**Target Generation Facility (TGF)**

**ACB-860 Simulation Group**

**Project Summary**

**Fiscal Year 2006**

**Dan Warburton**

> October 30, 2006

# Table of Contents

[Table of Contents 2](#table-of-contents)

[TGF Project Summary FY 2006 2](#tgf-project-summary-fy-2006)

[Executive Summary 2](#executive-summary)

[Section 1 -- Simulation Projects Supported
3](#section-1-simulation-projects-supported)

[1.1 STARS Denver FMA 3](#stars-denver-fma)

[1.2 Simulation: ATCT/EFDI (Electronic Flight Data Interfaces) (HFL)
3](#simulation-atctefdi-electronic-flight-data-interfaces-hfl)

[1.3 Big Airspace (HFL) 4](#big-airspace-hfl)

[1.4 STARS PHL 4](#stars-phl)

[1.5 ERAM Capacity Radar Recording 5](#eram-capacity-radar-recording)

[1.6 Future En-route Workstation Study II
5](#future-en-route-workstation-study-ii)

[1.7 Dynamic Density DR&A development
6](#dynamic-density-dra-development)

[Section 2 -- Technical Summary 7](#section-2-technical-summary)

[2.1 Ground Simulation Capability 7](#ground-simulation-capability)

[2.2 Sun Network Attached Storage (NAS ) procured and installed.
7](#sun-network-attached-storage-nas-procured-and-installed.)

[2.3 Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM) configured and activated
7](#cisco-firewall-services-module-fwsm-configured-and-activated)

[2.4 CIGI based Simulation Visual Simulation developed
7](#cigi-based-simulation-visual-simulation-developed)

[2.5 Aviation Simnet 7](#aviation-simnet)

[2.6 External Project Network Infrastructure Support
8](#external-project-network-infrastructure-support)

[TGF Acronyms and Abbreviations 9](#tgf-acronyms-and-abbreviations)

[TGF Airports and Centers 11](#tgf-airports-and-centers)

# TGF Project Summary FY 2006

# 

## Executive Summary

The Target Generation Facility (TGF) completed another successful
simulation year. All simulations were provided on-time and met or
exceeded customer expectations. In addition to completing these
simulations many enhancements were added to the Target Generation
Facility\'s aircraft dynamics engine, simulation pilot workstation and
hardware infrastructure.

## Section 1 -- Simulation Projects Supported

This section summarizes the simulation efforts supported by the Target
Generation Facility during the fiscal year.

### 1.1 STARS Denver FMA

Simulation Dates: January 10 -- January 12 2006

January 17 -- January 18 2006

Program Office: STARS ATO-T

Contacts: David Cognata ATO-T Sr. Air Traffic Control Specialist

609-485-9198

Gary Miller ATO-T STARS

609-485-7175

Ed Gaguski ATO-T STARS

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

This simulation was conducted as regression testing for software builds
for Denver's Final Monitor Aid. Denver is a special build for STARS as
it runs with ARTS.

### 1.2 Simulation: ATCT/EFDI (Electronic Flight Data Interfaces) (HFL)

Simulation Dates: May 1 -- May 5 2006

Program Office: AJP-61

Contacts: Dr. Todd Truitt

609-485-4351

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

This was a ground simulation requiring the use of the recently built TGF
ground simulator. The purpose of the simulation was to assess the
usability of two electronic flight data interfaces (EFDIs). Boston's
Logan International Airport was adapted including all runways and
taxiways.

### 1.3 Big Airspace (HFL)

Simulation Dates: May 4 2006 - ongoing

Program Office: ATO-P Systems Engineering

NAS Operational Concepts & Service Engineering

Contacts: Michele Merkle

> 202-385-7259
>
> micele.merkle@faa.gov

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

This simulation is being run to evaluate the concepts of extending
terminal separation standards to en route airspace, and incorporating
dynamic re-sectorization to make airspace boundaries more flexible for
rerouting traffic when weather, equipment outages, or active special use
airspace disrupt traffic flow, and to evaluate the effect of the Big
Airspace concept on controller efficiency and safety. The Jacksonville
and Miami ARTCC's were adapted and the airspace was "genericized" in
order to create an experimental airspace that could quickly be learned
by controllers/participants from facilities around the nation.

The simulation required six sectors; 4 en route, 2 terminal, as well as,
two ghost sectors; 1 inbound, and 1 outbound. Twelve simulation pilots
are necessary to run the simulation.

Ghost controllers are necessary to hold and release aircraft into the
controlled airspace.

### 1.4 STARS PHL

Simulation Dates: July 7 -9 2006

Program Office: STARS ATO-T

Contacts: David Cognata ATO-T Sr. Air Traffic Control Specialist

609-485-9198

Gary Miller ATO-T STARS

609-485-7175

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

This simulation was a human factor study. PHL was chosen as the site as
previous scenarios were familiar to the customer. The purpose of the
study was to evaluate the effects of color on controller reaction and
awareness.

### 1.5 ERAM Capacity Radar Recording

Simulation Dates: August 10, 2006

Program Office: STARS ATO-T

Contacts: Paul Purcell

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

This simulation produced a radar recording of 720 targets. The targets
were displayed in the following systematic manner: groups of 60 targets
flying away from the center of a circle, each target separated by 6
degrees, and another group of 60 targets being released every minute,
until all 720 targets are displayed at the 11:05 min mark. The
simulation load decreases in the same way it built up and completes by
24:05 minutes.

