Genetic Algorithm Based Ground Delay Program Computations for Sector Density Control

A Monitor Alert is triggered whenever the number of aircraft in an Air Traffic Control sector increases beyond its capacity limit. Departure rates at the airports feeding the airspace can be decreased to reduce the sector density. This paper presents a genetic algorithm for determining the optimal departure delays to be imposed on aircraft to maintain the sector counts below the Monitor Alert levels while minimizing the total delay in the system. The predicted state of the airspace is obtained using a fast-time airspace simulation system, which is then used to compute the quality of the resulting departure rates in the genetic algorithm. An interactive computing environment is used for implementing the optimization algorithm. Optimal aircraft departure results are presented for 2-airport and 10-airport example problems.