Analysis of flight conflicts in the Chinese air route network. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Mingyuan; Liang, Boyuan; Wang, Sheng; Perc, Matjaž; Du, Wenbo; Cao, Xianbin
• Is Part Of: Chaos, solitons and fractals. Volume 112(2018)
• Page Start: 97
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Flight conflict -- Chinese air route network -- Time-space characteristics -- Complex network; Chaotic behavior in systems -- Periodicals; Solitons -- Periodicals; Fractals -- Periodicals; Chaotic behavior in systems; Fractals; Solitons; Periodicals; 003.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2018.04.041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-0779

Abstract

Highlights: Complex network theory is adopted to analyze the flight conflicts of the Chinese air route network (CARN). Results show that the flight conflicts are related to the geographical factor and time segment, traffic diversion. More flight conflicts would occur at air route waypoints (ARWs) that are located close to the geographic center of CARN. Frequency of flight conflicts of some ARWs varies greatly depending on the time periods while there exist some ARWs, i.e., HFE, ZHO, whose frequency of flight conflicts are relatively high in most time periods. This paper offers some suggestions on reducing flight conflicts for some specific ARWs, such as separating air traffic flow in ARWs and modifying the flight schedules. Abstract: The increase in economic exchange, brought about by globalization and leaps of progress in science and engineering, has led to a sharp increase in air traffic density. As a consequence, airspace has become increasingly crowded, and limitations in airspace capacity have become a major concern for the future development of air travel and transportation. In this paper, we adopt methods of network science to analyze flight conflicts in the Chinese air route network. We show that air conflicts are distributed heterogeneously along the waypoints of the Chinese air route network. In particular, the frequency of flight conflicts follows an exponential distribution. The time-space investigation of flight conflicts shows that they are concentrated at specific regions of the Chinese air route network and at specific time periods of the day. Our work offers fascinating insights into one of the world's largest and most busiest air route networks, and it helps us mitigate flight conflicts and improve air traffic safety.