Advanced Modeling of Ramp Operations including Departure Status at Secondary Airports

This project addresses three modeling elements relevant to NASA's IADS research and ATD-2 project, two related to ramp operations at primary airports and one related to departure status at secondary airports. Departure scheduling requires departure status information from secondary airports that lack surface surveillance. We propose a method using aircraft transponder activation and data science modeling to estimate earliest takeoff time and runway. Fast-time simulations of IADS concepts require models of how ramp controllers manage near-gate aircraft movements; and how flight operators will interact with collaborative departure scheduling concepts. We propose to develop a model, with defined interfaces to be usable in any NASA simulation platform, for conflict/congestion-free aircraft movements in alleyways, coordinated to allow efficient, simultaneous movements. We will also offer a model for flight operator's swapping gate delays to free needed gates and prioritize their schedules. These models are also relevant to NASA's SARDA and SMART NAS projects. We will document the model designs, deliver all source code, and, in Phase 2, publish models under and Open Source license.