1. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
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2. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Airspace
New (as compared with AIXM 4.5): Airspace Volume, Airspace Activation
Modified (as compared with AIXM 4.5): Airspace classification model
The main class diagram in this package shows the properties of the Airspace feature, its geometry and its eventual dependency on the geometry of other airspace. The main class Airspace contains attributes that model its high-level characteristics, such as name, designator, type, etc.
The geometrical extent of the Airspace is modelled through the aggregation of one or more AirspaceVolume components. Most Airspace will have just one component. If two or more components enter in the definition of the geometry, then the association class AirspaceGeometryComponent is used to indicate the order and the operation (addition, subtraction, intersection) applied to each component.
An individual AirspaceVolume has defined vertical limits and a horizontal projection of type Surface. Some AirspaceVolumes may be originally defined as a "corridor", which is modelled by the AirspaceCorridor object. The model allows to both preserve this original information and to provide the resulting horizontal projection in the form of a Surface.
The dependsOn association is used to model eventual dependencies between the geometry of an AirspaceVolume and the geometry of other Airspace. The dependency type is modelled by the AirspaceVolumeDependency association class. Two types of dependency are modelled: either the whole 3-dimensional volume of the related Airspace is inherited by the AirspaceVolume or just the horizontal projection is inherited. The model allows to both preserve this original "dependency" information and to provide the resulting horizontal projection in the form of a Surface.
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3. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Airspace aggregation
By reference - between synchronized databases
For example, let's consider a TMA defined as a circle from which the airspace occupied by an neighbouring FIR is subtracted. To model this, two AirspaceVolumes are necessary:
- one AirspaceVolume having as horizontalProjection a Surface of type "full circle" and specified vertical limits;
- a second AirspaceVolume, which has as contributorAirspace the related FIR. For this second AirspaceVolume, two possibilities exist. The first one is presented on this diagram.
The first method is limited to referring to another airspace, but without effectively copying the geometry of that Airspace as own AirspaceVolume(s).
This method might be appropriate for data provision between synchronized databases, such as between a local and a regional database and it is equivalent to the approach of the previous AIXM 4.5 version (which is not based on GML). The disadvantage of this method is that the client needs to eventually retrieve the geometry of the referenced Airspace and do the geospatial calculations that are necessary in order to effectively get the actual geometry of the current Airspace in a GML usable form. The advantage is that it preserves a true association with the composing Airspace.
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4. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Airspace aggregation
By copying the geometry - geometrical data for direct consumption
Combined – also possible
The second method consists in effectively copying the geometry of the referenced Airspace as local AirspaceVolume. Note that this might be a recursive operation, as the referenced Airspace might have more than one AirspaceVolume and some or even all these could also depend on the geometry of other Airspace.
This method might be appropriate for applications that need to provide fully digested geometrical data for direct consumption (e.g. graphical visualization, spatial calculations). The disadvantage of this method is that the referenced geometry might also change in time. This is not a problem when the aggregation is used for the provision of SNAPSHOT data (valid at a time instant) but it might become problematic when providing Baseline data (which is valid for a period of time). Future changes of the geometry of referenced airspace needs to be propagated to the AirspaceVolume of the aggregated airspace. The advantage is that this method provides complete geometrical data for the aggregated Airspace and does not require further calculations by the client system.
The two methods can also be combined.
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5. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Geoborder references
Airspace boundaries may be based on national borders or on other geographical features, such as shorelines, rivers, etc.
A particularity of this situation is that official definitions of the airspace, as provided in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) or in NOTAM messages, do not include the actual geometry of the referenced geographical border. It is left for the end users to derive the actual geometry of the airspace by using a source of geographical border data.
The UML model of AIXM shows a “dependency” association between Surface and GeoBorder in order to cater for such situations.
The encoding is possible in two ways: either with a simple annotation (and copy of all necessary points) or by reference. See the AIXM GML Guidelines for details.
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6. Airspace classification
Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Airspace classification
This diagram shows how multiple airspace class layers are modelled for an airspace. It uses the general "LevelAndTimeBlock" class, which associates the levels concerned with an eventual timetable.
Note that it is no longer necessary to create CLASS airspace for each layer that has a different classification.
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7. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Airspace activation
This diagram shows how the airspace activation status is modelled as a complex property of the Airspace feature. It includes properties that model the type of activity and associations with vertical layers, etc.
The AirspaceActivation is declared as a derivation of PropertiesWithSchedule, which enables modelling airspace activations that occur according to a repetitive schedule.
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8. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Services Model
Modified (as compared with AIXM 4.5): Service specialisation (Airport ground services, Etc.)
New: Service availability
This diagram shows the main elements of the Service model. The abstract Service class describes elements that are common to the various service types. This class is then specialised into specific service catagories, such as information provision, search and rescue, ATC, etc.
A service is provided by a Unit of an OrganisationAuthority.
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9. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Questions?
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10. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Route package
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11. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Route
Modified (as compared with AIXM 4.5):
Route designator decomposition
Segment Points
Point references
This diagram shows the most important components of the Route concept:
- the route header, modelled by the EnRouteRoute feature
- the route segments that are part of each route
- route portions that are used for specifying flight restrictions.
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12. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Route Segment
This diagram shows how route segments are modelled. The role of the Segment model group is to group together those properties that are derived from the positions of the start and end point, such as lenght, width, tracks.
The SegmentPoint enables associating one or more PointLocations (angle and distances from various navaids) with the SignificantPoints that are used as star/end of the route segment. The EnRouteSegmentPoint class is a specialisation of the SegmentPoint, which has attributes that are specific for the en-route environment.
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13. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Route availability
This diagram shows the main elements that may be used to specify the usage related to a route portion:
- the direction of interest is specified using either the direction or the compassDirection attributes of the RoutePortionUsage feature
- the usage type is specified by the routeAvailability object, which may also include levels and schedules.
RouteAvailability models restrictions that are from point to point and which depend on time and eventually aircraft characteristics (such as navaid equipment, propulsion type, etc. Flight Restrictions (also named "traffic flow restrictions") should be used for those restrictions that depend on flight origin/destination and eventually on type (civil, military, scheduled, etc.).
Concerning the CDR status of a route, this is supported through the “COND” value of the status attribute. The exact CDR level is modelled through an extension to the core AIXM model.
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14. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
AIXM 5.0 and extensions
Additional information exchanged between selected partners
Core AIXM
Aeronautical information that is
relevant for the whole ATM community
(AIP, NOTAM, CRAM, etc.)
extension
Extensions enable the provision of data that is of local/regional interest or specific to a particular user community. This is also used in order to prevent introducing into the core model concepts (such as FUA/CDR) that are specific to Europe only. Remember that the objective for AIXM 5.1 is to have it adopted by ICAO.
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15. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
eASM extension of AIXM 5.1
The eASM extension adds the CDR 1/2/3 type of a route, which otherwise is just “conditional” in the core model.
A similar extension approach adds to Airspace the AMC Manageable status, which is also part of the FUA Concept. The R-AMC and D-AMC airspace types do no longer exist in AIXM 5.1. For the proper encoding of the European route and airspace data, a system such as the EAD will have to also implement the relevant part of the eASM extension.
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16. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Questions?
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17. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Other aspects
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18. AIXM 5.1 – support for AIP text encoding
Digital AIM Training - AIXM
AIXM 5.1 – support for AIP text encoding
AIXM 5.1 introduces some new elements that can facilitate the production of the eAIP. There is a new feature RulesProcedures, that can be used to store eAIP text, in XHTML format. This means that the text can be formatted, using lists, tables, various fonts, etc. Each AIP section is identified in the model as possibly corresponding to one of the instances of the RulesProcedures feature.
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19. AIXM list of features and properties
Digital AIM Training - AIXM
AIXM list of features and properties
For those who are interested, the complete list of all AIXM features and properties is provided in the form of an Excel file.
This may be used, for example, in the planning phase in order to decide which parts of the AIXM model are necessary for a particular application. It is unlikely to find an application that really requires to implement the full AIXM. For example, an AIS office will probably not need the AIXM part that deals with aerial refuelling procedures, which is more of interest for military aeronautical information databases.
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20. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Demo – FAA AIXM Viewer
Airport example
Airspace Example
Obstacle Example
Including “time slider”
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21. Digital AIM Training - AIXM
Questions?
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