Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Impact Monitor (Impact Monitor)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-02-01 al 2025-01-31
The Impact Monitor project aimed to develop a coherent and holistic impact assessment framework and toolbox to support in making informed, science-based decisions for the technology and policy assessment of the environmental, economic, and societal impacts of European aviation R&I. The assessments focus on key areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, local air quality, and noise. The project demonstrates the collaborative assessment process through use cases at the aircraft, airport, and air transport system levels. Objectives:
1. Evolve an assessment framework & toolbox that provides a systematic approach of the complete cycle of performing holistic impact assessments
2. Develop a collaborative assessment framework & toolbox to support holistic impact monitoring
3. Demonstrate the collaborative framework robustness via multi-level use cases
4. Establish interfaces with, and reach out to key stakeholders in European aviation R&I
5. Educate students and broader community with broader access to the assessment toolbox and the collaborative assessment framework through an academy
1. Evolve an assessment framework & toolbox that provides a systematic approach of the complete cycle of performing holistic impact assessments
2. Develop a collaborative assessment framework & toolbox to support holistic impact monitoring
3. Demonstrate the collaborative framework robustness via multi-level use cases
4. Establish interfaces with, and reach out to key stakeholders in European aviation R&I
5. Educate students and broader community with broader access to the assessment toolbox and the collaborative assessment framework through an academy
Impact Monitor Toolbox
Inspired by the EC’s Better Regulation Guidelines & Toolbox but also capitalising on work in EU programmes (e.g. in TEAM_Play, Technology Evaluator in Clean Sky 1 & 2, and SESAR), this toolbox describes a way of working for conducting holistic impact assessments and monitoring of European R&I in aviation. That is, it sets out the requirements for the key steps in the complete cycle of performing such assessments and monitoring, and provides guidance, tips and best practice.
The toolbox contributes to conducting coherent and holistic impact assessments and monitoring of European R&I in aviation in a systematic way, with the aim to become the reference choice for technology and policy assessment and monitoring of the environmental-, economic- and societal-impact of European R&I in aviation.
Impact Monitor Framework
The project successfully developed and implemented the technical foundations for an collaborative impact assessment framework. In this context, distributed networks of design and analysis tools from experts at different locations were collaboratively planned using web-based systems for workflow architecting and executed remotely, taking into account both performance and security aspects. The project significantly enhanced the capabilities of the Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema (CPACS) to model the complexity of air transportation systems.
Impact Monitor has proven that large-scale collaboration successfully works if based on common data standards (CPACS), advanced workflow architecting (MDAX), and performant and secure execution of distributed networks of disciplinary design and analysis tools (RCE uplink and BRICS technologies).
The developed framework is for the first time based on a central data exchange format, CPACS, which serves as a central source of truth. This reduces ambiguity in the data and speeds up the connection of new partners and disciplines in an impact assessment study. Furthermore, the remote execution of tools at different locations has proven to be secure, robust and efficient.
Interactive Dashboard
An interactive web-based Dashboard Application was developed for impact assessments of future aircraft transport systems using visual data analytics. Key achievements:
- Requirement gathering for functionality and business needs with stakeholders
- Development of an intuitive dashboard for visualizations, interactivity, "what-if" analysis, and multi-criteria decision-making
- Cloud storage integration for CPACS and relevant file visualization
The dashboard supports multi-layer analysis (aircraft, airport, air transport system) and what-if scenarios. Its flexible architecture and interactive capabilities enhance decision-making efficiency, integrating high-level insights for decision-makers and detailed analysis for researchers.
Demonstration Use Cases
The project succeeded on developing multi-level demonstration use cases (UCs) showcasing the capabilities of the framework. All three UCs target an environmental, economic and/or societal impact assessment of an exemplary (although hypothetical) R&I innovation, covering one or more assessment levels.
- UC1 “Aircraft technologies”, novel aircraft concepts with advanced propulsion systems
- UC2 “ATM & operations” continuous descent operations at aircraft and airport levels
- UC3 “Policies & regulations” uptake of sustainable aviation fuels at air transport system level
In the frame of the project, use case studies including models, scenarios, and metrics selection have been defined, while associated workflows have been created to be integrated in the framework. Using all the technologies from the framework, collaborative cross organizational workflows have been run and studies performed. Results from the studies have been post-processed and visualized through the dashboard.
Interfaces to Research & Innovation Initiatives
The project identified relevant R&I initiatives focused on advanced aircraft concepts, new technologies, and optimized operational solutions. Using both top-down and bottom-up approaches, this information offers a comprehensive view of ongoing innovation in the air transport sector related to monitoring assessment topics. Key achievements:
- Methodology to identify and analyse R&I initiatives
- Identification of stakeholder interfaces and communication needs
- Creation of a dataset to classify European research initiatives
- Classification of stakeholders' needs for impact assessments
- Increased stakeholder involvement in supporting assessments
The methodology enables integration of innovative solutions for impact assessment within the project.
