A multi-objective evolutionary optimization approach to procedural flight-noise mitigation

Exposure to noise is a significant problem for communities that exist near airports. The distribution of noise exposure can be positively affected by changes in the procedures that aircraft follow in the vicinity of an airport (e.g. rate of ascent, ground track, etc.). When considering such changes, a decision maker often has to weigh the objective of lower noise impact against 'more practical' considerations such as fuel consumption and time-of-flight. This study presents a method of numerical optimization which seeks to find the optimal-tradeoff set (Pareto front) of flight procedures given information about an airport and the surrounding population and geography. This front will only include procedures such that an aggregate noise metric cannot be improved without detriment to a more practical objective. A contemporary multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is used as the basis of the optimization effort. Results from a simulated military airfield near Asheville, NC are shown. Ways in which decision makers are empowered by having access to a Pareto front are discussed.