Agent-based modeling for performance management in air navigation

This paper addresses performance management as a complex network problem of interacting agents. Performance Management is an emerging paradigm within air navigation and aims at the strategic decision-making for ensuring community targets and public expectations on the air transportation network. Complex Systems Science is a research approach that addresses the emergent behavior of systems consisting of multiple agents and interacting processes. In order to manage performance efficiently a capability for the modeling and implementation of simulations and post-operational analyses is required. The agent-based modeling and simulation paradigm offers an intuitive approach to the described complex network problems. This research-in-progress paper focuses on the challenges of the feasibility stage and the conceptual design and modeling. As part of the initial experiments a use case has been modeled for an European airport. On the basis of this use case different air navigation service strategies are compared and discussed. The results obtained indicate that agent-based modeling and simulation provides a promising approach to automate and support performance management. The methodology allows for an iterative approach and successive complementation of the modeled environment by lower-level models. This provides the basis for a deeper understanding of local behavior and factors, and the emergent behavior across the different ATM network functions, strategies, and stakeholders.