Aviation Geospatial Clients

Supporting the Airport Industry

Civil Aviation Authorities

Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) use Airport Mapping Databases (AMDBs) that include stereo imagery collected from IKONOS® so they can perform obstacle analysis in the vicinity of an airport. AMDBs can then be used to create an assortment of valuable charts depicting features such as aerodrome obstacles, aerodrome ground movement, and aerodrome/heliport and aircraft parking/docking.

Airport Authorities

Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) authorities use AMDBs to design and enhance surface movements for routine or low-visibility operations. Taxiing routes can be optimized to maximize flow efficiency and to minimize the chance of runway incursions. Airport operators use AMDBs to supplement ground surveys; compare as-built against to-build plans; and plan, visualize, and implement routine and emergency airport management. IKONOS can revisit an airport frequently to acquire new imagery. Changes detected on new imagery can then be communicated to the user community at that airport via digital Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) in the form of modified, graphically notated AMDBs.

Airport Surface Moving Map

For avionics and airframe companies, GeoEye can tailor unique vector subsets of an AMDB to meet moving-map display needs. In addition, we can analyze airplanes, rotorcraft, CNS/ATM displays of surface movements, and ground service vehicles. These custom AMDBs can be viewed on DO-178(b)-certified multi-function displays, portable electronic flight bags, or handheld devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Visual Simulation Databases

For visual simulation–database developers or users, orthorectified, tonally balanced, and mosaicked IKONOS imagery is the ideal building base for all types of visual-simulation databases. GeoEye can process and deliver complete visual-simulation databases, or components thereof, for simulation and training. This information is integrated with vector AMDBs, vector NAVSTREETS® (from NavTeq), and ARINC 424 or Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) tabular information, and it is appropriate for all levels of flight crew and CNS/ATM staff training. In addition, basic PC-style training using IKONOS imagery and AMDBs is an efficient way to improve instruction for ground-vehicle operators. This, in turn, further reduces the chances for runway incursion events.