Handling airport ground processes based on Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling

Abstract

This paper describes how the Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (RCPSP) can be used as a basis for real-time decision support in the disruption management of the aircraft turnaround, the most typical airport ground process. For this purpose, the RCPSP is extended by the possibility to describe alternative activities, which can be used to model potential process modifications. An evolutionary approach is presented for solving this generalized problem, considering both basic rescheduling possibilities as well as the option of exchanging activities. The work presented in this paper is based on the results of a study conducted in collaboration with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, concerned with the analysis of the elementary requirements of decision support systems for turnaround process management. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.