Agent-based simulation of complex aviation incidents by integrating different cognitive agent models

Abstract

Aviation incidents often have a complex character in the sense that a number of different aspects of human and technical functioning come together in creating the incident. Usually only model constructs or computational agent models are available for each of these aspects separately. To obtain an overall model, these agent models have to be integrated. In this paper, existing agent models are used to develop a formal, executable agent model of a real-world scenario concerning an aircraft that descends below the minimal descent altitude because of impaired conditions of the flight crew members. Based on the model, a few proof-of-concept simulations are generated that describe how such hazardous scenarios can evolve. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.