Sebastian Schier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anne Papenfuss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sandro Lorenz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jan Walther
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Christoph Moehlenbrink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sebastian Schier.

Additional information

This paper is based on a presentation at the German Aerospace Congress, September 27–29, 2011, Bremen, Germany.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schier, S., Papenfuss, A., Lorenz, S. et al. An approach to support controller work-place design in a multi-airport environment using fast and real-time simulations. CEAS Aeronaut J 2, 185–193 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13272-011-0030-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13272-011-0030-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation