Optimization of air traffic control sector configurations using tree search methods and genetic algorithms

The paper describes two classical tree search algorithms and a genetic algorithm for the Air Traffic Flow Management process that take as input the traffic flows and build optimal sector configurations considering the airspace capacity constraints and also the maximum number of control positions that can be manned at each time of the day. This optimization is made in a realistic context, using the airspace description data, the traffic data, the number of available control positions, and the sector capacities of the French ATC centers.