A simulation analysis of airport terminal operations

A SIMULATION MODEL was applied to four BASIC TERMINAL LAYOUTS, aimed at verifying its use as an inSTRUMENT of INVESTIGATION in evaluating its effectiveness as an evaluation of passenger and service movements in airport terminals.

Abstract

A SIMULATION MODEL IS PRESENTED WHICH PERMITS THE EVALUATION OF PASSENGER AND SERVICE MOVEMENTS IN AIRPORT TERMINALS DEPENDING ON AIRCRAFT AND PASSENGER MIXES, RAMP ZONING AND RAMP-USE STRATEGIES. THE MODEL WAS APPLIED TO FOUR BASIC TERMINAL LAYOUTS. THESE WERE OPEN-RAMP DESIGN WITH CENTRAL PASSENGER-HANDLING FACILITIES, FINGER-PIER DESIGN WITH DECENTRALIZED PASSENGER HANDLING AND UNIT- TERMINAL DESIGN. SINCE THE APPLICATION WAS MADE MOSTLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF TESTING THE MODEL, NO DISTINCTION WAS MADE AS REGARDS WEIGHING FACTORS. THE ANALYSIS OF TYPICAL TERMINAL DESIGNS DOES IN NO WAY CLAIM TO BE EXHAUSTIVE, MAINLY BECAUSE NO WEIGHING FACTORS WERE USED AND SOME LIMITATIONS HAD TO BE MADE IN APPLYING THE VARIOUS GATE-USE STRATEGIES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXEMPLARY APPLICATION OF OF THE SIMULATION MODEL WAS AIMED MAINLY AT VERIFYING ITS USEFULNESS AS AN INSTRUMENT OF INVESTIGATION. /AUTHOR/