Junzi Sun, Ph.D.

My other sites

mode-s.org openap.dev

Sustainability

My research in aviation sustainability is multifaceted, making significant contributions to the field. I use large-scale open data for precise emission estimations, optimizing flight operations to minimize emissions. I also focus on identifying and mitigating contrails, an often-overlooked aspect of aviation's environmental impact.

Highlights

Improving carbon emission estimates with space-based ADS-B data
A collaboration with Spire Global seeks to investigate the correlation between flight emissions and weather conditions, specifically the upper wind component, for flights traversing the North Atlantic Ocean. The upper wind component refers to the wind speed and direction at high altitudes, which plays a crucial role in influencing aircraft performance and fuel consumption. The study aims to shed light on the impact of these weather factors on aviation emissions and provide valuable insights for future aviation sustainability efforts.
Global Aviation Emissions with OpenSky Data
In this study, we perform an analysis of all captured global flights for one year (2018), with trajectories down-sampled to one point per 30 seconds. This high-resolution trajectories are used to construct carbon emissions estimations combining with the OpenAP model. We concluded that reduced models are sufficient for large-scale aggregated emissions statistics, but precise models remain more accurate and provide better assessments to measure the impact of particular flight procedures.
Contrail-Net: Neural networks models for contrail detection and segmentation
In this project, we implements contrail segmentation neural network models in PyTorch. The models are built using augmented transfer learning, where I applied several image augmentation on a pre-train ResUNet model. This way, the model can be quickly fine tuned with a handful of labelled satellite images. With the invention of a new loss function, SR Loss, I can further optimizes the contrail detection using contrail information in Hough space.
Generation of climate optimal trajectories with OpenAP.TOP
Presenting a fully open-source trajectory optimizer, providing researchers with seamless access to the sophisticated yet efficient direct collocation optimization approach. It encompasses conventional fuel and cost index objectives, as well as climate metrics-based objectives utilizing global warming or temperature potential.

