Support Tools for Simulation
At the Institute, a tool chain was developed and set up that contains all elements required for timely and reliable evaluations in the ATM field ranging from data pre-processing and different air traffic simulations down to the analysis and preparation of results.
An example of the preparatory elements of this tool chain is the scenario generator RouGe, which uses recorded traffic data to generate and provide traffic scenarios in the air within minutes for the entire European air traffic. The scenario generator ADEN, on the other hand, supports scientists in creating airport scenarios for the real-time simulator NARSIM. The positioning tool GAP can be used for pre-planning airport scenarios; each aircraft is assigned a plausible gate position using this tool. Apart from the simulators mentioned, smaller models are developed and used for special parts of the air transport system, e.g. Runway Capacity Simulation Model (RUCSIM) and the Turnaround Simulator (TAMODES).
Different methods and tools are used, depending on the system and validation environment, to analyse the data obtained from the studies. A whole range of customised programs and algorithms is used in addition to the standardised analysis software. At the Institute, a tool was developed for the efficient and quality-assured analysis especially for analysis procedures that are frequently required. This tool called EWMS (Extensible Workflow Management for Simulations) is used for the pre- and post-processing of trials and for evaluating recorded data. Its field of application ranges from fast-time simulations to real-time human-in-the-loop simulations. The results of EWMS can be shown at any time as they emerge and in terms of the data set used. The evaluation method of EWMS has been successfully used in numerous projects since it was developed in 2008. The tool is continuously adjusted to meet the changing requirements of validations.