Control–Flight Conflict Interdependent Network Based Controllers’ Workload Prediction Evaluation Study

As the core link of the air traffic control system, the evaluation and management of controllers’ workload are of great significance for the rapid development of China’s civil aviation industry and aviation safety. To address the problems of strong subjectivity and lag in the current controller evaluation methods, we propose to construct a flight conflict network and control network based on inter-aircraft flight conflict, controller control relationship and control transfer relationship by using the interdependent network theory. Based on the urgency of inter-aircraft conflict and the control difficulty of controllers, we set the side rights and construct an interdependent network model. Based on the constructed network model, the controller workload is evaluated by selecting the interdependent network index characteristics. Finally, the experimental analysis is carried out by program simulation and control data of Takasaki Airport. The results demonstrate that the method is able to evaluate the controller’s workload. At the same time, it can quickly and accurately identify the key control nodes and provide assistance for controllers to allocate their efforts reasonably. Our proposed controller workload evaluation method enables quantitative analysis and predicts the future workload of controllers based on the potential conflict relationships between air posture and aircraft. The method has strong timeliness and objectivity. At the same time, the constructed interdependent network model can realize the identification of key aircraft in the control area and reflect the impact of key aircraft on the whole network, which can help controllers to perform better control work.