Airport management is often challenged by the task of managing aircraft parking positions most efficiently while complying with environmental regulations and capacity restrictions. Frequently this task is additionally affected by various perturbations, affecting punctuality of airport operations. This paper presents an innovative approach for obtaining an efficient stand assignment considering the stochastic nature of the airport environment and emissions reduction target of the modern air transportation industry. Furthermore, the presented methodology demonstrates how the same procedure of creating a stand assignment can help to identify an emissions mitigation potential. This paper illustrates the application of the presented methodology combined with simulation and demonstrates the impact of the application of Bayesian modeling and metaheuristic optimization for reduction of taxi-related emissions.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has faced capacity constraints, particularly during peak periods. At the security screening checkpoint, this is due to the growing number of passengers and a shortage of security staff. To improve operating performance, there is a need to integrate newer technologies that improve passing times. This research presents a discrete event simulation (DES) model for the inclusion of a shoe scanner at the security screening checkpoint at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Simulation is a frequently used method to assess the influence of process changes, which, however, has not been applied for the inclusion of shoe scanners in airport security screenings yet. The simulation model can be used to assess the implementation and potential benefits of an optical shoe scanner, which is expected to lead to significant improvements in passenger throughput and a decrease in the time a passenger spends during the security screening, which could lead to improved passenger satisfaction. By leveraging DES as a tool for analysis, this study provides valuable insights for airport authorities and stakeholders aiming to optimize security screening operations and enhance passenger satisfaction.
The need to better understand how to manage the real logistics operations in Schiphol Airport, a strategic hub for the economic development of the Netherlands, created the conditions to develop a project where academia and industry partnered to build a simulation model of the Schiphol Airport Landside operations. This paper presents such a model using discrete-event simulation. A realistic representation of the open road network of the airport as well as the (un)loading dock capacities and locations of the five ground handlers of Schiphol Airport was developed. Furthermore, to provide practitioners with applicable consolidation and truck-dispatching policies, some easy-to-implement rules are proposed and implemented in the model. Preliminary results from this model show that truck-dispatching policies have a higher impact than consolidation policies in terms of both distance travelled by cooperative logistic operators working within the airport and shipments’ average flow time. Furthermore, the approach presented in this study can be used for studying similar megahubs.
