Preliminary evaluation of Augmented Reality-assisted operations for Airport Apron Management optimisation

Air navigation service providers and airport operators face challenges in ensuring timely, safe, and cost-efficient operations. Digitalization offers a key solution to enhance efficiency and reliability. With the advent of new technologies, Air Traffic Control near airports transitioned from relying solely on visual observation to incorporating advanced technologies and sensors, such as RADAR. Within the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) programme, aimed at developing and implementing technologies to transform air traffic management in European skies, significant progress has been made to optimize and innovate airport operations and the Tower AirTraffic Controllers work. Within this frame, the Resilient Synthetic Vision for Advanced Control Tower Air Navigation Service Provision (RETINA) project, launched in 2016, investigated the possibility to apply new tools within the conventional control tower to reduce the air traffic controller workload, thanks to the improvements in the augmented reality technologies. After the validation of RETINA, the Digital Technologies for Tower (DTT) project was established and the solution proposed by the University of Bologna aimed to further develop and refine the positive outcomes from previous projects. This has led to the hypothesis of a positive impact of augmented reality technology on daily operations even for airport operators, particularly those in the Airport Operational Control Center (AOCC). These operators are responsible for overseeing and managing airport aprons, playing a key role in delivering on-time, safe, and cost-efficient services. The aim of this thesis is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of Augmented Reality-assisted operations for Airport Apron Management for the purpose of optimizing the processes. Initial concept requirements are defined and the results give some suggestions on why and how to conduct a brand new validation plan.