Optimal design of terminal airspace (ODESTA)

Important results from the project

The project fulfilled its goals: it developed a unified approach to design of terminal airspace, paying attention to both aircraft routes and the controllability of the traffic pattern created by the routes. ODESTA´s algorithmic solutions contribute to more efficient air transport by suggesting shorter flying routes, decreased delays and improved predictability, which leads to higher capacity. This has positive environmental impact, i.e., decrease of noise and emissions, via use of modern navigation techniques (curved approaches).

Expected long term effects

Project results have reached the widest circle of national and international experts: - ODESTA produced a large number of papers presented at top forums on air traffic management (ATM) research - the regular project reference group meetings allowed ODESTA to spread its ideas to the practitioners. ODESTA´s success led to building up a whole group on academic excellence in ATM research (tiny.cc/aear). Arguably, the group is academically strongest ATM research group in Scandinavia, producing more scientific papers in ATM than the rest of the region.

Approach and implementation

The project was envisioned as a PhD study, but unfortunately, a suitable candidate was not found. This led to a lot of effort put in by senior researchers, which in the end was beneficial to the project. Even though a PhD degree was not produced during the project, the number of papers written within ODESTA is definitely more than what is required for a PhD. A heavy-hitters reference group, with participants from both academia and industry (both local and international), formed during ODESTA, has transformed into a forum for progress reporting for several ongoing project, spawned by ODESTA.