### 1.6 Future En-route Workstation Study II 

###  

Simulation Dates August 23 -- September 30 2006

Program Office: AJP-61 and ATO-E

Contacts: William B. Hah

609-485-5809

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

The purpose of this simulation was to compare the Future En-route
Workstation with the existing DSR workstations from a human factors
perspective. The Future En-route Workstation's automated tools were
designed with human factors in mind as opposed to the commercial tools
that lack integration and human factors design.

The simulation scenario consisted of the generic airspace run with
traffic levels of 2015.

Thirty two scenarios were developed representing today's 100% traffic
level, and the future's 133% and 166% traffic levels. The participants
worked the traffic on both types of workstations.

### 

### 

### 

### 

### 1.7 Dynamic Density DR&A development

Simulation Dates: October 2005 and ongoing

Program Office: NASA Ames Research Center

Contacts: Parimal Kopardekar

650-604-2782

[Simulation Summary]{.underline}

This is an ongoing effort to develop various complex metrics for
evaluation of air traffic complexity. These metrics are still under
development and in general can be subdivided into 3 sets of interrelated
algorithms:

-   FAA

-   NASA

-   Metron (MITRE)

All of these algorithms were integrated into TGF's DRAT (Data Reduction
Analysis Tool) as Dynamic Density calculations ( a total of 50
variables). This is the first step of the Dynamic Density project to
provide analysts with tools for statistical evaluation of data and
extrapolation..

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## Section 2 -- Technical Summary

This section summarizes the technical achievements of the TGF during the
fiscal year.

### 2.1 Ground Simulation Capability

TGF continued the development of the ground based simulation
capabilities. TGF developed the phase II dynamics based ground model.

### 2.2 Sun Network Attached Storage (NAS ) procured and installed.

TGF procured, installed and configured a Sun based NAS device. This
device provides additional storage for TGF data. The NAS has redundant
access points, removing a single

Point of failure in the TGF infrastructure.

### 2.3 Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM) configured and activated

TGF configured and activated the FWSM previously procured. This provides
improved performance over the software based Content Based Access
Control (CBAC) previously

used to secured the TGF networks. Additionally TGF moved to the
192.168.x.x network

Addresses space for internal systems. This upgrade eliminated persistent
network slow performance and high router CPU utilization.

### 2.4 CIGI based Simulation Visual Simulation developed

TGF continues to Develop a simulation visualization capability based on
the Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI).

### 2.5 Aviation Simnet

The Aviation SimNet capability was integrated into TGF. Aviation SimNet
provides an infrastructure, that enables and promotes sharing of
simulation assets and collaborative simulation experiments. TGF is
currently testing with NASA, Mitre, and ERAU.

### 2.6 External Project Network Infrastructure Support

TGF Personnel provided design, equipment procurement, implementation and
configuration support for (4) other WJHTC projects/systems. A Cisco 3825
router/firewall was installed for the Bytex system to limit offnet IP
access. The RCS network was completely redesigned to include a Cisco
3845 router/firewall and gigabit uplink and a gigabit switched downlink
infrastructure. The RCS was also provided with redundant local caching
DNS service as well; minimizing RCS Unix system administration. TGF
personnel supported proof of concept VoIP communications for the
Airbourne Internet research project. Feasibility and interoperability of
Cisco VoIP equipment over limited RF 19.2 kbps bandwidth were examined
and tested. Finally, TGF personnel continue to provide ongoing design
support for the laboratory network infrastructure upgrade

# TGF Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADAR ARTS Data Acquisition & Router

AGW ARTS GateWay

ARTS Automated Radar Terminal System

ATCT Air Traffic Control Tower

CAS Controller Awareness Study

CTAS Center TRACON Automation System

CHI Computer Human Interface

CPDLS Controller Pilot Data Link Communications

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung (German Simulation)

DIS Distributed Interactive Simulation

DRVSM Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

DSR Display System Replacement

EDC Early Display Configuration

ERAU Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univeristy

ETVS Enhanced Terminal Voice Switch

FAST Final Approach Spacing Tool

FFP Free Flight Phase

FS1, 2/2+ Full Service 1, 2/2+

GAO Government Accounting Office

GOERS GPS Outage En route Simulation

GPS Global Positioning System

HAD High Altitude Demonstration

HAT High Altitude Test

HFL Human Factors Laboratory

HLA High Level Architecture

IIF Integration and Interoperability Facility

LAAEP LA Arrival Enhancement Project

McTMA Multi-Center Traffic Management Advisor

NAS National Airspace System

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association

PARR Problem Analysis Resolution and Ranking

PAS Pseudo Aircraft System

PDU Protocol Data Units

PTR Program Trouble Reports

RDHFL Research Development and Human Factors Laboratory

RNAV Area Navigation

RVSM Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

STARS Stand Alone Terminal ARTS Replacement System

TATCA Terminal Air Traffic Control Automation

TFM Traffic Flow Management

TGF Target Generation Facility

TMA Traffic Management Advisor

TRACON Terminal Radar Approach CONtrol

URET User Request Evaluation Tool

WJHTC William J. Hughes Technical Center

XPVD X-windows Planned View Display

# TGF Airports and Centers

ADW Andrews Air Force Base

DCA Ronald Reagan International Airport

EWR Newark International Airport

Genera Generic airspace generated for HFL studies

JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport

PHL Philadelphia International Airport

ZDC Washington Center

ZID Indianapolis Center

ZJX Jacksonville Center

ZNY New York Center

ZOB Cleveland Center