{"id":588,"date":"2026-05-20T13:55:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/?post_type=avada_portfolio&#038;p=588"},"modified":"2026-05-20T13:55:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:55:16","slug":"smart-sector-grouping-for-increased-flexibility-of-air-traffic-controller-validations","status":"publish","type":"avada_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/portfolio-items\/smart-sector-grouping-for-increased-flexibility-of-air-traffic-controller-validations\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Sector Grouping for Increased Flexibility of Air Traffic Controller Validations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-bottom:25px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:40px;--awb-spacing-right-large:4.8%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:30px;--awb-spacing-left-large:4.8%;--awb-width-medium:40%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:4.8%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:4.8%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element\" style=\"--awb-max-width:8000px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><a class=\"fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/zenodo.org\/records\/20179210\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"SSG for IFAV\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV-1024x726.png\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV-200x142.png 200w, https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV-400x284.png 400w, https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV-600x425.png 600w, https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV-800x567.png 800w, https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV-1200x851.png 1200w, https:\/\/research.dblue.it\/ifav3\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2026\/05\/SSG-for-IFAV.png 1530w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><h5 style=\"color: var(--awb-color5);\">Smart Sector Grouping for Increased Flexibility of Air Traffic Controller Validations<\/h5>\n<p>Abstract: The increasing complexity of European air traffic, together with persistent capacity shortages in Air Traffic Service Units (hereinafter ATSUs) created the need for innovative approaches to optimise Air Traffic Controller (hereinafter ATCO) allocation and sector management. In this context, the SESAR project IFAV3 (Increased Flexibility of ATCO Validation) was initiated, encompassing four complementary strategies. This paper focuses on the validation of the Smart Sector Grouping (SSG) strategy, which is divided into two complementing use cases. The first addresses ATCO rostering process aiming to improve the flexibility and efficiency of controller allocation. The second introduces the SSG process-tool, designed to support Airspace Managers (hereinafter ASMs) in defining optimal sector groups within an ATSU improving the current method, thereby maximising the potential of the IFAV concept. Two validation exercises were conducted, one in Sweden and one in Spain, to assess the feasibility, operational benefits, and impact of the strategy. Results of both use cases suggest that Smart Sector Grouping can reduce workload, improve decision-making, and enhance the efficient use of ATCO qualifications without compromising safety.<\/p>\n<p>Conference paper &#8211; ICNS Conference 2026<\/p>\n<\/div><div ><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat fusion-button-default-size button-default fusion-button-default button-1 fusion-button-default-span fusion-button-default-type\" style=\"--button-border-radius-top-left:200px;--button-border-radius-top-right:200px;--button-border-radius-bottom-right:200px;--button-border-radius-bottom-left:200px;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/zenodo.org\/records\/20179210\"><span class=\"fusion-button-text awb-button__text awb-button__text--default\">Download the conference paper<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"portfolio_category":[],"portfolio_skills":[],"portfolio_tags":[],"class_list":["post-588","avada_portfolio","type-avada_portfolio","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - 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