Dynamic airspace sectorisation for flight-centric operations

Todays air traffic operations follow the paradigm of "flow follows structure", which already limits the operational efficiency and punctuality of current air traffic movements. Therefore, we introduce the dynamic airspace sectorisation and consequently change this paradigm to the more appropriate approach of "structure follows flow". The dynamic airspace sectorisation allows an efficient allocation of scarce resources considering operational, economic and ecological constraints in both nominal and variable air traffic conditions. Our approach clusters traffic patterns and uses evolutionary algorithms for optimisation of the airspace focusing on high capacity utilisation through flexible use of airspace, appropriate distribution of task load for air traffic controllers and fast adaptation to changed operational constraints. Therefore, we provide a solution to handle non-convex airspace boundaries and provide a proof of concept using current operational airspace structures and enabling a flight-centric air traffic management. We are confident that our developed dynamic airspace sectorisation significantly contributes to the challenges of future airspace, by providing appropriate structures for future 4D aircraft trajectories taking into account various operational aspects of air traffic, such as temporally restricted areas, limited capacities, zones of convective weather or urban air mobility. Dynamic sectorisation is a key enabling technology to reach to ambitious goals of Single European Sky and Flightpath 2050 by reducing coordination efforts, efficient resource allocation, reduced aircraft emissions, less detours, and minimizing of air traffic delays