Airport Modernization

							Airport Modernization
   An Object Oriented Approach

               By
  Gp Capt JN Rampal, VSM (Retd)
                   AGENDA
1.      Introduction
2.     Airport : Some Definitions
3.     Airport : Functional View
4.     Airport : Stages of development
5.     NextGen Growth Options
6.     A Peep in the future
7.     NextGen Growth : Generic Strategy
8.     Object Oriented Paradigm
9.     Example process architecture
10.   Modernization Plan approach
11.   Structure of Layered Plan
12.   Other Strategy Issues
13.   Conclusion
              Introduction
An Airport is a complex set of assets , processes
and human resources.
To build efficient Airport operations, we need to
bring together state of the art technology, project
management methodologies and the most
talented people together.
This presentation is a brief description of the
issues involved in such an exercise.
Airport : Sample Definitions
An Airport is a service point for air travel, for
passengers and cargo.
                or
An Airport is a place where runways, dispersal
areas and facilities are provided which
passengers and cargo can use.
               or
An Airport is an aggregation of real estate,
systems and people , which interact to create
the air travel service.
  Airport : Functional View
Passengers and cargo go to the airport
because they need to be air transported.
They use functionalities at the airport for
receiving the air transportation service.
The functionalities are provided using the
assets , which are part of the airport
installation : assisted by facilitators, who
manage the airport.
 Airport : Stages of Development
          (1) : Bare Bones
Initial Stage:      ( A few flights a day)
   Runway
   A perimeter taxi track
   Few parking bays, hangars
   Air traffic control (generally satellite to a major
   airport)
   Communication with area control only
[ No congestion in or just outside of airport]
interruption by unwanted actions.
Airport : Stages of Development
      (2) : Getting Bigger
Initial Growth Stage :     ( Many flights a day,
   multiple destinations)
   Runway
   Many taxi tracks
   Add on parking bays, hangars
   Air traffic control (many functions added)
   Communication with many nodes
[ Increased Complexity but still manageable.
   Infrequent overloads and congestion caused
   deadlocks]
 Airport : Stages of Development
     (3) : Getting Rather Big
High Growth Stage : ( Large number of flights a day,
   large number of destinations)
   Add on Runway (wherever possible)
   Many taxi tracks , cross runways
   Parking bays, hangars, wherever space available.
   Air traffic control (many systems and functions added)
   Air ground and data Communication extensive
[ Complexity frequently defies manageability. Frequent
   overloads and congestion deadlocks]
 Airport : Stages of Development
      (4) : Too Big to Handle
Saturation Growth Stage : ( Very large
   number of flights a day, multiple destinations)
   Continuous operations with no empty slots
   between.
   Unable to add resources. Constraints seem to
   unavailability at the right place at the right time.
   Overload of information, but unable to use
   information for taking decisions in time.
   Chaos.
[ Complexity beyond manageable bounds.
   Perpetual overloads and congestion deadlocks]
NextGen Growth : Options
Additional airport . Split load and keep using
the same system design.

             or

Modernize : Change over to a system which
provides higher throughput . Device a new
architecture to provide efficient operations
even with 90% utilization.
             NextGen Growth :
            Option Predicament
    Even if we split load and have an additional airport, the traffic
    grows and imposes the modernization requirement on the
    two sister airports.

(The rapid growth of air travel in India, today and in
   the foreseeable future, underlines the
   tendency even more.
    Why not leverage the current investment for higher
    productivity with incremental investment ?



So, Modernization is Hobson’s choice.
 Airport : A Peep into the Future
NextGen Growth : ( Very large number of flights a day, to any
    number of destinations)

     Multiple Runways (weather and real estate permitting)
     Traffic planned taxi tracks, loops and branch-offs
     Ground space utilization planned & optimized
     Multiple level support facilities
     Air traffic control (new architecture and processes)
     Air ground and data Communication refurbished
     Process and automation added with the help of IT .
[ Complexity very high, but always monitored and managed.
     Overloads and congestion deadlocks always avoided by pre-
     emptive action]
 NextGen Growth : Generic
       Strategy (1)
 Saturation growth is the limit for current
technologies of airport operations. NextGen
growth is possible only with a paradigm change.

The new implementations will be driven by IT,
automated (intelligent) systems and Object
oriented architecture concepts.

