Networking of SSR Mode S and related clustering problems

Grouping of a set of SSR Mode S stations into functional entities called clusters has significant operational facets; it calls for a constrained optimization, an important significant constraint being the scarcity of Interrogation Identifier codes. This problem can be approached by two ways, i.e., integer programming methods and heuristic approaches. The definition of a general, usable decision support tool to build up and evaluate clustering strategies in any operational airspace, e.g. the one of a nation or, even more complicated, of a system such as the European one, is a very challenging task. This paper describes some steps toward this envisaged result proposing a mathematical formulation and a heuristic approach for the problem.