Related publications

  1. Evaluating Transatlantic Flight Emissions and Inefficiencies Using Space-Based ADS-B Data
    Conference 2023
    Sun, Junzi ; Tassanbi, Aidana ; Obojski, Piotrek ; and Plantholt, Philip
    In Proceedings of the 13th SESAR Innovation Days, Sevilla, Spain
    Copy Sun, J., Tassanbi, A., Obojski, P., & Plantholt, P. (2023, December). Evaluating Transatlantic Flight Emissions and Inefficiencies Using Space-Based ADS-B Data. Proceedings of the 13th SESAR Innovation Days, Sevilla, Spain.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{sun20232evaluating,
  title = {Evaluating Transatlantic Flight Emissions and Inefficiencies Using Space-Based ADS-B Data},
  author = {Sun, Junzi and Tassanbi, Aidana and Obojski, Piotrek and Plantholt, Philip},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 13th SESAR Innovation Days, Sevilla, Spain},
  year = {2023},
  month = dec,
  link = {https://doi.org/10.61009/SID.2023.1.41},
  tag = {sus}
}
  2. Contrail Altitude Estimation Based on Shadows Detected in Landsat Imagery
    Conference 2023
    Roosenbrand, Esther ; Sun, Junzi ; and Hoesktra, Jacco
    In Proceedings of the 13th SESAR Innovation Days, Sevilla, Spain
    Copy Roosenbrand, E., Sun, J., & Hoesktra, J. (2023, December). Contrail Altitude Estimation Based on Shadows Detected in Landsat Imagery. Proceedings of the 13th SESAR Innovation Days, Sevilla, Spain.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{roosenbrand2023,
  title = {Contrail Altitude Estimation Based on Shadows Detected in Landsat Imagery},
  author = {Roosenbrand, Esther and Sun, Junzi and Hoesktra, Jacco},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 13th SESAR Innovation Days, Sevilla, Spain},
  year = {2023},
  month = dec,
  link = {https://doi.org/10.61009/SID.2023.1.06},
  tag = {sus, ai}
}
  3. Fast contrail estimation with OpenSky data
    Conference 2023
    DOI: 10.59490/joas.2023.7264
    Sun, Junzi ; and Roosenbrand, Esther
    In Proceedings of 10th OpenSky Symposium
    Copy Sun, J., & Roosenbrand, E. (2023, November). Fast contrail estimation with OpenSky data. Proceedings of 10th OpenSky Symposium. https://doi.org/10.59490/joas.2023.7264
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{sun2023fast,
  title = {Fast contrail estimation with OpenSky data},
  author = {Sun, Junzi and Roosenbrand, Esther},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of 10th OpenSky Symposium},
  publisher = {Journal of Open Aviation Science},
  month = nov,
  year = {2023},
  doi = {10.59490/joas.2023.7264},
  link = {https://doi.org/10.59490/joas.2023.7264},
  tag = {sus}
}
  4. Flight Contrail Segmentation via Augmented Transfer Learning with Novel SR Loss Function in Hough Space
    preprint 2023
    Sun, Junzi ; and Roosenbrand, Esther
    Copy Sun, J., & Roosenbrand, E. (2023). Flight Contrail Segmentation via Augmented Transfer Learning with Novel SR Loss Function in Hough Space.
    Copy 
    @preprint{sun2023flight,
  title = {Flight Contrail Segmentation via Augmented Transfer Learning with Novel SR Loss Function in Hough Space},
  author = {Sun, Junzi and Roosenbrand, Esther},
  year = {2023},
  eprint = {2307.12032},
  archiveprefix = {arXiv},
  primaryclass = {cs.CV},
  tag = {ai, sus}
}
  5. Environmental Footprint of Private and Business Jets
    Conference 2022
    Sun, Junzi ; Olive, Xavier ; and Strohmeier, Martin
    In Proceedings of 10th OpenSky Symposium
    Copy Sun, J., Olive, X., & Strohmeier, M. (2022, November). Environmental Footprint of Private and Business Jets. Proceedings of 10th OpenSky Symposium.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{sun2022environmental,
  title = {Environmental Footprint of Private and Business Jets},
  author = {Sun, Junzi and Olive, Xavier and Strohmeier, Martin},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of 10th OpenSky Symposium},
  year = {2022},
  month = nov,
  publisher = {MDPI},
  link = {https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2022028013},
  tag = {sus}
}
  6. OpenSky Report 2022: Evaluating Aviation Emissions Using Crowdsourced Open Flight Data
    Conference 2022
    Sun, Junzi ; Basora, Luis ; Olive, Xavier ; Strohmeier, Martin ; Schäfer, Matthias ; Martinovic, Ivan ; and Lenders, Vincent
    In Proceedings of the 40th Digital Avionics Systems Conference
    Copy Sun, J., Basora, L., Olive, X., Strohmeier, M., Schäfer, M., Martinovic, I., & Lenders, V. (2022, September). OpenSky Report 2022: Evaluating Aviation Emissions Using Crowdsourced Open Flight Data. Proceedings of the 40th Digital Avionics Systems Conference.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{sun2022opensky,
  title = {OpenSky Report 2022: Evaluating Aviation Emissions Using Crowdsourced Open Flight Data},
  author = {Sun, Junzi and Basora, Luis and Olive, Xavier and Strohmeier, Martin and Sch{\"a}fer, Matthias and Martinovic, Ivan and Lenders, Vincent},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 40th Digital Avionics Systems Conference},
