The use of simulation and virtual reality in the design and operation of airport terminals

Formed in 1984 and based in Yeovil (UK), GKN Westland System Assessment Limited (WSAL) is one of three companies which come under the systems arm of GKN Westland Aerospace. Some of WSAL´s key skills lie in the domains of operational research and mathematical modelling. WSAL also have a broad experience in developing software packages, analytical and simulation models to address customer requirements. A number of data manipulation packages have been developed to assist users in the preparation and collation of data. Discrete event simulation models have been developed to analyse complex logistic problems. The models developed by WSAL have been employed throughout the product development life cycle. An Airport Passenger Terminal (or any other large building for that matter) may be considered as an operational system designed to facilitate a complex business process effectively, at minimum costs. The interaction between design, operations and logistics cannot be underestimated and the use of visualisation techniques is a powerful aid to communication between the planning teams and contractors. WSAL were approached by British Airways, the likely main user of Heathrow Airport´s Terminal 5, to propose a solution with which to model parts of the operation of the building and maximise its effectiveness. The article examines the use of simulation and virtual reality software in the airport terminal design by WSAL