SESAR

The current European Validation Infrastructure comprises a wide variety of tools: real time simulators, live trial platforms, rapid prototyping platforms, fast time simulation tools, industrial test beds, pre-/post-processors, analytical tools and various other techniques and methodologies. Under the SESAR JU development activities, WP3 will address the transversal need to overcome the current validation infrastructure limitations in terms of uniformity, coordination, cataloguing, development, maintenance and interoperability.

The aim of this transversal WP is consequently to build a comprehensive and integrated Validation and Verification infrastructure to fulfill the overall validation needs for the SESAR ATM system. The resulting infrastructure should be able to validate from single ATM applications up to the whole SESAR ATM Target Concept, along the ATM System life-cycle, as required by SJU validation roadmap. In this context, WP3 will identify and specify proper modelling, simulation, validation capabilities and tools required for the successful achievement of the SESAR programme, including the identification of the necessary capabilities to support the certification process of SESAR compliant systems.

WP3 activities will be performed following an iterative stepwise process based mainly on two main phases. In the initial phases (i.e. E-OCVM V0 to V2), WP3 will provide indication/support upon methodologies and validation tools to each operational and technical WP, based on their validation infrastructure needs and commonly agreed validation strategies (coordinated by SJU). Each SESAR WP, at this stage, could use its own validation platforms or use common platform made available through WP3. As soon as the various ATM system components developed by operational and technical WPs will come to a certain level of maturity, WP3 will start to work in parallel on the definition and will coordinate incremental development of the reference infrastructure that can be used for validating some Quick Wins coming from Operational projects and also for some initial medium/large-scale validation activities. This parallel and early Validation Infrastructure development activity will speed up the process and mitigate the risk linked with the potential delay of consolidated deliverables. In the last phases (V3 and beyond), WP3 will take over the responsibility of coordinating the development and integration of all Validation components/platforms into a wider platform to support cross-WP validation activities, end-to-end simulation campaigns and finally, by such incremental approach, the validation of the System of Systems.

WP3 activities will involve all relevant European ATM stakeholders to benefit from the various existing expertise, tools and validation platforms in order to make available a reference validation and verification infrastructure which shall be used along the overall SESAR Development phase.

WP3, "Validation Infrastructure Adaptation and Integration", is a Transversal Thread of the SESAR development phase. The aim of this WP is to define a complete validation infrastructure on which the SESAR concept can be validated in line with E-OCVM processes.

Starting from the currently available validation facilities, WP3 will coordinate the adaptation and integration of tools, real time simulators, rapid prototyping platforms, fast time simulation tools, industrial test beds and simulators, pre-/post-processors, prototypes and large-scale validation platforms. WP3 scope also covers the technical support for the validation infrastructure usage and the specification/development of validation tool types and techniques, processes, infrastructures and relevant interoperability and interchangeability standards (in cooperation with EUROCAE WG81).

According to this, the main WP3 objectives are to:

• Build and maintain the inventory of ATM existing validation tools in Europe and make sure that those standards for interoperability between simulation facilities and/or between ATC components are developed and maintained.
• Identify methodologies (in line with E-OCVM) for verification and validation, measurement tools and facilities for the appropriate appointment of the validation infrastructure.
• Capture, analyze, monitor and define the Validation and Verification Infrastructure requirements for all the tools and/or sub-systems/systems required in support of SESAR validation activities.
• Specify and develop validation tool chains, processes, integration methodologies and platforms and corresponding interoperability/interchangeability standards (including services and data in collaboration with EUROCAE WG-81).
• Issue recommendations and technical specifications and tests for the improvement of existing tools or standards or for the development of additional tools, facilities or standards.
• Manage the improvement, the development, the adaptation, the integration and the acceptance of existing or new validation and verification tools or standards (e.g. for simulator, simulator interoperability) finding the most suitable technical and contractual solutions for the timely delivery of these facilities.
• Specify the reference SESAR Validation and Verification Infrastructure that should allow the characterization of a test-bed for building a "system of systems" integrating components/sub-systems/systems of the future ATM infrastructure providing a framework to possibly support future certification activities.
• Define the Validation Infrastructure Architecture to characterize the ATM Information reference model.
• Deploy and integrate the V&V Infrastructure, providing continuous support and maintenance services, including training and/or expert consultancy for the tools' operation (when required).
• Support integration and testing of tools and/or sub-systems/systems for SESAR validation activities in line with the Overall Integration and Validation strategy (as defined by SJU).
• Support testing of real system components, integrating model based simulators (fast time) with Human In the Loop (real-time) simulators to enable simulation exercises, in which some parts of the system are simulated by real system components, while other parts are simulated by modelled components playing the role of virtual elements.

