A Frequency Analysis Approach for Categorizing Air Traffic Behavior

Abstract

method of analyzing National Air Space (NAS) air traffic thatuses the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is presented. The DFT is used to transform time domain traffic count data into the frequency domain where the sourcesof traffic in air spaces can be identified and characterized more easily. It is shown in simulation that individual traffic flows within Air Route Traffic Control Centers can be dist inguished by their periodicity in the DFT plot. Next, three Traffic Management Initiatives (playbook rerouting, metered flows, and Ground Delay Programs) are implemented in simulations and their signature effects on the traffic are identified using t DFT. Finally, historical flight data is studied and the DFT is applied to sector traffic count data. It is found that in many cases, variations in traffic due to rerouting and convective weather disturbances are better highlighted in the frequency domain than in the original time domain data. Initial results of the DFT show it has potential as a tool for measuring and/or predicting NAS behavior for daily tactical planning and control purposes.

Original document

The different versions of the original document can be found in:

• http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e580/4517ac8faf41c4f37e1684bb9ffa17b4bcfb.pdf

• http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.2014-2420,

http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2014-2420

• https://www.aviationsystemsdivision.arc.nasa.gov/publications/2014/AIAA-2014-2420.pdf,

https://www.aviationsystems.arc.nasa.gov/publications/2014/AIAA-2014-2420.pdf,

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20180004218,

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.2014-2420,

http://www.aviationsystemsdivision.arc.nasa.gov/publications/2014/AIAA-2014-2420.pdf,

https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/2327212251