Integrated ground movement control system at an airfield

Abstract

The safety of the traffic of aircraft and special vehicles at an airfield is largely determined by the level of ground movement surveillance and control systems at the airfield, specifically within the airfield maneuvering zone, which includes the runway, taxiways, and apron. Modern surveillance systems, including airfield surveillance radars, airfield multi-position surveillance systems, and automatic dependent surveillance system equipment, have high tactical and technical characteristics that ensure the required level of ground traffic safety at the airfield. However, these surveillance systems are radio-based and therefore susceptible to radio interference, which can significantly worsen their performance or completely prevent their intended use. Advanced surveillance systems, particularly vibroacoustic monitoring systems, are not susceptible to radio interference and can operate in any weather and at any time of the year and day, however, they have a significant disadvantage – the inability to determine the coordinates of stationary objects at the airfield. A possible solution to the current contradiction is to integrate existing and prospective systems into a single, integrated airfield traffic monitoring and control system. This article, based on Markov theory for estimating random processes, develops algorithms for integrated processing of information on the movement of objects in the airfield area and proposes structural diagrams for an integrated airfield traffic monitoring and control system. It concludes that it is feasible to create an integrated airfield traffic monitoring and control system capable of detecting abnormal system operation.