Development of a Prototype Automation Simulation Scenario Generator for Air Traffic Management Software Simulations

ABSTRACT A technique for automated development of scenarios for use in the Multi-Center Traffic Management Advisor (McTMA) software simulations is described. The resulting software is designed and implemented to automate the generation of simulation scenarios with the intent of reducing the time it currently takes using an observa-tional approach. The software program is effective in achieving this goal. The scenarios created for use in the McTMA simulations are based on data taken from data files from the McTMA system, and were manually edited before incorporation into the simulations to ensure accuracy. Despite the software’s overall favorable performance, several key software issues are identified. Proposed solutions to these issues are discussed. Future enhancements to the scenario generator software may address the limitations identified in this paper. INTRODUCTION The Multi-Center Traffic Management Advisor (McTMA) is an air traffic management (ATM) automation tool developed at the NASA Ames Research Center, which manages arrival and departure aircraft using a time-based metering (TBM) methodology. While controllers currently manage air traffic using a distance-based paradigm, McTMA is a third-generation TBM automation tool that aids personnel in collaboratively negotiating a workable arrival plan amongst four principal Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs, or Cen-ters): Cleveland Center (ZOB), New York Center (ZNY), Washington Center (ZDC), and Boston Center (ZBW). Testing of the software is conducted with Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) as the initial development and test site. The McTMA system utilizes a time-based metering architecture similar to that of the Traffic Management Advisor Single Center (TMA-SC) system. This tool was developed by researchers at NASA Ames Research Center in the mid-1990s, and is currently in use in seven ARTCCs across the United States: Los Angeles, Oakland, Denver, Minneapolis, Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Miami. The northeast corridor presents unique challenges to researchers, as it experiences the highest volume of daily traffic in the United States and is tightly constrained geographi-cally between the four centers mentioned previously. The McTMA platform is currently in the testing phase and will be investigated further in field studies scheduled for 2004–2005.