[ok] Infrastructure Level Growth Proposal

[JumboShrimp]

When the infrastructure is eligible to go up by one (based on the years), as outlined in this archived feature request:

https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,78252.msg463282.html#msg463282

Code: [Select]

gameYear maxInitialTraffic maxTraffic maxInitialInfra maxInfra
1950 2 3 3 4
1960 2 4 3 5
1970 3 5 3 6
1980 3 6 4 7
1990 4 8 4 8
2000 4 10 4 9
2010 5 10 5 10

at first, only 1 airport, with the highest traffic (not traffic level, the actual traffic) would go up.  Next period readjustment period (next year), 2 would go up a level, next year 3 would go up etc.

There should also be traffic level requirements for increases.  For example:
Infrastructure level 2 needs traffic level 4
Infrastructure level 3 needs traffic level 6
Infrastructure level 4 needs traffic level 8
Infrastructure level 5 needs traffic level 10

After level 5, it would just go by year of availability of new infrastructure level, with slow speed of spread

So looking at GW3, even though we don't have the traffic level, but let's assume the order is:
1. LAX
2. ORD
3. LHR
4. AMS
5. ATL
6. JFK

All these airports are Traffic Level 9, I believe.  So let's say
Jan 1 2004: none would go up in infrastructure since non meet Traffic level 10 requirement and probably all would go up in Traffic Level 10
Jan 1 2005: LAX -> 5
Jan 1 2006: LAX -> 6, ORD+LHR -> 5
Jan 1 2007: LAX -> 7, ORD+LHR -> 6, AMS+ATL+JFK -> 5

This would simulate the real world where certain infrastructure items are introduced at small number of airports and then later they are adopted at other airports.

Also, it would be useful to show another statistics for airports: Total Traffic (pax + cargo).

Maybe the traffic requirements could be relaxed to make more airports eligible:
Infrastructure level 2 needs traffic level 2
Infrastructure level 3 needs traffic level 4
Infrastructure level 4 needs traffic level 6
Infrastructure level 5 needs traffic level 8
Infrastructure level 6 needs traffic level 10

[JumboShrimp]

We should probably have some infrastructure increases in GW3 on Jan 1, 2005.

[Sami]

Infra level growth. The system will always try to expand XX airports per each year. Target is that top airports reach infra level 10 around years 2020-2030. Depends on game length... Three base possibilities:

1) Airport is slot-constrained and airport authority decides to expand

2) If no such airports exist, system will choose "randomly" a couple of airports to expand. Basis for this is the amount of actual pax/cargo on previous game year, vs. other airports, vs. current infra level. Meaning that if all airports have a lot of free slots, the airports still expand (at slower pace) and expansion happens rather steadily.

3) Player influenced expasions, where airlines can initiate and contribute to the airport expansion. Haven't decided how this is written in financial statements.... However the airport remains fully public and all works just as before. The player paying their share for expansion could negotiate a deal for cheaper slots for example.

[MuzhikRB]

so why airports are not growing in GW3 ?

[dmoose42]

Does this mean that slots will come out in a 'big bang' fashion? For example:

"Airline authorities announce the completion of terminal 17, expanding Helsinki's available slots per hour from 54 to 76."

Instead of the slots being rolled out in dribs and drabs. We could impose similar slot grabbing constraints at restricted airports similar to today (such 35 slots per 5 game days), or an appropriate limit that is proportionate to the number of new slots per hour. In this example, since slots increased from 54 to 76 (or 22/an hour), the limit would be 110 slots per x game days (I just arbitrarily multiplied 22 times 5).

[MuzhikRB]

3) Player influenced expasions, where airlines can initiate and contribute to the airport expansion. Haven't decided how this is written in financial statements.... However the airport remains fully public and all works just as before. The player paying their share for expansion could negotiate a deal for cheaper slots for example.

at least this feauture can be used to build up gates for A380 family.
but to make it work and playable  a380 and concorde - should be excluded from 4th fleet penalty and receive special fleet status

[Zobelle]

at least this feauture can be used to build up gates for A380 family.
but to make it work and playable  a380 and concorde - should be excluded from 4th fleet penalty and receive special fleet status

Can get behind this. Especially because I have a microfleet gathering dust in W4.

[JumboShrimp]

Infra level growth. The system will always try to expand XX airports per each year. Target is that top airports reach infra level 10 around years 2020-2030. Depends on game length... Three base possibilities:

1) Airport is slot-constrained and airport authority decides to expand

2) If no such airports exist, system will choose "randomly" a couple of airports to expand. Basis for this is the amount of actual pax/cargo on previous game year, vs. other airports, vs. current infra level. Meaning that if all airports have a lot of free slots, the airports still expand (at slower pace) and expansion happens rather steadily.

3) Player influenced expasions, where airlines can initiate and contribute to the airport expansion. Haven't decided how this is written in financial statements.... However the airport remains fully public and all works just as before. The player paying their share for expansion could negotiate a deal for cheaper slots for example.

Sounds excellent.

1) Airport is slot-constrained and airport authority decides to expand

System should make adjustment to calculation how slot constrained the airport is by only taking into account 0500-2255 hour, regardless of the curfew, so that airports that are opened 24 hours are not penalized.  The system should also update the Airport Statistics to use this calculation.

So this could be one scalar variable per airport, say 72% sold out.

Another variable for slot constrained situation should perhaps be how many hours per day are substantially sold out (say less than 10% available).  For example, if LAX has 4 hours of 2000-2355 sold out, it should contribute to the "out of slots" situation.

2) If no such airports exist, system will choose "randomly" a couple of airports to expand. Basis for this is the amount of actual pax/cargo on previous game year, vs. other airports, vs. current infra level. Meaning that if all airports have a lot of free slots, the airports still expand (at slower pace) and expansion happens rather steadily.

This sounds great.  So the system already has the calculation for the traffic level.  So then, then, within each infra level, the airports with highest traffic level would be more likely to get infra upgrade.

This sounds like very organic way for the system to grow infrastructure.

3) Player influenced expasions, where airlines can initiate and contribute to the airport expansion. Haven't decided how this is written in financial statements.... However the airport remains fully public and all works just as before. The player paying their share for expansion could negotiate a deal for cheaper slots for example.

This could be left to Phase 2, if it needs too much research, programing and UI changes.

Option 1 and 2 are all just background calculations, with no need of any new UI.

I am assuming that each level of infrastructure improvement will bring a good sized jump in slot numbers.

[JumboShrimp]

Just pinging this.

GW3 started with the lower infrastructure level with infrastructure growth in mind.

And since the growth has not been implemented, the airports are below what they would normally be by now (2015).

Good example of that were some of the island airports that need Very Large aircraft, but the airports did not get a chance to grow to level 3 infrastructure.

[JumboShrimp]

2) If no such airports exist, system will choose "randomly" a couple of airports to expand. Basis for this is the amount of actual pax/cargo on previous game year, vs. other airports, vs. current infra level. Meaning that if all airports have a lot of free slots, the airports still expand (at slower pace) and expansion happens rather steadily.

I think this one (random increase) should have some probability to increase airports from level 1 to level 2 even for no reason, because as level 1, they are limited to how much traffic they can receive.

[Tha_Ape]

I think this one (random increase) should have some probability to increase airports from level 1 to level 2 even for no reason, because as level 1, they are limited to how much traffic they can receive.

Actually, the reason could be (both in the game and IRL) "local authorities decided to provide sufficient infrastructure to attract new traffic".

And completely makes sense. If a level 1 airport is remote, then nobody will fly to it (not enough range / not profitable), and infra will never grow, creating a vicious circle.