The system architecture will be top-down, modular,
flexible, predominantly automated, self monitoring
and continuously improving systems.
    NextGen Growth : Generic
          Strategy (2)
Some other imperatives of NextGen Model
  In synchronism with business/revenue and
  implementation models.
  Flexible in terms of operational role
  Process and functionality driven
  Open system architecture to take on new
  technologies in future
  Iterative and controlled implementation,
  without undue disruptions in operations
   Object Oriented Paradigm
The operations are aggregation of process flows, which
are defined by use-cases, i.e. the way a user does a
particular thing. [Operational process is firmly tied to actual
operations].
The process flows comprise of execution of functionalities
by (intangible) entities called objects [implementation with
the help of top down, flexible, scalable architecture].
The assets are embedded in object definitions. i.e. the
asset usage is related to the function definition. [Helps in
optimum asset pool size and their balanced usage].
   Consequences of an Object
      Oriented Approach
Top down flexible, scalable architecture.
Implementation possible on an ‘Information
Technology’ foundation.
Efficient, real-time monitoring & control,
continuously improving capabilities.
Cost effective both in terms of capital and running
costs.
Possible to bring in new technologies and
systems without disrupting operations.
           Operational Process : A
            Representative Model
 Operations Control
------------------------------------------------------------
       |                |                       |
    Asset        Process Flow                 Information
Management Management                        Management
(Sharable asset
Allocation, and                  |             (Monitoring,
    disbursement
release)                       |            and control)
           Operational Process : A
            Representative Model
  Process Flow management

  |                             |                              |

Thread 1               Thread 2      ……..           Thread N

Process flow          Process flow                    Process flow
arrival               Departure                       Maintenance
  |               |                             |

{Object arrival   {Object Information               { Object
schedule
Object baggage      Object baggage                   Object service
Object turnaround   Object security         Object testing
Object clearance    Object customs          Object test flying
Modernization Plan Approach
Define current and projected capabilities (after
modernization).
Define OO architecture model.
Derive process flows and object functionalities.
Define ‘evolution path’
Project plan.
Implementation and deployment.
     Modernization Plan
        Framework
Layer 4             Application
                  (process flow)
                      |
Layer 3         Objects build up
            ( Assets, payload processes)
                     |
Layer 2           Information
              Exchange framework
                      |
Layer 1          Physical
  A Simple Plan
       Define current and projected capabilities
                           |
        Object oriented parametric analysis
                           |
       To do list (processes/objects/assets)
                           |
         Layered plan (vertical 4 layer analysis)
                           |
       Horizontal partitioning for iteration definition
                          |
      Implementation (Iterative and staggered)
                          |
System integration, harmonization, optimization, testing and
                    acceptance
                          |
                   Rework iterations
                          |
            Acceptance and deployment
Other Strategy Issues
Project plan design could also dictated by other
related considerations e.g. implementation
model (DBB, BOO, BOT), cash flows etc.

External stakeholders e.g. ICAO , AAI, IAF,
MOCA etc may impose additional functionalities
and information exchange requirements for the
airport operations.

A modernization plan is generally a massive
aggregation of many plans (ordered layer-wise,
partition-wise, partitioned amongst vendors
work-volume wise). In such cases, integration,
co-ordination and synchronization becomes an
additional and critical part of the plan.
          OO Advantage
•   An OO system is highly amenable to computer modeling
    and simulation, at all stages of implementation, We can
    run simulations to check efficacy of implementation,
    problem areas before installing the system physically.
    Conversion of a conventional model to an OO model
    would have immense advantage in the long term as the
    complications start reducing. In the conventional asset
    building approach, the complications start mounting with
    the build up.
    The performance monitoring, analysis and upgrade being
    a part of OO architecture, the improvement of performance
    is a part of airport capability.
    The modular structure also makes it easy for introduction
    of new technologies and systems.
    Lastly, OO approach is a money saver in the long run
    and the best way to minimize and ameliorate operational
    risks.
                 Conclusion
     Object Oriented Operational Process implementation
      are the enablers of next-Gen airport operations


Bissaj Advance Technologies can help to,

1.   Provide technology and operations related
     consultancy.
2.   Model/audit the airport operations process.
3.   Advise on process/system architecture.
4.   Provide assistance to optimize implementation.