Support the integration of the prototypes in large-scale validation platform aligned with the System Wide Information Management approach under the supervision and coordination of the Overall R&D consistency by SJU.

• ENAV SpA represented by Dr. Luigi Mazzucchelli acting as WP3 Leader, ENAV SpA represented by Mr. Enzo Amadio acting as SWP 3.1 Leader
• EUROCONTROL represented by Mr. Hervè PARVAIS acting as SWP 3.2 Leader
• AENA represented by Mr. Josè Miguel De Pablo GUERRERO acting as SWP 3.3 Leader

WP3 is structured as follows:

S-WP 3.0 Global Co-ordination and Management: in charge of managing and coordinating all WP activities by following a stepwise process, ensuring appropriate relationships with other WPs and consistency among activities belonging to WP3.

S-WP 3.1 Validation Infrastructure Requirements Definition: it analyses and understands the R&D needs identifying validation infrastructure requirements, gathered by the R&D Overall Consistency; it also defines methodologies (in line with E-OCVM) for verification and validation measurement tools and facilities for the appropriate appointment of the validation infrastructure and identifies the required types of tools and techniques.

S-WP3.1 activities are performed by the following three Projects:

• Project 3.1.1 Validation Infrastructure Needs Management: in charge of managing the needs for the validation infrastructure including their consolidation, detailed description and negotiation.
• Project 3.1.2 Validation Tool Types and Technique Analysis: with the aim to select the appropriate validation tool types and techniques or their chain (e.g. a tool chain composed by gaming, FTS, RTS and live Trials).
• Project 3.1.3 Validation Infrastructure Requirement Consolidation: with the aim to:
  • elicit validation infrastructure requirements based on the detailed R&D needs (developed by Project 3.1.1) and in accordance with the validation tool types and techniques (selected in Project 3.1.2), and
  • consolidate the new set of requirements in the overall set of validation infrastructure requirements.

S-WP 3.2 Validation Infrastructure Analysis: based on the requirements definition, it will assess the fit-for purpose of existing tools, identifying gaps and providing specifications for improvements and/or new developments. S-WP3.2 activities are performed by the following two Projects:

• Project 3.2.1 Validation Infrastructure Inventory: in charge of:
  • building and maintaining the inventory of the existing validation tools in Europe, and
  • making sure that standards for interoperability between simulation facilities and/or between ATC components are developed and maintained.
• Project 3.2.2 Validation Infrastructure Specifications: with the aim to:
  • make decision for the selection of the various tools and standards to be used for the validation activities performed within the SJU work programme, and
  • provide technical specifications and tests for the improvement of the selected tools or for the development of new facilities.

S-WP 3.3 Tools Development and Acceptance: it manages, monitors and follows up the tools development, integration and maintenance activities. It will define a reference architecture for the validation infrastructure together with acceptance test. S-WP3.3 activities are performed by the following three Projects:

• Project 3.3.1 Validation Platform Architecture Definition: in charge of defining, describing, compiling and integrating all the requirements and specifications of the validation platform architecture. The main goal is to provide an open and flexible way to address the validation of new concepts by developing the concept functionality in a separate component, and integrating it into the overall platform.
• Project 3.3.2 Validation Platform Development: with the aim to consolidate the technical specifications and tests (WP3.2.2) for the development or improvement of tools by elaborating and monitoring the development plans including the priorities and risk management in cooperation with WP3.0.
• Project 3.3.3 Validation Platform Acceptance, Deployment and In Service Support: in charge of:
  • managing the acceptance and deployment of the tools and platforms as defined by WP3.3.2, and
  • defining and proposing customer support services and training to the users.

Will be established during the initiation phase.