The evolution of airport ground management systems can be categorised into 3 periods. A detailed review can be found here.
1) Before Surface Movement, Guidance and Control System (SMGCS) – (before 1974 ~ 1986)
2) SMGCS – (1986 ~ 2004)
For reference, see ICAO SMGCS Manual Doc 9476-AN/927. The key principles are:
- ‘See and be seen’ to main spacing
- Simple Visual aids for guidance
- Control and Planning mostly down to Air Traffic Controllers, Air Traffic Service and the aerodrome authority
- Establishment of Standard Taxi Routes mostly for high traffic volume operations
- Limited surveillance information & radiotelephony for communication
3) Advanced SMGCS (A-SMGCS) – (2004 ~ to date)
For reference, see ICAO A-SMGCS Manual Doc 9830 – AN/452. The key features are:
- Automated route assignment
- Improved visual aids and guidance
- Conflict prediction and/or detection, analysis and resolution
- Automation and Human Factors engineering linking the surface and the terminal
- Improved means of providing situational awareness
- Improved means of surveillance
Within A-SMGCS, we can further distinguish 3 generations of research:
1st generation: Passive Routing and Guidance
- standard mean taxi times or assumed constant speeds
- any variances from the means resolved by adding a slack time
Examples of research include Lesire (2010), Clare and Richards (2011), Marín (2006).
2nd generation: Semi Active Routing and Guidance
- realistic taxi speed predictions or
- detailed 4DTs respecting time intervals given by the routing function in a post processing manner
Examples of research include Ravizza et al. (2014), Cheng (2007).
3rd generation: Active Routing and Guidance
- 4DTs defined via optimised speed profiles, which are generated with respect to different objectives
- 4DTs proactively embedded within the routing and scheduling function
Examples of research include Chen et al. (2015), Chen et al. (2016).