College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences

System Modelling and Simulation

Submission date: 21/01/2025 (also seek confirmation from Contact Course

Administrator)

Distribution date: 20/11/2024

Systems Modelling and Simulation Assignment 2024-25

Each year, the assignment for the Systems Modelling and Simulation module
explores a new theme. In previous years, themes have included healthcare, banking
services, manufacturing, and logistics. This year, the focus is on airport operations
management. This variety demonstrates how the core principles of the subject can
be applied to different fields with similar performance indicators. We hope you
enjoy this year's assignment!

Aircraft arrive at the airport with an exponentially distributed time between arrivals,
15 minutes.

Upon arrival, planes wait in the air for a signal from the control tower indicating that
it is safe to land. It is essential that the landing runway is available and clear;
otherwise, planes must continue to circle until they receive permission to land. The
airport operates two runways—one dedicated to landings and the other for take-
offs.

Upon allocation of the runway, the aircraft lands, the process of landing and clearing
the runway follows a Triangular distribution of TRIA (15,15,20

The taxi time between runways and terminal gates follows an Exponential
. The passengers and luggage unloading
delay time from the aircraft, follows an Exponential distribution of
From the total number of all arriving flights at the airport, 30% go to Terminals 1,
Terminal 2 takes 20%, and Terminals 3 and 4 each take 25%. Each terminal has a
capacity of 5 identical gates.

17 minutes. The
ratio of aircraft departure from each terminal is the same as arrivals (i.e., T1: 30%,
T2: 2

The loading time for all departing aircraft at each terminal follows an Exponential
10 minutes.

For take-off, the aircraft first taxis to the runway, which takes an Exponential
distribution time with a mean of 10 minutes. Once positioned, the process of runway
allocation, preparing for departure, and taking off follows a Triangular distribution of
TRIA (5,10,15

The runway maintenance team plays a crucial role in airport safety by inspecting and
clearing the runways of any potential hazards, such as debris, loose materials, or
wildlife that could interfere with take-off and landing. As part of the airport’s safety
protocol, both runways are temporarily closed during each inspection, which takes
place every 5.5 hours. These inspections typically last about 10 minutes, following a
10 minutes and a standard deviation

the wait rule, ensuring that maintenance intervals align with operational demands
while prioritizing runway safety.
In this assignment, please ignore passenger check-ins and similar processes. This is
due to limitations on the number of entities allowed in the student version of the
Arena software.
1. Develop a simulation model with appropriate animations of the airport operation
system focusing on the use of the runways. Simulate the airport operation for 24 hrs
10 times without initiating system.

2. On average, what percentage of the time are the runways in the idle or busy state?

3. Discuss the Utilisation of each Runway and Terminals on daily basis during the
simulation run.

4. Display the WIP for arriving planes, departing planes and the total WIP on one plot
over a simulated time of 24 Do not initialize the statistics
between your simulation runs.
5. Assuming the Level of Sound Exposure from each aircraft is given by a triangular
distribution with values 50, 60 and 100 decibels, display on a plot, over a simulated
time of 24 hrs, the total number of aircraft in process that have a sound level above a
specified threshold of 85 decibels. [Hint: You need to look at the WIP, also assign
sound levels to airplanes when they are created]
6. Assuming some of the departure aircraft (5

and design and record the total number of aircraft in process that have an emergency
landing.

7. Write a report that explains your modelling approach and process, explaining how
key concepts such as waiting for signal from the control tower were modelled.

8. Discuss the results of your simulation with regard to key performance factors:
runway and terminal utilisation, WIP, noise
in the air and on the ground to access terminals. Conduct statistical validation and
verification of the results and how you achieve the necessary levels of confidence in
the outputs.

9. Offer suggestions of how to improve the performance of the airport with respect to
the key performance indicators: runway and terminal utilisation, WIP, noise pollution,

Your suggestions should be simulated, and results compared to the original model.

10. The airport management wishes to double the number of aircraft that arrive and
depart from the airport. Offer suggestions on how this could be possible with respect
to maintaining or minimising the emission levels. Discuss your various suggestions by
creating simulation models and comparing the results with one another.

