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Air Transport: A Computer Science Perspective

  • 1st Edition - October 14, 2025
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Sebastian Wandelt, Xiaoqian Sun
  • Language: English

Air Transport: A Computer Science Perspective examines the integration of computer science principles in air transportation, bridging the gap between theory and real-world applic… Read more

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Description

Air Transport: A Computer Science Perspective examines the integration of computer science principles in air transportation, bridging the gap between theory and real-world applications. It delves into automation, problem solving, and innovative aviation technologies. Authored by a seasoned team of a computer scientist and an airspace engineer, it offers a unique blend of expertise that highlights practical algorithms, data structures, and optimization techniques essential for flight operations and autonomous systems. Readers will learn about the latest regulations, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the evolving air transport landscape.

Structured in five parts, the book begins with foundational concepts like computational complexity and intelligence. It then explores airline operations, including network design, flight scheduling, fleet assignment, and aircraft routing. The exploration continues with airport operations, focusing on gate assignment, ground vehicle allocation, and delay prediction. In the realm of air traffic flow management, readers will discover trajectory optimization, airspace sectorization, and network resilience assessment. The final section summarizes key insights and future trends.

This book is an invaluable resource for transportation engineers, computer scientists, and professionals in data science, software engineering, and aviation research. It is ideal for students in aerospace engineering, computer science, and data science programs, emphasizing practical applications that drive innovation and efficiency in the air transport sector.

Key features

  • Provides expert reviews of the latest research, emphasizing applications in air transport
  • Focuses on applying machine learning, deep learning, and optimization algorithms for innovative air transport solutions
  • Includes practical strategies for managing algorithm efficiency, scalability, and complexity-accuracy trade-offs in real-world scenarios

Readership

Researchers and academics exploring the intersection of air transport and computer science; transportation engineers; computer scientists; data scientists and analysts in air transport operations; software engineers and developers for air transport systems; Master's and PhD students in aerospace engineering, computer science, and data science programs

Table of contents

PART 1 Foundations

1. Introduction

2. Computational Complexity

3. Computational Intelligence

PART 2 Airlines Operations

4. Network Design

5. Flight Scheduling

6. Fleet Assignment

7. Aircraft Routing

8. Crew scheduling

PART 3 Airport Operations

9. Gate Assignment

10. Ground Vehicle Allocation

11. Delay Prediction

PART 4 Air Traffic Flow Management

12. Trajectory Optimization

13. Airspace Sectorization

14. Network Resilience Assessment

PART 5 Conclusions

15. Summary and Outlook

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: October 14, 2025
  • Language: English

About the authors

SW

Sebastian Wandelt

Sebastian Wandelt is a professor at Beihang University. He has a PhD in computer science. His work is broadly on the design and evaluation of algorithms and data management techniques in transportation, with a focus the underlying computational challenges. In addition, he has an interest in the optimization of complex systems. The results of his research are published in leading transportation journals such as Transportation Science, Transportation Research Part A/B/C/D/E, European Journal of Operational Research, Computers & Operations Research, and IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. He is an associate editor of Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice.

Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Beihang University, Beijing, China

XS

Xiaoqian Sun

Xiaoqian Sun is a professor at Beihang University. She has a PhD in airspace engineering. Her research interests are mostly in air transportation-related optimization as well as transport policy. Her research has been published in journals such as Transportation Research Part A/B/C/D/E, Journal of Transport Geography, Transport Policy, Journal of Air Transport Management, Networks and Spatial Economics, and Transportmetrica A/B. She is a Theodore von Kármán fellow of RWTH Aachen, a TU Dresden fellow, and a Vice President of the Air Transport Research Society. She is the Co-EIC of the Journal of the Air Transport Research Society, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Air Transport Management as well as for the IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. She is on the editorial board of various transportation journals, such as Transportation Research Part D as well as Research in Transportation Business & Management.

Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Beihang University, Beijing, China

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