1. Improving Situational Awareness on Instrument Approach Procedures:
A GIS Approach to Charting Terrain
Brent M. Baumhardt
GEOG 596A – Capstone Project Proposal
July
Advisor: Prof Peter Guth

2. Agenda: IAP/Background NTSB Case Analysis Project Goals and Objectives
Proposed Methodology
Project Deliverables
Presentation Venue and Project Timelines
Anticipated Results

3. Legacy Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) :
Navigate and land in adverse
weather conditions
Human factors study
– Complete IAP extent
Planview
– Altitude stepdowns
Profile
– Defined minimum
descent heights
Minima

4. Volpe Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) :
Organizes information into
logical flow
Less time searching…
more time flying
– Notes/Comm
Pilot Briefing Bar
– Complete IAP extent
Planview
– Altitude stepdowns
Profile
– Defined minimum
descent heights
Minima

5. Background: Technology NAV enhancements GPS
Electronic Flight Bags (EFB)
Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS)
Improved ATC RADAR coverage

6. NTSB Case Study: Beechcraft King Air 200, N501RH
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.”
4000’ A
4000’
2600’
1400’
305°

7. Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT):
NTSB Case Study:
Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT):
“Controlled flight of airworthy aircraft unintentionally into terrain without awareness”

8. 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

9. 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

10. Terrain Python Script Process:
Final
Raster
Meters to
Feet Conversion
Mosaic
Focal
Statistics
Add/ Calculate
Field
Reclassify
Raster to Polygon
Final
Raster
Append to Geodatabase
Add/ Calculate
Field
Contour Generation

11. 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

12. Raster Import Tool: Python Bindings Raster Translator IAP GeoTIFF
TerraGo functions costly
Required for Adobe
Required for ArcMap
Open Source translator works
well with numerous languages

13. Planview Clip Tool:

14. 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

15. Research and Script Development Prepare ESRI Presentation
Project Timeline
Oct 2014
Nov 2014
Dec 2014
Jan 2015
Feb 2015
ESRI Abstract
Research and Script Development
Register GEOG 596B
Mar 2015
Apr 2015
May 2015
Jun 2015
July 2015
Research Paper
Prepare ESRI Presentation
Present at 2015 ESRI UC

16. 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

17. Summary: Performance based navigation is the future
Improves navigational situational awareness
Alternative to expensive avionic systems

18. Supplemental Slides

19. Proposed Methodolgy:

20. Proposed Methodolgy: