Improving Situational Awareness on Instrument Approach Procedures:

Improving Situational Awareness on Instrument Approach Procedures:

A GIS Approach to Charting TerrainBrent M. Baumhardt

GEOG 596A – Capstone Project ProposalJuly 29-30 2014

Advisor: Prof Peter Guth

Agenda: IAP/Background NTSB Case Analysis Project Goals and

Objectives Proposed Methodology Project Deliverables Presentation Venue and Project Timelines Anticipated Results

Legacy Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) :

Minima

Planview

Profile

– Complete IAP extent

– Altitude stepdowns

– Defined minimum descent heights

Navigate and land in adverse weather conditions

Human factors study

Volpe Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) :

Minima

Planview

Profile

– Complete IAP extent

– Altitude stepdowns

– Defined minimum descent heights

Pilot Briefing Bar – Notes/Comm

Organizes information into logical flow

Less time searching… more time flying

Background: Technology NAV enhancements

GPS Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) Terrain Awareness and Warning System

(TAWS) Improved ATC RADAR coverage

NTSB Case Study: Accident Number: IAD05MA006

Beechcraft King Air 200, N501RH

NTSB Probable Cause: …“Contributing cause of accident was flight crew’s failure to use all available navigational aids to monitor the aircrafts position along the procedure.”

A

B @ 4000’

C @ 4000’ D @ 2600’

E @ 1400’305°

NTSB Case Study:

Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT): “Controlled flight of airworthy aircraft unintentionally into terrain without

awareness”

Project Objectives and Goals: Improve IAP situational awareness

with addition of shaded terrain

Predefine terrain intervals

Clip terrain to extent of planview

Python foundational coding

Proposed Methodology: 3 functions

Terrain python script GeoPDF to GeoTIFF python script

Incorporation of GDAL open source raster/vector translation library

Planview clip All scripts to be loaded as ESRI add-

ins Terrain and planview extents stored

in personal geodatabase

Terrain Python Script Process:

MosaicFocal

Statistics

Meters to Feet

Conversion

Reclassify

Contour Generation

Raster to Polygon

Add/ Calculate

Field

Final Raster

Final Raster

Add/ Calculate

Field

Append to Geodatabase

Terrain Python Script Process:

Ensure aligned projection and datum.

Elevation reclassifications embedded within script for 1000’ intervals

Discard intermediate data

Field calculations maintain finalized terrain sets based on airport identifiers

Raster Import Tool:

IAP

RasterTranslator

PythonBindings

TerraGo functions costly Required for Adobe Required for ArcMap

Open Source translator works well with numerous languages

GeoTIFF

Planview Clip Tool:

Project Deliverables:

Three distinct scripted tools Terrain generator Raster translator Planview clip

Script documentation

Test data and procedures

Presentation at ESRI Users Conference

Research paper

Project Timeline

Oct 2014 Nov 2014 Jan 2015Dec 2014

Mar 2015

Feb 2015

Apr 2015 May 2015 Jun 2015 July 2015

ESRI Abstract

Research and Script Development

Register GEOG 596B

Research Paper

Prepare ESRI Presentation

Present at 2015 ESRI UC

Anticipated Results: Automated, documented tools providing

flexibility to users

Add terrain to any geo-referenced IAP

Final product consumed within electronic flight bags

Repository of terrain and planview extents for IAP updates

Summary:Performance based navigation is the

future Improves navigational situational

awareness Alternative to expensive avionic systems

Supplemental Slides

Proposed Methodolgy:

Proposed Methodolgy: