BEST · Project

Smart Data Sharing Tools That Help Air Traffic Systems Talk to Each Other

transportPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine every airport and air traffic center speaks a slightly different language when sharing flight data — delays, weather, routes. It's like trying to coordinate a dinner party where everyone texts in different apps. BEST built smart translation tools using semantic technologies (think: a universal dictionary for aviation data) so these systems can actually understand each other automatically. They created prototype software that checks whether aviation data systems are compatible and helps developers build smarter apps that pull the right information at the right time.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries in consortium

months project duration

total deliverables produced

prototype demo deliverables

33%

industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Air traffic management systems across Europe need to share data seamlessly through SWIM, but different systems describe and structure their information in incompatible ways. Building applications that correctly consume and produce SWIM-compliant data is expensive and error-prone, especially when verifying compliance with the AIRM standard requires manual effort.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 13 deliverables including two key prototypes: SWIM-enabled applications demonstrating semantic-based data sharing, and an AIRM Compliance Validator that automatically checks whether data models align with ATM information standards. Practitioner guidelines for using modular ontologies in aviation data management were also produced.

Audience

Who needs this

Aviation software vendors building SWIM-compliant ATM applicationsAir Navigation Service Providers modernizing data exchange infrastructureSESAR deployment managers needing compliance verification toolsAirport operators integrating multiple information systemsATM data governance teams maintaining information standards

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aviation Software Development

SME

Target: Companies building air traffic management (ATM) applications and SWIM-compliant systems

If you are an aviation software company struggling to make your applications interoperable with SWIM standards — this project developed prototype SWIM-enabled applications and modular ontology tools that let you build data-sharing features faster while staying compliant with SESAR requirements. The AIRM Compliance Validator prototype can automatically check whether your data models align with the ATM Information Reference Model.

Air Navigation Services

enterprise

Target: Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and airport operators managing information exchange

If you are an air navigation service provider dealing with fragmented data systems that don't share information efficiently — this project built proof-of-concept prototypes demonstrating how semantic technologies enable smarter situational awareness and information management across SWIM. The 6-partner consortium across 4 countries tested these approaches against real ATM use cases.

Aviation Compliance & Standards

any

Target: Organizations responsible for ATM data governance and standards compliance

If you are a regulatory or standards body needing to verify that aviation data systems comply with AIRM requirements — this project delivered an AIRM Compliance Validator prototype that automatically identifies correspondences between information models and ontology modules. This replaces manual compliance checking with automated validation, developed over 24 months with leading SESAR experts.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt these tools?

The project was funded under SESAR-RIA (Research and Innovation Action), meaning the outputs are research prototypes. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator SINTEF AS and consortium partners. As a publicly funded EU project, some results may be available under open or preferential terms.

Can these tools work at industrial scale in live air traffic operations?

The deliverables are proof-of-concept prototypes designed to demonstrate the potential of the semantic-based approach. They were tested against ATM use cases but would require further engineering and certification before deployment in live operational environments. The project explicitly notes it is primarily research-oriented.

Who owns the intellectual property?

IP is shared among the 6 consortium partners across 4 countries (AT, BE, HU, NO), led by SINTEF AS in Norway. Specific licensing arrangements would depend on which components you need — the AIRM Compliance Validator and the SWIM-enabled application prototypes may have different IP holders.

How does this fit with existing SESAR and SWIM standards?

BEST was designed specifically within the SESAR ecosystem. Several consortium partners held leading roles in AIRM and SWIM work within SESAR. The AIRM Compliance Validator directly checks alignment with the SESAR ATM Information Reference Model, making it natively compatible with the existing standards landscape.

Is this still maintained after the project ended in 2018?

The project closed in May 2018. Based on available project data, ongoing maintenance status is unclear. The project website at project-best.eu may have updates. Contact the coordinator SINTEF AS for current status of the prototypes and any follow-on development.

What concrete deliverables came out of this project?

The project produced 13 deliverables total, including 2 key prototypes: SWIM-enabled applications demonstrating the semantic-based approach, and an AIRM Compliance Validator that automatically checks data model alignment. Guidelines for practitioners on using ontologies to describe metadata were also produced.

Consortium

Who built it

The BEST consortium brings together 6 partners from 4 countries (Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Norway), with a mix of 3 research organizations, 2 industrial partners, and 1 university. The 33% industry ratio and inclusion of 1 SME shows moderate commercial engagement. Led by SINTEF AS — one of Scandinavia's largest independent research organizations — several partners had leading roles in AIRM and SWIM development within SESAR, giving the results strong credibility within the ATM community. The deliberate inclusion of partners "new to SESAR" alongside veterans suggests both depth and fresh perspective.

SINTEF ASCoordinator · NO
SLOT CONSULTING KERESKEDELMI, SZOLGALTATO, TANACSADO KORLATOLT FELELOSEGU TARSASAGparticipant · HU
STIFTELSEN SINTEFparticipant · NO
EUROCONTROL - EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR THE SAFETY OF AIR NAVIGATIONparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITAT LINZparticipant · AT
FREQUENTIS AGparticipant · AT

How to reach the team

SINTEF AS is a major Norwegian research institute — search for BEST project contacts at sintef.no or through their ATM research division.

Order a report on this consortium See SINTEF AS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how BEST's semantic aviation tools could fit your data integration needs? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner.

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