Describing airspace complexity: Airspace response to disturbances

In ongoing efforts to balance air traffic demand and airspace capacity, airspace complexity stands as a fundamental research problem. This paper proposes a new notion of airspace complexity by capturing how difficult a given traffic situation is in terms of the control activity required to accommodate disturbances such as the entrance of another aircraft into the airspace. A complexity map is introduced that offers a graphical view of the control activity required to accept a new aircraft as a function of its essential parameters. The proposed method is illustrated with examples related to traffic flow management and dynamic airspace configuration.