SMARTS - Smart Sectors

The SESAR3 ER research project Smart Sectors (SMARTS) deals with airspace design and combines the process of Dynamic Airspace Configuration (DAC) with air traffic flow measures. With a future-oriented airspace design, the project generates a deeper understanding of the design and configuration of airspaces as well as their optimization with a focus on efficient and robust design of airspaces. Learning models are being developed for predicting traffic flows as well as individual sector profiles.

Based on relevant data, the prediction of traffic flows contributes to an improved design of the airspace structure, which offers a flexible airspace structure for different traffic scenarios. SMARTS also aims to identify the best sequence of airspace configurations for given traffic scenarios, reflecting dynamics such as traffic demand fluctuations during convective weather. The DLR Institute for Air Transport is leading a work package for analyzing traffic demand and develops methods for predicting air traffic flows. In addition to the DLR Institute of Air Transport and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, project partners are the University of Lancaster, NATS, CRIDA, ENAIRE, EUROCONTROL and ENAC.