MPC
Project Details

Title:	Automated Image-Based Aircraft Tracking and Record-Keeping for Utah Airports
Principal Investigators:	Abbas Rashidi and Nikola Markovic
University:	University of Utah
Status:	Completed
Year:	2020
Grant #:	69A3551747108 (FAST Act)
Project #:	MPC-639
RH Display ID:	154942
Keywords:	airports, air traffic control, automation, image analysis, traffic counting, vehicle detectors

Abstract

Except for a small number of airports that are equipped with traffic control towers, airports in the State of Utah are controlled in a traditional fashion. The current method relies on forms filled out by the pilots. In some cases, a rough number of the passed airplanes are counted using radio calls for landing permissions. However, these systems are highly prone to error and are not reliable. Also, there is no documented evidence after counting the airplanes using radio transmission data.

This project is an attempt to address the above-mentioned issue by proposing an automated traffic control system in small-sized airports. An image-based traffic control system is one promising solution that is already in use for highway traffic control systems. In this system, we can monitor, count, and recognize airplanes flying from or landing in an airport. This can be achieved by using the video data collected from cameras mounted on strategic points in the airport. Using the collected video data and relevant computer vision techniques, we intend to build an air-traffic control system able to count the traffic load and to recognize the aircraft models flying from or landing on the airport's runway. Results of the project will improve safety and automation aspects within small to medium size airports within the state of Utah.

Project Deliverables

• [Final Report] Automated Image-Based Aircraft Tracking and Record-Keeping for Utah Airports — MPC-22-476
  • View Research Brief
• [Webinar] Automated Image-Based Aircraft Tracking — Over 97% of U.S. airports are not equipped with control towers. As a result, these airports need an alternative solution to monitor their airport-level...

Project Word Files

• Show project Word files
  • Full Description (Word, 3866K)
  • UTC Project Information (Word, 24K)

  Note to project PIs: please use the Track Changes feature when editing the above Word file(s). Updated document(s) should be emailed to ndsu.ugpti@ndsu.edu.