TU Delft helps Maastricht air traffic controllers make safe choices

News - 30 September 2024

In March 2024, the EUROCONTROL air traffic control centre MUAC in Maastricht launched a new software tool that allows their air traffic controllers to make faster and more intuitive decisions about air traffic in their area. The tool was developed by MUAC , but is based on research into ecological interfaces by colleagues Clark Borst, René van Paassen and Max Mulder at Control & Simulation. Borst: "I am proud that we are helping air traffic controllers make good and, above all, safe choices in this way." The researchers are now working with MUAC on software that will allow the air traffic controller to collaborate with a virtual colleague.

MUAC air traffic controllers regulate all air traffic in one of Europe's busiest airspace areas. They supervise up to 5,500 flights a day. To do so, until recently they used software that allowed them to identify potential conflicts, but that did not suggest alternative routes or solutions. It was up to the air traffic controller to come up with solutions.

In March, MUAC launched the software tool LORD that does help the controller to make decisions. Although the software was further developed by MUAC's Systems Development Team, the basis for LORD lies in Delft. Associate Professor of Control & Simulation Clark Borst is one of the founding fathers, alongside his colleagues Full Professor Max Mulder and Associate Professor René van Paassen: “The LORD software is an example of an ecological interface. It portrays the complete space of safe and unsafe actions. The airspace controller can then quickly decide which solution is the best given the situation. Ultimately, this contributes to airspace safety." What also makes LORD special is that it works intuitively: the air traffic controller is shown a clear graphic representation of the entire situation. It can also be customised according to personal preferences. Clark Borst: “I am proud that a tool we developed here, which happened to end up at MUAC through a former student, is actually being used in practice by air traffic controllers.”

Borst and colleagues continue to work with MUAC today. For example, they are working on software where the air traffic controller can safely delegate part of the traffic to a digital colleague.