CAST Airport Simulation, Capacity Assessment, Demand Forecasting, Master Planning & Design

For many years, fast-time simulation has been an essential and proven methodology for optimising airport planning and reducing operational costs. Some big steps in system improvement could only be reached by applying simulations, which consider the interaction of several processes and actors.

One recent example of a comprehensive project with simulation support is the Single European Sky initiative, SESAR. One of SESAR's goals is to enhance the quality of airport and network opearation through the sharing of accurate information. The SESAR concept for airport operation is based on a single, unique, rolling source of information available to all parties. This information source is referred to as the airport operations plan (AOP).

In order to further study the concept behind the AOP, Eurocontrol and the SESAR European Airports Consortium have provided specification requirements to extend the well-established CAST airport simulation system, developed by Airport Research Center.
Then, a CAST simulation model was used to validate and rate the new concepts, delivered on paper, in a cost-efficient way.

An article in the september 2013 issue of the magazine Passenger Terminal World also featured this project. The article can be read at the Passenger Terminal World homepage or downloaded here.