Analysis of airspace organization considering air traffic flows

Abstract

The aim of research is to define a methodology allowing the organization of regional airspace according to the flows of air traffic and subsequently enabling to solve flight efficiency problems related to air traffic management. For space evaluation, the paper suggests using rectangular grids the application of which makes possible dividing the researched space more easily and exactly. Considering the examples of air traffic management systems demonstrating the best results of efficiency, it can be exactly assumed about the number of possible airspace blocks complying with the flows of flights in the analyzed airspace. In case, a preliminary number of the wanted clusters is known, it is purposeful to apply the method of the cluster analysis of K-means with necessary limitations to the formed building airspace blocks and to determine the optimum version taking into account the analyzed ones. The paper suggests representing points having appropriate weighted coefficients during the stage of clustering rather than using grid cells. The optimization of the obtained airspace blocks is necessary in case the formed blocks do not properly comply with the aims raised. The application of the methodology suggested in the paper enables dividing the airspace of a big territory into airspace blocks according to the flows of flights independent from the air way network, flight intensity and the collocation of the airspace elements of a special purpose.