Air Traffic Trajectory Operation Mode Mining Based on Clustering

Abstract

When processing track sequences, it is time-consuming and difficult to separate clusters with substantial density variations to deal with the problem of classic clustering methods mining common flight patterns in airspace. To overcome these issues, this research proposes a clustering-based technique for mining air traffic trajectory operation patterns. The track data are first decoded and rebuilt using a motion-based track training approach; next, a compression based on a deep autoencoder (OFAE) is provided, allowing the model to deal with the high-dimensional trajectory vector containing derived information. The compressed trajectory data are made as compact and dense as feasible using the L21 norm constraint, which reduces the operation time and improves the performance of the clustering process. The compressed trajectory is then analyzed using a fast-clustering algorithm based on density peaks (DPCA). To save time, a more refined distance measurement technique is added into the model in order to achieve the usual aircraft operation mode in the terminal area. The accuracy of trajectory prediction can be improved by using the generated unitized and high-class similarity trajectory data.

Keywords

• air transportation
• autoencoder
• density peak clustering
• operation mode mining
• terminal area