Part B: Feasibility Study for a Third Runway

ird runway that will support
both landings and take-offs. This analysis will focus on financial, operational, and
environmental management considerations.
Requirements:
1. Runway Proposal Simulation: Simulate the integration of a third, dual-
purpose runway, evaluating its impact on airport operations, including runway

2. Cost and Feasibility Analysis: Conduct a detailed financial analysis that

includes, use arbitrary figures for costs:
o Estimated construction costs and long-term maintenance expenses.
 o Environmental assessments, focusing on noise levels, emissions, and
other sustainability factors.
o A comprehensive cost management plan, integrating strategies for
minimizing both financial and environmental impacts. Research into
emissions and noise levels from the internet, and use values for
pollution emissions and noise for a single type of aircraft (e.g. Airbus

3. Research Component: Investigate similar airport expansion projects, focusing

on effective management approaches that balance cost, environmental
sustainability, and operational efficiency.
4. Report: Present findings in a clear, concise report that includes:
o A financial plan with accurate cost projections and ROI estimates.
o An assessment of environmental impacts and mitigation strategies.
o Recommendations based on simulation results and research insights.

Use Run conditions defined as: Warm- 1 24

10. The system
replications, but statistics should not be initialised.
Hint: Create arrivals and departures separately. But make sure you dispose the
aircraft after unloading for arrivals and after take-off for departing aircraft.

Please
the assignment as an appendix to your report. The summary report is automatically
generated by Arena in the same directory that you run and compile your model.

NOTE: Follow University guideline on submission of your work and ensure you select
the correct format of files. Your report, Arena models (*.doe), *.Output file should
all be submitted. Ensure if you are zipping files, the University system allows you to
do so. Failing to submit the requested information and files will result into Fail.

Part of the allocated mark for each part is for intuitive modelling approach, design,
animation, and presentation of the simulation models and the report. The value and
the results need to be interpreted and explained. The suggestions for improvement to
the system should be appropriately articulated and simulated with results and
validation and verification statistically.
Ensure that you follow the assignment guidelines for submission which is available on:

http://people.brunel.ac.uk/~emstaam/

Click on Teaching Systems Modelling and Simulation Assignment and

Project submission guidelines

Module Leader: Professor Alireza Mousavi: [email protected]

Teaching Personnel:
Theophilus Opoku Appiah: [email protected]
Reza Naji : [email protected]
Note: If any part of the assignment text is difficult to understand, please don’t hesitate
and concise
email, and we will make every effort to respond as promptly as possible.
 Systems and Modelling Simulation
MARK SCHEME

Unit Total
Part Description
Mark Mark
1. Model organization (s/w) 3
2. Data accuracy (according to assignment) 3
3. Run Setup 2
A 4. Generate and present a report (document format). 3 15
5. Accurately generates entity types 2
6. Accurately routes different types of entities according to given plan 2
7. Bonus 0
1. Used stations and routes well 2
2. Used failure well 3
3. Use of expressions and variables 2
4. Used Hold / Signal well 4
B 5.Assesses accuracy of noise plot for aircraft over 85 decibels in a 24- 19
3
hour simulation.
Accurate modelling of emergency landings with priority queuing and
5
proper recording of affected aircraft.
6. Bonus 0
1. Has animation 3
2. Displays statistics / plot 2
C 8
3. Animation works well 3
4. Bonus 0
1. Obtained reasonable results 4
2. Interprets results quite well 3
D 15
3. Clearly identifies KPFs 4
4. Shows understanding of KPFs and potential problems 4
1. Provides proposal for improvement 4
2. Proposal addresses discussed problems 4
E 3. Provides reasonable arguments for proposed system 3 18
4. Provides feasible recommendations and simulation for doubling
7
aircraft volume while managing emission levels.
1.Runway Proposal Simulation 4
G 2. Cost and Feasibility Analysis 8 20
3.Research Component 4
4.Report Presentation 4
F 1. Draws a strong conclusion 5 5
TOTAL 100