Inspired by the EC’s Better Regulation Guidelines & Toolbox but also capitalising on work in EU programmes (e.g. in TEAM_Play, Technology Evaluator in Clean Sky 1 & 2, and SESAR), this toolbox describes a way of working for conducting holistic impact assessments and monitoring of European R&I in aviation. That is, it sets out the requirements for the key steps in the complete cycle of performing such assessments and monitoring, and provides guidance, tips and best practice.
The toolbox contributes to conducting coherent and holistic impact assessments and monitoring of European R&I in aviation in a systematic way, with the aim to become the reference choice for technology and policy assessment and monitoring of the environmental-, economic- and societal-impact of European R&I in aviation.
Impact Monitor Framework
The project successfully developed and implemented the technical foundations for an collaborative impact assessment framework. In this context, distributed networks of design and analysis tools from experts at different locations were collaboratively planned using web-based systems for workflow architecting and executed remotely, taking into account both performance and security aspects. The project significantly enhanced the capabilities of the Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema (CPACS) to model the complexity of air transportation systems.
Impact Monitor has proven that large-scale collaboration successfully works if based on common data standards (CPACS), advanced workflow architecting (MDAX), and performant and secure execution of distributed networks of disciplinary design and analysis tools (RCE uplink and BRICS technologies).
The developed framework is for the first time based on a central data exchange format, CPACS, which serves as a central source of truth. This reduces ambiguity in the data and speeds up the connection of new partners and disciplines in an impact assessment study. Furthermore, the remote execution of tools at different locations has proven to be secure, robust and efficient.
Interactive Dashboard
An interactive web-based Dashboard Application was developed for impact assessments of future aircraft transport systems using visual data analytics. Key achievements:
- Requirement gathering for functionality and business needs with stakeholders
- Development of an intuitive dashboard for visualizations, interactivity, "what-if" analysis, and multi-criteria decision-making
- Cloud storage integration for CPACS and relevant file visualization
The dashboard supports multi-layer analysis (aircraft, airport, air transport system) and what-if scenarios. Its flexible architecture and interactive capabilities enhance decision-making efficiency, integrating high-level insights for decision-makers and detailed analysis for researchers.
Demonstration Use Cases
The project succeeded on developing multi-level demonstration use cases (UCs) showcasing the capabilities of the framework. All three UCs target an environmental, economic and/or societal impact assessment of an exemplary (although hypothetical) R&I innovation, covering one or more assessment levels.
- UC1 “Aircraft technologies”, novel aircraft concepts with advanced propulsion systems
- UC2 “ATM & operations” continuous descent operations at aircraft and airport levels
- UC3 “Policies & regulations” uptake of sustainable aviation fuels at air transport system level
In the frame of the project, use case studies including models, scenarios, and metrics selection have been defined, while associated workflows have been created to be integrated in the framework. Using all the technologies from the framework, collaborative cross organizational workflows have been run and studies performed. Results from the studies have been post-processed and visualized through the dashboard.
Interfaces to Research & Innovation Initiatives
The project identified relevant R&I initiatives focused on advanced aircraft concepts, new technologies, and optimized operational solutions. Using both top-down and bottom-up approaches, this information offers a comprehensive view of ongoing innovation in the air transport sector related to monitoring assessment topics. Key achievements:
- Methodology to identify and analyse R&I initiatives
- Identification of stakeholder interfaces and communication needs
- Creation of a dataset to classify European research initiatives
- Classification of stakeholders' needs for impact assessments
- Increased stakeholder involvement in supporting assessments
The methodology enables integration of innovative solutions for impact assessment within the project.
Building on preceding EU projects in aviation impact assessment and collaborative engineering, Impact Monitor has advanced the methodological and technical foundations for evaluating European aviation R&I. The resulting framework & toolbox offer a consolidated, scalable, and open-source approach designed to be modular and model-independent. Through the use of open data interface standards, the framework enables seamless integration of existing and future models.
While earlier efforts were largely scattered, Impact Monitor provides an integrated framework suitable for impact assessments at aircraft, airport and air transport system levels. This multi-level structure allows for the evaluation of interdependencies across domains, enhancing the consistency and comparability of impact assessments.
Together, the toolbox and framework provide structured guidance for designing assessment processes, managing data, and coordinating distributed workflows. This integrated approach supports comprehensive evaluations across environmental, economic, and societal dimensions, offering a sound basis for future research and evidence-based policy-making in the aviation sector.
While earlier efforts were largely scattered, Impact Monitor provides an integrated framework suitable for impact assessments at aircraft, airport and air transport system levels. This multi-level structure allows for the evaluation of interdependencies across domains, enhancing the consistency and comparability of impact assessments.
Together, the toolbox and framework provide structured guidance for designing assessment processes, managing data, and coordinating distributed workflows. This integrated approach supports comprehensive evaluations across environmental, economic, and societal dimensions, offering a sound basis for future research and evidence-based policy-making in the aviation sector.