  year = {2022},
  month = sep,
  link = {https://pure.tudelft.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/140416750},
  tag = {sus}
}
  7. OpenAP. top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimization for Air Transport and Sustainability Research
    Journal 2022
    DOI: 10.3390/aerospace9070383
    Sun, Junzi
    Aerospace
    Copy Sun, J. (2022). OpenAP. top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimization for Air Transport and Sustainability Research. Aerospace, 9(7), 383. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9070383
    Copy 
    @article{sun2022top,
  title = {OpenAP. top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimization for Air Transport and Sustainability Research},
  author = {Sun, Junzi},
  journal = {Aerospace},
  volume = {9},
  number = {7},
  pages = {383},
  year = {2022},
  month = jul,
  publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},
  link = {https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9070383},
  doi = {10.3390/aerospace9070383},
  tag = {perf, sus}
}
  8. Environmental Impact Optimisation of Flight Plans in a Fixed and Free Route network
    Conference 2022
    Vergnes, Florent ; Bedouet, Judicaël ; Olive, Xavier ; and Sun, Junzi
    In Proceedings of the 10th International Conference for Research in Air Transportation
    Copy Vergnes, F., Bedouet, J., Olive, X., & Sun, J. (2022, June). Environmental Impact Optimisation of Flight Plans in a Fixed and Free Route network. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference for Research in Air Transportation.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{vergnes2022env,
  title = {Environmental Impact Optimisation of Flight Plans in a Fixed and Free Route network},
  author = {Vergnes, Florent and Bedouet, Judicaël and Olive, Xavier and Sun, Junzi},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 10th International Conference for Research in Air Transportation},
  year = {2022},
  month = jun,
  link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/126274460/ICRAT2022_paper_22.pdf},
  tag = {sus}
}
  9. Assessing and Modelling Climate Optimal Flights Using Open Surveillance and Remote Sensing Data
    Conference 2022
    Roosenbrand, Esther ; Sun, Junzi ; Dedoussi, Irene ; Stam, Daphne ; and Hoekstra, Jacco
    In Proceedings of the 10th International Conference for Research in Air Transportation
    Copy Roosenbrand, E., Sun, J., Dedoussi, I., Stam, D., & Hoekstra, J. (2022, June). Assessing and Modelling Climate Optimal Flights Using Open Surveillance and Remote Sensing Data. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference for Research in Air Transportation.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{roosenbrand2022,
  title = {Assessing and Modelling Climate Optimal Flights Using Open Surveillance and Remote Sensing Data},
  author = {Roosenbrand, Esther and Sun, Junzi and Dedoussi, Irene and Stam, Daphne and Hoekstra, Jacco},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 10th International Conference for Research in Air Transportation},
  year = {2022},
  month = jun,
  link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/126274533/ICRAT2022_paper_2.pdf},
  tag = {sus}
}
  10. Evaluation of Aviation Emissions and Environmental Costs in Europe Using OpenSky and OpenAP
    Conference 2021
    Sun, Junzi ; and Dedoussi, Irene
    In Proceedings of 9th OpenSky Symposium
    Copy Sun, J., & Dedoussi, I. (2021, November). Evaluation of Aviation Emissions and Environmental Costs in Europe Using OpenSky and OpenAP. Proceedings of 9th OpenSky Symposium.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{sun2021euemission,
  title = {Evaluation of Aviation Emissions and Environmental Costs in Europe Using OpenSky and OpenAP},
  author = {Sun, Junzi and Dedoussi, Irene},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of 9th OpenSky Symposium},
  year = {2021},
  month = nov,
  link = {https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2021013005},
  tag = {sus}
}
  11. Fuel Inefficiency Characterisation and Assessment due to Early Execution of Top of Descents
    Conference 2021
    Dalmau, Ramon ; Sun, Junzi ; and Prats, Xavier
    In 14th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar
    Copy Dalmau, R., Sun, J., & Prats, X. (2021, September). Fuel Inefficiency Characterisation and Assessment due to Early Execution of Top of Descents. 14th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar.
    Copy 
    @inproceedings{dalmau2021fuel,
  title = {Fuel Inefficiency Characterisation and Assessment due to Early Execution of Top of Descents},
  author = {Dalmau, Ramon and Sun, Junzi and Prats, Xavier},
  booktitle = {14th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar},
  organization = {FAA/EUROCONTROL},
  year = {2021},
  month = sep,
  link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/105023510/ATM_Seminar_2021_paper_77.pdf},
  tag = {sus}
}

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